[autom.vertaling] De eerste gezamenlijke vergadering van de Ambtenaren van de Coördinatie van de Opperste Controle-instanties van (SAIs) van de lidstaten van de EU, De landen van de Toetreding en de Europese Rekenkamer (Eca) in Luxemburg over 6-8 Oktober 2003 (en)

For the first time representatives of the SAIs from the 10 Accession countries take part in the meeting of the EU Liaison Officers and the European Court of Auditors. The Liaison Officers will prepare the decisions to be taken by the Presidents of their institutions at the official meeting of the Contact Committee of the European Union SAIs, together with the Accession countries, in Prague at the end of the year.

The participants will discuss, among other things, the prospects of cooperation between the national audit institutions and the European Court of Auditors, in view of more effective control over EU funds.

The participants will discuss a proposal on the possibilities for SAIs and the ECA to carry out parallel audits on the management of the EU Structural Funds presented by the German Bundesrechnungshof. The Italian Corte dei Conti will present the progress of the working group on the protection of the Community's financial interests in the fight against fraud and irregularities. The participants will also exchange information on the Convention on the Future of Europe, and its impact on the European Court of Auditors.

A separate meeting will be held between the Liaison Officers of the SAIs from the 10 Accession countries, the remaining 3 Candidate Countries (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey), Albania, Croatia and the European Court of Auditors. Among other things, the SAI of Croatia will present the report by the working group on the internal control systems in enlargement countries in view of identifying and promoting good practices.

The participants will also take note of the report by the working group on the preparation and implementation of audit manuals, which is coordinated jointly by the European Court of Auditors and SIGMA (joint initiative of the OECD and the EU). The ECA and SIGMA frequently organise workshops for the SAIs on specific audit topics. Since 1997 the SAIs of the Candidate Countries, EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors have been cooperating closely to harmonise audit methodology, enhance professional training and facilitate integration.

Finally, future challenges will be discussed, including the future framework of cooperation between the SAIs of the remaining candidates for future accession (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey) and the European Court of Auditors.

For further details see :

http://www.eca.eu.int/EN/enlargement/history_background.htm

For further information, please contact the External Relations Department of the European Court of Auditors, tel. +352-091-513 116 (GSM), +352-4398-45410, fax +352-4398-46430 or by E-mail at euraud@eca.eu.int or consult the Internet site at http://www.eca.eu.int.