Oct132023

The Andalusian Office against Fraud and Corruption and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency will collaborate in the study of the phenomenon of corruption

Valencia, October 11, 2023.-  The director of the Andalusian Office against Fraud and Corruption, Ricardo Vicente Puyol, and the director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Joan Llinares, have signed a framework collaboration agreement between both institutions.

The objective of the agreement is to establish a permanent channel of communication and collaboration in order to improve efficiency in the fulfillment of its objectives. In this way it is established that they will collaborate in those cases in which both entities have competence, and also when one of them is aware of a matter, which may correspond to the competence of the other.

They will also share knowledge and practical experience in the prevention of fraud and corruption, the promotion of integrity, public ethics and transparency.

An important part of this collaboration will focus on sharing work methodologies for which exchange stays will be carried out between both institutions in order to improve the training of their staff. The first of these exchanges took advantage of the signing of the agreement that took place in Valencia where the directors of the areas of research, legal, training and administration of both institutions held bilateral working meetings.

They will also carry out joint training actions, prepare studies on the prevention of corruption, or in the organizations of dissemination and training activities for citizens.

The director of the Andalusian Anti-Fraud Office, Ricardo Vicente Puyol, highlighted the activity carried out by the Valencian Agency, as “a reference institution in the field of prevention, training and protection of whistleblowers” and stressed “the importance of undertaking coordinated actions at the regional level to increase the effectiveness of our respective competences”.

 

The director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Joan Llinares, congratulated the Andalusian Office for the work they are doing and that “highlights the important role that regional offices and agencies are playing in the fight against fraud and corruption”.

The Andalusian Office against Fraud and Corruption was created in 2021 by Law 2/2021, of June 18, on the fight against fraud and corruption in Andalusia and protection of the whistleblower. At the head of it is the magistrate Ricardo Puyol, elected by the Andalusian Parliament and who was Magistrate-Judge of the Courts of Instruction number 1 and 2 of Marbella, coinciding with the period of emergence of the largest cases of corruption in this municipality of Malaga.

Oct42023

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency participates in Vienna in a meeting with anti-corruption authorities from all over Europe

Valencia, October 3, 2023.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency has participated for two days in a working meeting with anti-corruption agencies and authorities from other countries belonging to the European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and the European contact-point network against corruption (EACN).

The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Austria, and aimed to share information and experiences on the protection that is being offered to whistleblowers of protection after the entry into force of the European Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of whistleblowers,  better known as the Whistleblower Directive.

In the case of Spain, Law 2/2023 on the protection of whistleblowers of corruption was approved in February of this year and the Civil Guard and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency were present at the meeting.

Countries such as Belgium, Romania, France, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania or Bulgaria participated in the conference that also included the interventions of Laura Balli, president of the European Network of Integrity and Protection Authorities of Corruption Whistleblowers (NEIWA) who explained the important role played by internal reporting channels, confidentiality or the creation of a culture of protection towards corruption whistleblowers.

Luka Mak from Transparency International reviewed the different national legislations that have transposed the European Directive; and showed the limitations and benefits of the use of anonymity in this type of reporting and the problems that people who decide to report may suffer.

In her speech, Monica Kalinauskiené from Lithuania pointed out that, although the main objective of the transposition of the Directive was the protection of whistleblowers, there are also other objectives that we must not forget, such as transparency, the prevention of corruption or the promotion of ethical conduct.

Fiona Springer of the Austrian Financial Markets Authority offered data such as that 78% of the complaints that receive the communication are limited merely to the complaint, while in 22% of cases they have a direct relationship with the complainant. He also explained what must be done and what must not be done with respect to transparency, communication or anonymity.

The former adviser to the Ministry of the Interior and director of the Foreign Office of the Austrian Government, Martin Kreutner, referred to the importance of trust for citizens to decide to denounce.

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency was the first authority in Spain to approve a Statute for the protection of whistleblowers of corruption and currently has 34 people and one company under protection. and the Agency is currently in the process of tendering for the contracting of a support service and psychological attention for whistleblowers of corruption.

These meetings are held periodically as a tool to improve the respective work strategies of European anti-corruption agencies and authorities and the next meeting will take place in Dublin in November.

Oct42023

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency provides training on the impact of Law 2/2023 to the Valencia Bar Association (ICAV)

#AVAFTraining

Valencia, October 3, 2023.-

The protection of people who report regulatory violations, contained in Law 2/2023, has been the central axis of the training given by the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency at the Illustrious Valencia Bar Association, on October 3.

The course, lasting 4 hours, took place at the ICAV headquarters, located at Plaza de Tetuán, 16 in the capital of Turia and could also be followed in the “online” mode.

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency made the AVAF “Integrity Code of the Valencian Community” available to all attendees, in person and online, around 170 people. 

The director of the AVAF, Joan Llinares, presented the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, an entity attached to Les Corts, its origin, mission and operation. Throughout his presentation, he highlighted with special emphasis the AVAF as a collaborative body with the justice system and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Teresa Clemente, deputy director and legal affairs of the AVAF, detailed the impact in the Valencian Community of Law 2/2023, of February 20, on the protection of people who report violations of the legal system and the fight against corruption . In the presentation given, he detailed the whistleblower protection procedure developed by the Agency, as well as the protection authority at the national level.

The third session of the day was led by Gustavo Segura, director of analysis and research, who focused on the internal and external information systems detailed in Law 2/2023. The new figure of those responsible for the systems, as well as the rules of operation and organization of the public and private sector channels, were also protagonists of the session taught, along with the technology applied by the AVAF.

The head of the Prevention Service of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, Irene Bravo, outlined the importance of anti-fraud and integrity plans, together with risk studies in the public sphere and its business sector and the prevention of corruption risks.

This first training at ICAV is the result of the meeting held on June 7, 2023, which served to exchange experiences between both entities and is manifested as one of the avenues of collaboration initiated by both institutions.

Find out more information about the meeting on June 7 by clicking here