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

The Attorney General’s Office and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency strengthen the fight against corruption

Press release

Madrid, June 19, 2023.- The Attorney General of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz, and the directors of the anti-fraud agencies and offices of different autonomous communities, including that of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Joan Llinares, have signed on Monday a collaboration agreement that aims to strengthen the fight against corruption. The other signatories are the heads of the anti-fraud agencies of the Balearic Islands, Cristóbal Milán; Catalonia, Miguel Ángel Gimeno; and Andalusia, Ricardo Puyol.

The agreement, which has an initial validity of four years, is part of a strategic plan to fight corruption and fraud promoted by the Attorney General’s Office. Its objective is to establish lines of collaboration between the signatory institutions in those areas in which the competences normatively attributed to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and to the Anti-Fraud Offices or Agencies converge.

In this way, when any of the signatory Offices or Agencies are aware that the facts they are examining or have been able to examine may be related to the facts being investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, they will interrupt their proceedings and make available to the Prosecutor the information they have, in addition to providing the necessary assistance.

On the other hand, and without prejudice to the functions attributed to the Court of Auditors and to the bodies with administrative-sanctioning competence, when as a result of its investigations the Public Prosecutor’s Office obtains indications of the commission of facts that could constitute an administrative offense, it will transfer them to the Anti-Fraud Agencies and will make available the necessary documentation for its action. Cases in which the secret processing of the proceedings is necessary in order not to prejudice the investigation are excluded.

Likewise, if on the occasion of its intervention in a judicial procedure in which it is a party, the Public Prosecutor’s Office concludes that the facts incur administrative irregularities, in addition to procedurally positioning itself urging what is appropriate, it will request the judicial body to send testimony of sufficient background to the anti-fraud agencies, which in turn will inform the Prosecutor’s Office of the result of their actions. All this with the exception of the cases in which the secret processing of the proceedings is necessary.

Anti-fraud bodies shall support the Public Prosecutor’s Office through opinions, reports or other technical actions as necessary. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office and anti-fraud agencies will organize training activities aimed at the staff of the signatory institutions and will collaborate in the protection of whistleblowers, witnesses and experts in accordance with the current legal framework.

19 German lawyers in training visit the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency to learn how it works

Press release

Valencia, June 12, 2023.- A total of 19 German lawyers in training from Cologne have visited the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency to learn first-hand about aspects of the Agency’s operation such as the development of investigations, the complaints mailbox or the protection of whistleblowers of corruption.

Throughout the morning staff of the Agency in the areas of analysis and research, legal, prevention, computer and training have explained to them what the work that is carried out on a day-to-day basis in each of the departments consists of.

The group is composed of 19 lawyers who have passed the entrance exam and this visit is part of the training program. The students have actively participated by asking questions about different aspects of the work carried out by the Agency.

Once the visit to the Agency was over, the group took a guided tour of the Corts Valencianes, headquarters of the Valencian Parliament.