Treasury officials propose 25 measures to combat fraud in public tenders.

Technicians from the Ministry of Finance (Gestha) have proposed 25 measures to minimize the risks of fraud and corruption in public procurement , after considering that the 18% increase in complaints indicates a rise in illicit practices after analyzing the indicators selected by the Independent Office for the Regulation and Supervision of Procurement (OIReScon), an independent collegiate body attached to the Ministry of Finance.

Among the organizational measures, the experts propose clearly assigning the essential functions, powers, and responsibilities of the positions that guarantee the oversight and control functions of the General State Intervention Office (IGAE) and the regional, autonomous, and local interventions, as well as strengthening the procedures for investigating irregularities by the IGAE and the internal oversight bodies of the autonomous communities.

Gestha also encourages the progressive increase in staff at the IGAE, the Tax Agency (AEAT), the Regional Tax Authorities, and the regional tax services to the average for European countries, since, according to the report, "Spain has a shortage of control technicians required by the size of the country," providing them with specialized training programs. Likewise, the technicians are committed to increasing the number of technical investigative staff at the anti-fraud offices and agencies in Andalusia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Navarre, as well as adopting the necessary measures to overcome the "crisis" at the Valencian Community Agency for the Prevention and Fight against Fraud and Corruption (AVAF), caused by the redesign of the way its director is appointed, the dismissal of "leading officials" in the pursuit of corruption , the abolition of the ethics committee, the standards of the new code of conduct, and the abolition of its participation council, reports Ep .

On the other hand, Gestha advises creating anti-fraud agencies with investigative functions in Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, the Community of Madrid, the Region of Murcia, La Rioja and the Basque Country, providing them with sufficient staff and resources for their purpose, as well as attributing investigative or inspection functions of complaints to the units or sections of the External Control Bodies of the Consello de Contas of the Community of Galicia (OCEX) and the Court of Auditors of the Canary Islands. They highlight the importance of restoring the Office for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption of the Balearic Islands (AIB), abolished by the Balearic Parliament in March 2024, as well as the creation of local anti-fraud offices in municipalities with more than 200,000 inhabitants , such as those already created in Madrid and Barcelona. Gestha thus encourages the promotion of effective coordination and collaboration between the expenditure control bodies of the various regional administrations and with the Court of Auditors.

Among the preventive measures, Treasury officials propose approving the National Anti-Fraud Strategy with unified criteria and coordinated actions between Anti-Fraud Offices and Agencies and Internal Oversight Bodies, and establishing a Rapid Alert System for corruption in the State Administration, the autonomous communities and local entities, and in their instrumental public sector. This will enable anti-fraud offices and agencies to analyze these frauds at an early stage, ensuring the protection of whistleblowers, especially if they have a civil service or employment relationship with the entity being reported.

Another measure is to demand "greater commitment" from those leading public administrations to the Transparency laws in their respective areas, limiting the grounds for denying information, which "will always be justified without using stereotyped arguments, and preventing administrations from appealing against resolutions of the Transparency and Good Governance Council, except for very exceptional reasons."

They also suggest publishing an annual list of individuals convicted in corruption cases , particularly for crimes involving illegal financing of political parties, business corruption, influence peddling, bribery, fraud, crimes against the Public Treasury and Social Security, malfeasance, embezzlement, prohibited negotiations for public officials, and money laundering.

Finally, among the legal amendments, Gestha proposes, among others, amending the regulations governing political party financing and the financial disclosure of public representatives, including sanctions for non-compliance or incorrect or untimely compliance, as well as decentralizing decision-making power over contracting to collegial bodies.