Did you know that…

The new General Rules on Whistleblower Protection and Corruption Prevention have been in force since June 2022 and implement the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2024.

There are now new rights for whistleblowers as well as new obligations for companies in order to better follow up reports of wrongdoing in a secure manner and to fight corruption and economic crime in the European Union.

Entities with 50 or more employees are required to create a compliance program, which includes the implementation of a corruption risk prevention plan, code of conduct, internal training program, and internal reporting channels to follow up on allegations of corruption or any other related irregularities. They are also obliged not only to designate a person responsible for guaranteeing the application of the program, but also to create an evaluation system to control and execute it.

In case of violation of the obligations set out in the General Regime for the Prevention of Corruption, obliged entities may incur an administrative offence of between €1,000 and €44,891.81.

DLA Piper Portugal Team

Dr. Daniel Reis

Dr.ª Marta Albuquerque Coelho

Drª Mariana Martins Fernandes