Nota de prensa Memoria 2019

The Valencian Antifraud Agency presents its 2019 Activity Report

Press release

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency presented yesterday, March 30, 2020, in the registry of the Valencian Courts, within the legally established period, the Annual Report of its activity corresponding to the 2019 financial year.

At a particularly difficult time for society as a whole, in which all attention is focused on maintaining the health of the population as a whole, it becomes even more important, if possible, not to lower our guard in monitoring those attitudes , facts and conducts that transgress the border of the law and public ethics and originate fraud and corruption. In this spirit, this Report is presented without any loss of energy and effort that the Agency puts into its daily work. In recent weeks, thanks to the implementation of telematic procedures, the Agency continues to develop its functions and purposes, and in compliance with them, it has prepared and presented the Report for the year 2019 to the Valencian Parliament.

In this document, the director of the Agency, Joan Antoni Llinares, gives an account of the actions carried out during the past year in the scope of its functions. The presentation of the Report is prior to the appearance of the director before the Commission of Economy, Budgets and Finance of the Corts, which may be carried out once the regular period of sessions resumes.

The Report includes, among other matters, an important task of classifying the complaints filed with the Agency, according to their subjective scope, communication channel, territory of concern, material scope, type and gender. A stabilization can be seen in the number of complaints filed (168 in 2019, compared to 181 in 2018 and 35 in 2017), and the verification of the massive use of the complaints mailbox (76% of the total of those made), as an anonymous tool and sure that the Agency makes available to all civil servants and citizens. Regarding their material scope, this focuses on human resources management and public contracting, with 40% and 25% of total complaints, respectively, which represents two-thirds of all complaints made.

During 2019, ten requests were processed to grant the status of a complainant, having granted said status on five occasions. The requests come mainly from civil servants of the Local Administration, but also from the Administration of the Generalitat, linked public sector and public law corporations. So far, the Agency has granted protection status to twenty people, with respect to whom it has followed up ensuring that they do not suffer reprisals as a result of the complaints filed, since in 2019 acts of harassment and harassment have been common. labor, appearances in courts and tribunals in defense of the general interest, negative economic repercussions that cause the necessary defense of their rights or forced changes of jobs.

The Agency has also made a significant effort in 2019 in terms of prevention and training, both internal and external, developing training materials that have been taken to the students of Valencian universities with two of which, the University of Valencia and the Cardenal University Herrera CEU, agreements have already been signed. Collaboration with the IVAP for the training of civil servants has continued. Likewise, circulars have been issued with recommendations addressed to elected officials in matters of public ethics, compliance with the law and prevention of corruption.

Three important milestones mark 2019, which are the approval of the Operating Regulations and internal regime of the Agency, the constitution of the Participation Council, an advisory and consultation body of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency and the approval of the Directive (EU) 2019 / 1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council, for the protection of persons who report infringements of Union law (whistleblowers).

From the Report, the conclusions and final reflections stand out. In them, they talk about the bankruptcy of objectivity and impartiality in the exercise of public functions, the need to carry out adequate institutional planning, the maintenance of integrity throughout the public procurement cycle and various strategies aimed at companies. public, the adequate management of human resources in the administrations and public sector, measures for the compensation of damages and losses caused to the common good, the transparency in the expenses and subsidies to the political parties, and finally the imperative need of transposition in Spain of the aforementioned Directive (EU) 2019/1937 for the protection of whistleblowers.

Complete report is available here

https://www.antifraucv.es/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MEMORIA_2019_CAS.pdf

Press note is available here

For more information you can reach gabinete@antifraucv.es or by phone 962 787 450

València, 31 de marzo de 2020

Fecha de publicación: 31/03/2020

Reflections of the Valencian Antifraud Agency before the state of alarm declared by the COVID-19 pandemic

Press release, Prevention actions

In exercise of the legally attributed functions, of advising and formulating proposals and recommendations in matters of integrity, public ethics and prevention of corruption, the Director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency has issued a resolution, dated March 27, which incorporates a set of reflections on the emergency measures adopted to date, given the state of alarm declared by the COVID-19 pandemic and its management.

Every crisis, no matter how devastating it may be (such as the one that, unfortunately, we are experiencing with the expansion of the international pandemic known as COVID-19 “coronavirus”) provides opportunities for action and learning that help prevent its recurrence or minimize its consequences. However, it is also very likely that corrupt behaviors to obtain profits from this situation will increase. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the appropriate procedures and methods that allow its detection and control.

Public money must reach the people and entities that really need it soon and this requires a rapid and transparent management of the procedures that should not be an obstacle so that we also take all the measures at our disposal to minimize incidents that may cause risks. of corruption.

In this regard, it is recalled that the Council of Europe has declared that essential protections of the rule of law, parliamentary oversight, independent judicial control and effective domestic remedies, must be maintained even during a state of emergency.

In the face of exceptional measures that put high amounts of public funds at stake, as well as the necessary management with the maximum speed and transparency, an efficient control must be added (especially internal, within each Administration). Consequently, it is appreciated that the previous controls should have been maintained and the reasons for decisions already taken regarding the replacement of the intervening function by permanent financial control is not understood.

The recommendation states that, in the situation of a state of alarm, the measures to be adopted must be those that are indispensable and must be applied in a proportionate manner. It is a priority that emergency powers are exercised only for the purposes for which they were granted. Likewise, political decisions and the ways of carrying them out must be transparent and visible to all citizens, in order to be accountable for this management.

Specifically, the reflections on this recommendation focus on exceptional measures of an economic nature issued until March 27 and, very especially, to those whose management corresponds mainly to local entities. With them, the aim is to provide suggestions to the Community’s public servants that allow their management with maximum efficiency and, in turn, legal certainty. Thus, in accordance with the regulatory framework and the interpretive instructions formulated, the recommendation incorporates a set of proposals on the processing of grants, issues related to public procurement and on the importance of the current context of defining essential services, with a reminder end of adopting also precautions against the risk of cyberattacks.

The recommendation highlights that the professionalism and good work of the public servants of the whole public sector of the Valencian Community, is now of vital importance and responsibility. It is essential that we actively participate, in a creative and innovative way, in the difficult decision-making processes and in the subsequent management of these measures, for the real and effective achievement of the intended objectives with the approved regulations, actively helping to manage the policies public measures and the necessary measures to mitigate the health, social and economic crisis but, it is insisted, without renouncing the due controls, deterrents from irregularities constituting fraud and / or corruption.

Finally, it is considered that, now more than ever, all Public Administrations must rise to the occasion, communicating, coordinating among ourselves to be able to give agile responses to the needs of our Community, helping each other generously, sharing our knowledge. and reciprocal experiences on the way we apply and control measures to contain and mitigate the perverse effects of COVID-19.

In this sense, it is indicated that consultations, suggestions or experiences that are carried out in public entities can be formulated and it is recalled that the Agency has fully operational the complaints box, for those who observe irregularities contrary to the general interest.

Valencia, March 30 of 2020.

Documents:

Adoption of measures by the Valencian Agency for the Prevention and Fight against Fraud and Corruption due to Covid-19

Press release

The Agency for the Prevention and fight against Fraud and Corruption of the Valencian Community, in the exceptional context of emergency and in accordance with Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, which declares the state of alarm for the management of the health situation caused by Covid-19 and in accordance with the commitment made to public service to citizens, has adopted a series of extraordinary measures.

These measures are part of the prevention and protection of the Agency’s workers, while guaranteeing the continuity and ordinary operation of the activity.

After an intense work of the Computer and Administrative Services during the past weekend, the necessary conditions have been arranged so that all the personnel continue to exercise their obligations from home, through teleworking.

The operation of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency during the current emergency situation will be as follows:

  1. The Agency will remain closed to the general public until further provision.
  2. The in-person Entry Registration is suspended.
  3. The Electronic Entry Record (accessible from the Agency’s Electronic Headquarters on the Internet) is available at the address https://sede.antifraucv.es
  4. Additionally, it is possible to communicatBUZÓN DE DENUNCIAS SEGURO Y CONFIDENCIALe with the Agency through the following email: secretaria@antifraucv.es

On the corporate website of the Agency, you can obtain all the necessary and updated information on the operation of the Agency during the validity of the exceptional measures adopted, https://www.antifraucv.es

SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL COMPLAINT BOX

For the presentation of complaints, the secure channel enabled for this purpose on the corporate website, available at the address: https://bustiadenuncies.antifraucv.es/

SUSPENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE DEADLINES

In accordance with the Third Additional Provision of Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, deadlines are suspended and those pertaining to procedures currently underway at the Agency are interrupted. The calculation of the terms will be resumed on the date on which the aforementioned Royal Decree loses its validity, or, where appropriate, the extensions thereof that are decreed.

SUSPENSION OF THE PHASES BELONGING TO THE PROCESSES OF PROVISION OF JOBS OF THE AGENCY

In accordance with the aforementioned, the deadline for carrying out any phase of the ongoing job placement processes is suspended.

Link:

Informative note on the measures adopted by the Valencian Antifraud Agency on the occasion of Covid-19

Fecha de publicación: 16/03/2020