The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency signs new collaboration protocols with public institutions to strengthen whistleblowing channels and public integrity

Press release

València, 23 july 2025.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) continues to strengthen its efforts to prevent corruption and promote institutional integrity through the signing of various collaboration protocols with local entities, public bodies, and professional associations.

In recent months, the Director of AVAF, Eduardo Beut, has signed agreements with the Alicante Bar Association (21 February 2025), the Valencian Institute of Social Services – IVASS (19 February 2025), and CEU Cardenal Herrera University, through an addendum extending the educational cooperation agreement (9 January 2025).

Protocols have also been signed with the municipalities of Villena (13 January 2025), Paiporta and Llocnou de Sant Jeroni (both on 30 October 2024), Domeño (28 October 2024), Segart (25 October 2024), Xàtiva (10 October 2024), La Pobla del Duc (24 September 2024), and Ròtova (18 September 2024).

Additionally, the collaboration with the General Council of Notaries has been renewed through the first addendum extending the framework agreement signed on 2 October 2024, and an agreement has been formalised with the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research – IVIA (25 September 2024).

Under these agreements, the signatory entities will enable AVAF’s whistleblowing channel as an external channel, which will be accessible through their respective websites. This channel guarantees the confidentiality of whistleblowers and allows for anonymous reporting.
These protocols allow the participating institutions to implement internal reporting systems (internal whistleblowing channels) in compliance with Law 2/2023, of 20 February, regulating the protection of individuals who report regulatory violations and fight against corruption.

This law, which transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1937 —known as the Whistleblowers Directive— into Spanish law, establishes the obligation to provide secure channels for receiving information on possible irregularities.

In addition to the implementation of these channels, the agreements include joint actions in training and awareness-raising. As such, staff from the signatory entities will receive training in key areas such as public ethics.

With these additions, AVAF facilitates regulatory compliance and promotes a culture of integrity, prevention, and detection of fraud and corruption.

 

Latest protocols signed, available on the Transparency Portal:

  • Alicante Bar Association. Signed on 21 February 2025.
  • Valencian Institute of Social Services (IVASS). Signed on 19 February 2025.
  • Municipality of Villena. Signed on 13 January 2025.
  • Addendum extending the educational cooperation agreement between the Valencian Anti-Fraud and Corruption Prevention Agency and CEU Cardenal Herrera University, for university student internships. Signed on 9 January 2025.
  • Municipality of Paiporta. Signed on 30 October 2024.
  • Municipality of Llocnou de Sant Jeroni. Signed on 30 October 2024.
  • Municipality of Domeño. Signed on 28 October 2024.
  • Municipality of Segart. Signed on 25 October 2024.
  • Municipality of Xàtiva. Signed on 10 October 2024.
  • First addendum extending the framework agreement between the General Council of Notaries and the Valencian Anti-Fraud and Corruption Prevention Agency. Signed on 2 October 2024.
  • Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA). Signed on 25 September 2024.
  • Municipality of La Pobla del Duc. Signed on 24 September 2024.
  • Municipality of Ròtova. Signed on 18 September 2024.

June 23: World Corruption Whistleblower Day

Press release

València, 23 june 2025.- Today, June 23, is the World Day of the Corruption Whistleblower. The civic value of the day lies in the collective importance of defending those who denounce irregularities and contribute to the defence of the general interest. Whistleblowers, whistleblowers or informants often face situations of harassment at work and social that, in many cases, also have an impact on their personal and family life. And until recently, they did not have public mechanisms for advice, support and preventive protection.

 

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) was the first public institution in Spain to have a specific legal mandate in 2016 for the protection of whistleblowers of fraud and corruption. Even before Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law was approved.

 

In addition, since 30 May, the Agency has been the independent whistleblower protection authority of the Valencian Community and has the scope of application and functions provided for in Law 2/2003, of 20 February, regulating the protection of people who report regulatory breaches and the fight against corruption.

 

In its eight years of history, the AVAF has guaranteed the right to receive legal advice to any person who reports or denounces facts that may correspond to situations of corruption or fraud, regardless of whether they have been formally recognized as a protected person. In the exercise of this right, during 2024, the AVAF provided a total of 91 legal advice to whistleblowers.

 

In this regard, since 2016, the Agency has granted protection status to 35 natural persons and one legal person. In addition, in 2024, a further step has been taken in the comprehensive whistleblower protection system, becoming the first Spanish institution to offer psychological support to people protected by fraud and corruption alerts.

 

At the General Assembly on 12 and 13 June of the European Network of Independent Authorities for the Protection of Whistleblowers (NEIWA), the work of the AVAF in the protection of whistleblowers was recognised. The meeting also approved the Brussels Declaration, which reaffirms the principles of independence and cooperation shared by NEIWA members for the effective defence of whistleblowers and urges states to strengthen technical warning systems and guarantees for the protection of whistleblowers.

 

The full text of the statement can be consulted at the following link:

https://www.mediateurfederal.be/sites/default/files/2025-06/NEIWA-10th-General-Assembly-Brussels-Declaration-13.06.2025-final.pdf

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency participates in the Infoparticipa Seals 2024 award

Press release

València, 26 may 2025.- On Monday, May 26, the Infoparticipa Seals for transparency and participation in local public communication in the Valencian Community, corresponding to the year 2024, were awarded at CEU Cardenal Herrera University (CEU UCH). The municipalities of Gandia, Onda, València, Elx-Elche, Santa Pola, Gata de Gorgos, Dénia, Riba-roja de Túria, Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre, Tous, and Bicorp, as well as the provincial councils of Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón, met the required percentage of indicators over the past year to receive these recognitions for transparency, applying the Infoparticipa Map methodology.


This analysis is carried out annually by researchers from the Governance, Transparency and CSR Observatory of CEU UCH, and has been conducted for the past seven years.

 

The event, held at the university’s Auditorium on the Alfara del Patriarca campus, was presided over by CEU UCH rector Higinio Marín, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer Alicia López Castellano, the Regional Secretary for Institutional Relations and Transparency of the Generalitat Valenciana, Santiago Lumbreras Peláez, and the Director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF), Eduardo Beut, who also presented the awards.

 

All details about the Infoparticipa Seals 2024 ceremony are available at the following link:
https://medios.uchceu.es/actualidad-ceu/la-ceu-uch-entrega-los-sellos-infoparticipa-a-once-ayuntamientos-valencianos-y-a-las-tres-diputaciones/

 

https://medios.uchceu.es/actualidad-ceu/la-ceu-uch-entrega-los-sellos-infoparticipa-a-once-ayuntamientos-valencianos-y-a-las-tres-diputaciones/