Since the entry into force of the Spanish Constitution, rules have been established that define ethical and behavioral principles for members of the Government, senior officials and public sector personnel. These standards have created a solid ethical foundation by promoting behaviors that seek the general interest.
Public confidence in institutions depends not only on law enforcement, but also on people in the public sector acting honestly and responsibly.
By clearly defining the expected patterns of behaviour, reflection and dialogue on the values of public service are encouraged.
Ethical codes are not laws and differ from the disciplinary regime, which is based on sanctions.
These codes in the AGE Integrity System seek to summarize legal values and provide guidelines of conduct for the performance of public functions.
It is a coherent and demanding ethical framework, voluntarily assumed by members of the government, senior officials and people in the public sector.
The development of these codes of good practice follows the guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the recommendations of the Council of Europe and is aligned with the experiences of other countries.
People of different professional profiles have participated in its creation, providing various perspectives.
The codes will be widely disseminated and regularly updated to ensure their effectiveness.
After the introduction, its scope and conditions are defined and the ethical values and rules of conduct are detailed.
It includes a section on the prevention and management of conflicts of interest, with special attention to the offer of gifts and social attention. It closes with a reference to the related rules.