Whistleblower procedure
The whistleblower procedure supplements the internal dialogue and openness at the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The whistleblower procedure is not designed to target individuals, but rather unacceptable conditions. The whistleblower procedure is a “safety valve” that should only be used when the regular channels have been exhausted. Consideration should first be given to whether the issues can be resolved locally and by contacting the nearest manager or union representative, or the institution, before resorting to the whistleblower procedure.
The procedure has been adopted by the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers and is independent of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ other administration.
What situations should be reported?
It’s important that you describe all the facts in as much detail as possible.
Document the situation you are reporting as broadly as possible. You may attach documentation in digital form.
Practical information and any
documentation enable a thorough investigation of the situation you are reporting.
Information can be submitted to the whistleblower procedure by e-mail to: WB@norden.org
Information submitted to the whistleblower procedure, including the whistleblower’s identity, is treated confidentially.
FAQs regarding the whistleblower procedure
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ whistleblower procedure has been adopted by the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers and is independent of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ other administration. As an employee or partner of the Nordic Council of Ministers or the Nordic institutions, you can report information about suspected illegalities or serious irregularities in the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
No. If you, as an employee of the Nordic Council of Ministers or the Nordic institutions, become aware of or reasonably suspect illegalities or serious irregularities in the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers, we recommend that your first consideration always be whether the issue can be resolved by using regular channels such as consulting with your immediate superior or employee representative. The whistleblower procedure is an option that should only be used if you feel uncomfortable using regular channels, or if attempts to resolve the issue using these channels were unsuccessful.
• Violation of laws and regulations, such as corruption and financial misconduct
• Serious breach of ethical standards or rules
• Serious circumstances that could harm the organisation or society
• Serious errors or deficiencies
• Serious matters concerning bullying and discrimination
• Co-operation difficulties
• Absence
These issues are best dealt with at a local management level or by an employee representative.
In some cases, however, the issue may be so severe that the whistleblower procedure can be used.
The whistleblower procedure only deals with information about serious situations. You may report information if you have knowledge of or reasonably suspect gross or material and repeated errors and deficiencies relating to the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
You should not hold back if you are unsure whether you should report information about a situation.
We will respond to, provide advice on, and assess situations on a case-by-case basis. If a situation does not fall under the whistleblower procedure, we will inform you that we will not process the information, and provide as much assistance as we can with regard to how to report the information if not through the whistleblower procedure.
Information can be reported by all employees and former employees, as well as employees and former employees of the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordic institutions.
You can report information within the whistleblower procedure by e-mail to: WB@norden.org
Information submitted to the whistleblower procedure, including the whistleblower’s identity, is treated confidentially.
It’s important that you describe all the facts in as much detail as possible.
Document the situation you are reporting as broadly as possible. You may attach documentation in digital form. Factual information and documentation (where possible) enable the situation you are reporting to be investigated as thoroughly as possible.
The Whistleblower Administrator of the Nordic Council of Ministers will conduct an initial assessment of the information you report to the whistleblower procedure. If the information is considered to be serious, and there are sufficient grounds to investigate the matter further, the Whistleblower Administrator will commence an internal investigation into the situation.
Information submitted to the whistleblower procedure, including the whistleblower’s identity, is treated confidentially.
We will update you as necessary regarding the progress and outcome of our investigation. Updates may be limited due to our duty of confidentiality or other legal circumstances. You do not, however, have any right to receive information about the case, its processing, or the assessments made.