The Heads of SAIs of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors gathered in Luxembourg to discuss the ways to streamline the Contact Committee’s work. The aim was to make the Committee respond even faster and more effectively to current developments which have or may have impact on audits conducted by the Committee members. In the so-called in-camera session designed only for the SAI Heads, proposals were presented on how to change the organisation of CC meetings as well as subjects which are now of key importance for SAIs. The session participants also got familiar with the report of the Supreme Audit Office on the SIRAM procedure[1]. NIK was covered with that procedure as it experienced significant difficulties in independent auditing of public spending.
In the second part of the meeting a special guest, Ms Céline Gauer from the European Commission, in charge of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force (RECOVER) provided an update on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the national recovery plans[2]. The conference participants debated on the role of SAIs in project auditing, audit methodology and good practices in that area. The SAI Heads from Belgium, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and Italy presented results of their audits in progress.
The debate in Luxembourg not only dealt with challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic but also to the ongoing Russian invasion on Ukraine and consequences of those developments for the European Union and its Member States. The opening comment was made - as a video-conference - by the Chair of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine.
Upon closing the meeting, the Contact Committee Chair, the President of the European Court of Auditors handed over his function to the President of the Portuguese Court of Auditors. He is going to hold this function until the end of the next meeting, scheduled for 2023.
Contact Committee (CC) is an autonomous and independent assembly. This apolitical body associates Heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors (ECA). CC is tasked with the exchange of knowledge and experience about auditing EU funds and other issues related to the European Union. It not only provides mutual support but also initiates and coordinates joint efforts of the EU SAIs.
[1] SIRAM operates as part of the INTOSAI Development Initiative. This is a four-stage process, which looks into independence threats and provides advisory and support to SAIs and their heads to whom the threats are related.
[2] As part of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, EUR 723.8 billion is provided in cash loans and subsidies to support reforms and investments made by the EU Member States to alleviate economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To use the support as part of that instrument, the EU Member States have to present their plans to the European Commission, in which they specify which reforms and investments are to be made by the end of 2026.
