Whistleblowing. Credit: J.M. Image Factory, Shutterstock.
Spain will launch its new Independent Whistleblower Protection Authority (Autoridad Independiente de Protección del Informante, AIPI) on Monday, September 1, 2025, marking a major milestone in the fight against corruption.
The move follows the approval of the Authority’s statute by the Council of Ministers and the publication of Ministerial Order PJC/908/2025 in the Official State Gazette on August 12, 2025. It forms part of Law 2/2023, which transposes the EU Whistleblower Directive (2019/1937) into Spanish law.
What Spain’s new whistleblower authority will do
The AIPI will be an independent watchdog with wide-reaching powers, including:
- Managing external reporting channels for whistleblowers
- Protecting and supporting those who report misconduct
- Investigating and sanctioning breaches of Law 2/2023
- Issuing circulars and compliance recommendations
- Developing public sector crime prevention models that may also shape private business standards
Spain’s Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, said the authority will strengthen the protection of those who report regulatory violations and guarantee secure reporting channels, in line with the European directive (Ministerio de Justicia).
New compliance obligations for companies in Spain
From September 1, businesses covered by Law 2/2023 must comply with stricter reporting requirements. They are required to:
- Maintain confidential and accessible internal reporting systems
- Appoint a trained officer to oversee these systems
- Notify the AIPI of any new appointments or removals by November 1, 2025.
Failure to comply could lead to administrative sanctions, reputational damage, and weakened legal defences under Spain’s corporate criminal liability framework, according to Global Compliance News.
The AIPI will be led by Manuel Villoria, with an Advisory Commission of legal experts and oversight officials. For Spain, it represents the first authority of its kind within the General State Administration.
For expats and multinational companies operating in Spain, it signals a clear shift from voluntary compliance to regulated enforcement. Employees will have stronger protections if they report misconduct, while businesses face closer scrutiny.
The Authority is expected to publish operational guidance in the coming months, setting new benchmarks for whistleblower protection and corporate compliance.
The Ministry of Justice says the AIPI reflects Spain’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and tackling corruption.
Will this help strengthen trust in Spanish institutions, or perhaps just add another layer of bureaucracy for companies?
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