The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency will help the Sindicatura de Comptes in the implementation of its complaint boxes and protection of whistleblowers of corruption

Press release

Valencia, April 26, 2023.- The Síndic major of the Sindicatura de Comptes de la Comunitat Valenciana, Vicent Cucarella Tormo, and the director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Joan Llinares, have signed an addendum modifying the collaboration protocol that both entities signed in April 2020.

With this modification, a new section is incorporated with the aim of collaborating in the fulfillment of the new Law 2/2023 on the protection of whistleblowers, better known as the Whistleblowing law.

Among the actions that will be implemented is that the Sindicatura de Comptes will facilitate the Agency’s complaints mailbox as an external communication channel and will implement its own internal information system within a maximum period of 3 months.

Likewise, the Agency will assist and advise the Sindicatura in the implementation of the necessary technology to connect with the Agency’s complaints mailbox; in the establishment of the internal information channel, and in the measures of support and protection for persons informing corruption.

The Catalan Ombudsman, Vicent Cucarella, has declared that “wehave signed today the incorporation of an addendum, related to compliance with the obligations of the new Law 2/2023 that regulates the protection of people who report infractions”.

“We must recognize that on this issue the Valencians are one step ahead of other autonomous communities, thanks to the fact that we have the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency,” added Cucarella.

For his part, the director of the Agency, Joan Llinares, has declared that “the collaboration between the Sindicatura and the Agency dates back to the  approval by the Corts Valencianes of the Strategy for Prevention and Fight against Corruption in which the Law of Creation of the Agency is framed. This addendum reinforces the collaboration between both institutions and is extended to comply with the requirements of the new Law on the Protection of Persons Reporting Corruption.”

Declarations by the Síndic de Comptes

Declarations by the AVAF director

The Hay Derecho Foundation and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency sign a collaboration agreement to promote the culture of integrity and public ethics

Press release

Madrid, April 21, 2023.- The president of the Hay Derecho Foundation, Segismundo Álvarez, and  the director of the Agency, Joan Llinares, have signed a collaboration agreement for the development of activities of common interest in relation to the promotion of a culture of integrity and public ethics and the protection ofpeople who report fraud and corruption.

The signing of this agreement will allow collaboration between both entities in joint actions such as the preparation, programming and implementation of awareness and training activities in areas such as fraud and corruption prevention, integrity andpublic ethics, reporting channels or integrity plans and anti-fraud measures, among others.

This collaboration will extend to the realization of actions to raise awareness among citizens and the promotion of a paradigm shift on reporting as a necessary tool to protect the general interest and as a guarantee of the protection of whistleblowers.

The Hay Derecho Foundation was established in 2015 and aims to defend the rule oflaw in Spain, improve the legal system and institutions and the fight against corruption.

Likewise, the Foundation will be integrated into the Consell de Participació of the  Agency where the main associations and entitiesdedicated to the fight against fraud and corruption and the promotion of ethics and public integrity are present, as  well as experts in these matters.

The president of the Foundation, Segismundo Álvarez, has declared that “this collaboration is an example of how the Administration and civil society can and should work together in the fight against corruption“.

For his part, the director of the Agency,  Joan Llinares, pointed out that “it is important that entities such as the Hay Derecho Foundation collaborate with the Agency in the fight against fraud and corruption and in the creation of ethics and public integrity, contributing their vision, experience and knowledge“.

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency delivers its Activity Report for 2022 to the President of the Generalitat

Press release

Valencia, April 19, 2023.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency has delivered its Activity Report corresponding to the year 2022 to the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, in a ceremony held at the Palau de la Generalitat.

The director of the Agency, Joan Llinares, has delivered the two volumes of the Report, one in Valencian and one in Spanish. The event was attended by the Deputy Director and Legal Affairs of the Agency, Teresa Clemente; the director of analysis and research, Gustavo Segura; and the head of the administration and human resources area, María José Cervera.

The Report includes the activity carried out by the Agency during 2022 in the area of training, prevention and documentation; the legal area and protection of the complainant; analysis and research; Administration, recruitment and human resources and communication.

On March 28, the Agency’s Activity Report was delivered to the President of les Corts, Enric Morera, thus fulfilling the mandate contained in article 22 of Law 11/2016 on the creation of the Agency.

The Síndics of all the parliamentary groups and the Mesa de les Corts were also present at that event.