The Síndic de Greuges and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency sign a collaboration protocol for the implementation of their complaint boxes and protection of whistleblowers of corruption

Press release

Valencia, June 28, 2023.- The Síndic de Greuges of the Valencian Community, Ángel Luna, and the director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Joan Llinares, have signed a collaboration protocol between both institutions with the aim of complying with the requirements of the new Law 2/2023 on the protection of people reporting corruption,  better known as the Whistleblowing law.

Among the actions that will be implemented within the framework of this collaboration is the one that Síndic de Greuges will provide as an external communication channel the Agency’s complaints mailbox that will appear in a visible place on its website.

The Agency shall assist and advise on the implementation of the technology necessary to connect to the Agency’s reporting box; in the establishment of the internal information channel, in measures of support and protection for whistleblowers of corruption and in the realization of training actions.

The director of the Agency, Joan Llinares, has declared that “the signing of this agreement between the Síndic de Greuges and the Agency is an example of the collaboration between institutions to work together not only in the prevention and fight against fraud and corruption but also in the creation of ethics and public integrity”.

 

The Valencia Anti-Fraud Agency facilitates the recovery of 29 million euros in 3 years and keeps 30 individuals and 1 legal person (company) protected

Press release

Valencia, June 23, 2023. Today, June 23, is the World Day of the Whistleblower of Corruption and the Agency has organized for this reason a day to commemorate this celebration that coincides with the enactment this year of Law 2/2023 on the protection of the whistleblower of corruption. 

The main conference of the day was given by Alba Lema, international president of the World Compliance Association. Alba Lema specializes in the implementation of compliance management systems as well as in the design and implementation of integrity and business ethics programs in organizations, both nationally and internationally.

This was followed by a round table moderated by the Agency’s Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Teresa Clemente, with the participation of Arturo León, President of the Economic and Social Committee (ESC); Ana Móner, vice president of the Valencian Association of Consumers (AVACU), and Juan Vega, lawyer of the Agency.

The director of the Agency, Joan Llinares, opened the conference and highlighted “the importance of a day like today in which we want to value the fundamental role played by people who alert, report or report fraud and corruption”. “The Agency was the first authority in Spain to have a Protection Statute for whistleblowers of corruption and currently has 30 individuals and one legal person (company) under protection,” added Llinares.

“This effective protection of whistleblowers, together with the more than 29 million euros of recoverable amounts in the last 3 years, are undoubtedly the best guarantees of the work carried out by the Agency. To this we have to add all that intangible value that cannot be quantified in money derived from the training and prevention actions that the Agency carries out in terms of ethics and public integrity.  How many people have not committed an act of fraud and corruption knowing that there is an Agency that can investigate and prosecute this type of action?” concluded Llinares.

 

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency presents the book “Code of Integrity of the Valencian Community”

Press release

Valencia, June 22, 2023.-  The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency has presented this morning in the Assembly Hall of the building annexed to the Corts Valencianes the book “Code of Integrity of the Valencian Community” that has been published together with the publishing house Tirant Lo Blanch.

The book reviews the main international standards to continue with European, state and regional regulations. This book is configured as a practical tool for all those people and institutions that want to access the published regulations on integrity, also providing a novel methodology that also includes a glossary of terms and an analytical index.

The publication has been made both in paper format and in e-book format for digital consultation which also has an expanded and commented selection of the regulations contained in the paper edition. This digital edition will also allow the permanent updating of the regulations as they change or expand.

The presentation was given by Marisa Cuerda, president of the Ethics Committee of the Agency and professor of Criminal Law at the Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, who highlighted the role played by the Agency in improving the corruption rates of the Valencian Community as highlighted by the European Commission or the State Attorney General’s Office.

For her part, Irene Bravo, head of prevention of the Agency and coordinator of the publication, has pointed out the novel aspect of this code as it is a pioneer in the regional and state level that wants to contribute to the consolidation of the culture of public integrity in the Valencian Community.

María Campo, director of edition of Tirant Lo Blanch thanked the collaboration with the Agency for the edition of this work that she hopes will contribute to democratic regeneration and to face “a corruption that breaks our democratic system into pieces”.

Finally, Joan Llinares, director of the Agency, pointed out that “codification is a legal technique that helps all those who have to apply, defend and develop laws, integrity being the largest source of income for public administrations”.

You can access the electronic publication at the following link