Europese Rekenkamer presenteert jaarlijks activiteitenrapport (en)

Luxembourg, 7 May 2009

ECA President Vítor Caldeira today presented the European Court of Auditors’ 2008 Annual Activity Report to the press.

“For the Court 2008 was marked by a significant number of key achievements and important developments in EU financial management. Among them was the ‘International peer review of the European Court of Auditors’, which concluded positively on the suitability of the Court’s audit management framework and on the independence and objectivity of its work”, Mr Caldeira says.

The Annual Activity Report provides an annual review of the Court's activities, the resources used and what has been achieved. It was produced for the first time last year. Mr Caldeira presented the report together with Mr Heikensten, the Member of the Court responsible for communication, and Mr Henri Grethen, the Luxembourg Member of the Court.

The Court also acknowledged the developments being made at EU and national level that may lead to significant improvements in EU financial management in the future. The European Commission has taken important steps since 2000 to address the existing weaknesses in supervision and control. It has also launched the ongoing EU budget review process, to which the Court has actively contributed.

To realise its Mission and Vision, in 2008 the Court developed an Audit Strategy for the period 2009 to 2012. It sets two priority goals: to maximise the overall impact from its audits and to increase efficiency by making best use of its resources.

As regards the Court’s 2007 Annual Report, published in November 2008, the Court presented, for the first time, a ‘clean’ opinion on the reliability of the EU accounts. However, as in previous years, the Court found too high levels of errors of illegality and irregularity in areas of the EU budget accounting for the bulk of expenditure.

The Court published a total of twelve special reports in 2008. The reports examined financial management issues in a wide range of areas - from the efficiency of the European Solidarity Fund to EU support for the public storage of cereals.

“The global financial and economic crisis is putting pressure on public finances everywhere. Meeting these challenges effectively will require the EU's institutions not only to use resources ever more wisely but also to continue to promote accountability and transparency so as to build and maintain the confidence and trust of EU citizens. In this context, I believe that the Court's role has never been more relevant or its potential to make a positive contribution greater”, Mr Caldeira says.

For more details, see: http://eca.europa.eu/products/AAR08

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