Institutional Fraud Prevention Statement from the University of the Balearic Islands
The University of the Balearic Islands is firmly committed to the fight against all types of fraud, as well as to preserving integrity in all matters within its jurisdiction. In light of this, the Governing Council approved Regulatory Agreement 13593/2020 of 21st July in support of the Integrity Code of the University of the Balearic Islands. For this same reason, an agreement was signed with the Anti-Corruption Office of the Balearic Islands on 10th January 2020, with a view to developing joint lines of action concerning training activities, knowledge transfer and all matters concerning the prevention and detection of corruption.
The Ministry of Finance and Civil Service recently published Order HFP/1030/2021 of 29th September, configuring the management system of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP). Article 6 sets out that 'any entity that participates in the implementation of the RTRP's measures in a decision-making or performance capacity must have a fraud prevention plan that enables it to ensure and declare that the funds within its respective field of action have been used as per the applicable rules and regulations, in particular in all matters concerning the prevention, detection and correction of fraud, corruption and other conflicts of interest'.
As a recipient of these funds, the University of the Balearic Islands is aware that all stakeholders involved in the management of university funds - including European funding - must commit to zero tolerance of fraud and corruption. In light of this, the University of the Balearic Islands declares its unwavering commitment to preventing all forms of fraud and undertakes to draft and approve a Fraud Prevention Plan in 2022 that shall at least include the recommendations and requirements set out in the aforementioned Order.
This institutional statement will be published on the university's website, together with a set of links and documents containing relevant information. The aim of this is to facilitate the processing of any initiative that contributes to the fight against fraud, corruption and/or conflicts of interest.
In the meantime, and as a precautionary measure, the University of the Balearic Islands undertakes to:
- Promptly suspend any procedure where any instance of fraud is detected, immediately notify the relevant authorities and the bodies involved in carrying out the relevant activities, and review all projects, sub-projects or lines of action that may have been affected by said fraud
- Immediately notify the decision-making or the executing entities that have entrusted the University with implementing the activities concerning events that have occurred and any measures that have been adopted. Where the executing entity is informed, it shall be responsible for informing the decision-making entity which, in turn, shall notify the supervisory authority about the matter. Said authority may request any additional information it deems relevant from the supervisory authority for follow-up and reporting purposes
- Report the facts to the competent public authorities, where applicable, and in particular to the National Anti-Fraud Coordination Service (AFCOS), for them to be assessed and subsequently notified to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
- Carry out an internal inquiry in order to establish responsibility or open disciplinary proceedings
- Report the facts to the Public Prosecutor's Office, where appropriate.
Finally, it should be noted that the UIB has a duty to assess the impact of the suspected fraud and classify it as either systemic or isolated, as well as withdraw projects or parts of projects affected by it which are funded or planned to be funded by the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM).
Palma, 20th December 2021
Jaume Carot
Vice-Chancellor