Whistleblower protection authorities make progress in Madrid towards a common application of Law 2/2023

Press release

València, 22 September 2026.- The Agency for the Prevention and Fight against Fraud and Corruption of the Valencian Community (AVAF) participated in the second annual cooperation meeting between the Independent Authority for Whistleblower Protection (AIPI) and the regional authorities responsible for whistleblower protection, held this Tuesday in Madrid.

 

Juan Carlos Guillén, the institution’s Secretary-General, attended on behalf of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency.

 

The meeting, chaired by the AIPI, brought together representatives of the regional authorities of Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia, the Principality of Asturias, the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, Navarre, Castilla y León and the Community of Madrid. Representatives of the Basque Government also participated. The Basque Government is in the process of establishing its own authority following the adoption of Law 3/2026 of 14 May on Transparency in the Basque Country.

 

The meeting took place within the cooperation mechanism established in Article 42.3 of Law 2/2023 of 20 February, regulating the protection of persons who report regulatory breaches and the fight against corruption. This provision establishes biannual meetings between the AIPI and the regional authorities to promote the consistent application of the legislation.

 

During the session, participants reviewed the matters discussed at the meeting held last March and shared updates on the activities carried out by the various working groups established within this cooperation framework.

 

The participating authorities also exchanged best practices and solutions to common problems identified in the exercise of their powers concerning whistleblower protection.

 

The AVAF’s participation in this coordination forum makes it possible to share the Agency’s accumulated experience and contribute to establishing common criteria and guidelines for the uniform and effective application of Law 2/2023.

 

This cooperation is particularly important because the legislation allocates powers between the national authority and the regional authorities. In the Valencian Community, the AVAF exercises the powers assigned to it as the regional whistleblower protection authority.

 

In addition to the regular meetings, Article 42.3 of Law 2/2023 provides for the AIPI and the regional authorities to exchange the information required to perform their duties and to establish working groups on specific matters of common interest, with the aim of setting common guidelines for action.

 

The Madrid meeting continues the schedule of biannual meetings launched this year and consolidates a permanent forum for coordination, the exchange of experience and institutional cooperation among the authorities responsible for whistleblower protection.

 

The next cooperation meeting is scheduled for March 2027.

 

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency expands its collaboration network with local entities to strengthen internal information systems and institutional integrity

Press release

Valencia, 23 July 2026.– The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) continues to promote fraud prevention, the protection of whistleblowers and the strengthening of public integrity by signing new functional collaboration protocols with city councils in the provinces of Castellón and Valencia.

 

Between November 2025 and March 2026, the Agency has signed various protocols that strengthen institutional cooperation and facilitate compliance with the obligations set out in Law 2/2023, of 20 February, regulating the protection of persons who report regulatory breaches and the fight against corruption.

 

Specifically, during this period, functional collaboration protocols have been formalized with the City Councils of Alginet, Benicarló, Tuéjar, Peñíscola, L’Olleria, and Albal.

These protocols allow member entities to rely on the mechanisms developed by the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency to strengthen their information systems and promote an organizational culture based on integrity.

 

Likewise, the collaboration includes training, awareness-raising and technical advice actions aimed at the staff of the participating administrations, with the aim of consolidating good practices in terms of risk prevention, public ethics and protection of whistleblowers.

 

With these initiatives, the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency reaffirms its commitment to work together with the Valencian public administrations to promote more integrity, transparent and open to citizens, favouring the early detection of irregularities and the strengthening of trust in the public sector.

 

Institutional declaration of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency on the occasion of the World Day of the Whistleblower

Press release

València, 23 de juny de 2026.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF), on the occasion of the World Day of the Corruption Whistleblower,

 

RECALLS that corruption undermines the rule of law and deteriorates the quality of public services, economic freedom and equal opportunities. Its prevention and detection require the joint commitment of all public administrations and society.

 

AFFIRMS the important collective role of whistleblowers in detecting corruption, in reporting situations of abuse of power, and in preventing and combating conduct contrary to public integrity and the general interest.

 

RECOGNISES, therefore, whistleblowers because their courage to report potential breaches, often in the face of significant problems and difficulties, contributes to identifying risks, correcting bad practices and strengthening a culture based on integrity, transparency and good governance. For this reason, the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency created in December 2025 the AVAF Whistleblowing Awards: The courage to report.

 

For this reason, from the AVAF

WE PROMOTE effective advice and protection of whistleblowers in the Valencian Community in accordance with the provisions of Law 11/2016 of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency. In fact, in the first months of 2026, the Agency has dealt with more than 50 queries and requests for advice on protection and protection has been granted to 3 people, reaching 39 whistleblowers protected by the AVAF since 2017.

 

We ACT in line with European and international standards on integrity and protection of whistleblowers. For this reason, the AVAF participated in May 2026 in the General Assembly of the European Network of Integrity and Whistleblower Protection Authorities (NEIWA), held in Bratislava, where the Bratislava Declaration was approved. This document urges institutions to strengthen protection guarantees by establishing minimum standards of legal and psychological support and strengthening safeguards against any form of reprisals.

 

REAFFIRM our commitment to continue promoting policies to prevent corruption by strengthening control systems, promoting transparency, training in public ethics and developing mechanisms that promote responsibility, accountability and the protection of whistleblowers. These are essential requirements for a strong democratic system and effective and honest governance.

 

Bratislava Declaration