The EU Directive makes it clear that effective detection and prevention of workplace misconduct is achieved when reporting is done closest to the source of the problem. This is why it encourages internal reporting, i.e. directly through an organisation’s reporting channels.
Although internal reporting is encouraged as the first option, the Directive also says people should be able to make an informed decision on how and when to report suspicions of Union law. It therefore requires Member States to allow for external reporting of whistleblowing cases.