Dec102025

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency recognizes the civic courage of two whistleblowers at the AVAF 2025 Whistleblowing Awards

València, 10 December 2025.- On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency held today the ceremony for the AVAF 2025 Whistleblowing Awards: The Courage to Report, an institutional initiative created to publicly acknowledge the bravery of individuals who report irregularities and abuses of power in defense of the public interest, legality, and the Rule of Law.

 

The event took place at the headquarters of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, which welcomed the award recipients and expressed its gratitude for their commitment and actions. During his speech, the Agency’s director explained the purpose of these awards, emphasizing that whistleblowers often face high personal, family, and professional costs, especially in contexts where the reported irregularities generate resistance, misunderstanding among colleagues, and, at times, reprisals.

 

The director, Eduardo Beut, highlighted that, before the creation of bodies such as the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, whistleblowers did not have an effective system of institutional support. Likewise, Beut praised the work carried out by the Agency’s previous leadership and stressed that, since its establishment in 2016, 36 whistleblowers have been protected, with the institution being a pioneer in Spain in setting up specific mechanisms of protection and support for those who report irregularities in the public sector. The institution reiterated that, although the ideal scenario would be one in which no one needed protection because abuses or irregularities did not exist, as long as these persist, the Agency will continue to actively defend whistleblowers and publicly acknowledge their work.

 

During the event, Juan Antonio Vivar Piera, Chair of the Ethics Committee, not only highlighted the value of the whistleblowers’ actions but also explained that the AVAF Whistleblowing Awards are honorary in nature and aim to make visible the civic heroism of those who report wrongdoing, as well as to promote a culture of responsible reporting as a fundamental pillar of anti-corruption strategies, in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption and European and Spanish legislation on whistleblower protection.

 

In this edition, the AVAF 2025 Whistleblowing Award: The Courage to Report was presented to two whistleblowers. Antonio Rico Bellido, who reported irregularities within the Local Police of his municipality and suffered workplace reprisals that severely affected his health, rights, and dignity. Despite this, he maintained his commitment to legality and public integrity. The Agency highlighted that, although he received institutional support, his personal resolve proved decisive in sustaining the complaint and enabling the investigations to move forward.

 

The award also recognized the bravery of Vicente Javier López Saborit, an environmental officer of the Generalitat Valenciana, for reporting the unlawful occupation of public land and the administrative inaction regarding these events. His perseverance and cooperation with the Agency made it possible to restore urban planning legality and protect public assets, which is why he was also awarded this year.

 

The event concluded with the explicit recognition by the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency of the bravery of the award recipients, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to defending the public interest and the effective protection of those who report irregularities.

 

Dec52025

“Serving with Integrity”, the event that brings together the València City Council and the AVAF in support of public ethics

València, 5 December 2025.– Improving cooperation between institutions is an essential pillar for ensuring the quality of public service and the protection of the general interest. With this aim, the València City Council and the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) held a joint training event today under the slogan “Serving with Integrity”, addressed to municipal staff.

 

The conference “From citizens’ perception to institutional response: the AVAF experience”, delivered by Pilar Moreno, Senior Training Officer at the AVAF, provided the Agency’s perspective on how to strengthen public trust through public integrity, the protection of whistleblowers, and external reporting channels.

 

The session, organised by the València City Council’s Human Resources Department, aimed to provide public employees with tools to prevent irregularities and to consolidate a strong ethical culture within the municipal sphere.

 

The event opened with an address by Pilar de la Torre, who analysed the main risk behaviours in public management, followed by a presentation by Violeta Pardo focusing on the City Council’s code of ethics. Both speakers are members of staff of the València City Council.

 

Cooperation between the València City Council and the AVAF is reflected in this new training collaboration, the fourth since 2021, which not only enhances institutional response capacity but also reinforces integrity as a shared value in the service of all citizens.

 

Public administrations interested in promoting specialised training in integrity, fraud prevention and public ethics may contact the Training Area via the email address formacion@antifraucv.es

 

Dec22025

AVAF attends the EPAC/EACN Conference in The Hague, where the Declaration to strengthen anti-corruption cooperation in Europe is adopted

València, 2 December 2025.- The 24th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) and the European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) was recently held in The Hague (Netherlands), with the participation of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF). This year, the conference was organised in cooperation with Eurojust. Following this year’s General Assembly, 7 new members joined the network, bringing the total to 126 European institutions from 40 countries.

 

AVAF was represented by Miguel Ángel Cervera, Secretary-General of the Agency, at a meeting that gathered more than 150 participants from nearly 80 institutions across more than 30 countries. Speakers included representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Europol, Eurojust, OLAF, and various anti-corruption agencies and police oversight bodies from across Europe.

 

This event is one of the main European forums dedicated to the exchange of good practices in preventing and combating corruption, as well as in police oversight. During the meeting, the Hague Declaration was adopted, calling for greater institutional independence, enhanced cooperation, and renewed efforts to prevent and fight corruption throughout Europe.

 

The Conference focused on strengthening cooperation between anti-corruption and police oversight institutions, exchanging practical experiences, and addressing current challenges to promote integrity and transparency. Discussions covered key issues such as measuring and preventing corruption, transparency in public procurement, innovations in anti-corruption practices, education and awareness-raising, and the development of resilient institutions in post-conflict and transition contexts.

 

The Hague Declaration reaffirmed the shared commitment of European anti-corruption authorities and police oversight bodies to integrity, transparency, and the rule of law. It calls for greater institutional independence, professional standards, and international cooperation in the fight against corruption and in ensuring accountability. Members are encouraged to exchange good practices, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and ensure continuous professional development. States are urged to guarantee adequate resources, transparency in open data, and protection for prosecutors and investigators. The declaration also invites EU institutions and international organisations to reinforce common anti-corruption standards, provide technical assistance, and promote coherent and coordinated global efforts.

 

Information extracted from the EPAC/EACN press release:

https://epac-eacn.org/the-24th-epac-eacn-annual-conference-and-general-assembly-took-place-in-the-hague-netherlands/