On 23 April, the Commission proposed a new law to strengthen whistleblower protection across the EU. Recent scandals such as Dieselgate, Luxleaks, the Panama Papers or the ongoing Cambridge Analytica revelations show that whistleblowers can play an important role in uncovering unlawful activities that damage the public interest and the welfare of citizens and society. The proposal will guarantee a high level of protection for whistleblowers by establishing safe channels for reporting both within an organisation and to public authorities. It will also protect whistleblowers against dismissal, demotion and other forms of retaliation and require national authorities to inform citizens and provide training for public authorities on how to deal with whistleblowers. Currently, many whistleblowers pay for their actions with their jobs, their reputation or even their health. According to a 2016 Global Business Ethics Survey, 36% of workers who reported misconduct experienced retaliation. Protecting whistleblowers will also help safeguard freedom of expression and media freedom. It is essential for protecting the rule of law and democracy in Europe.