Brussels, 04/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Court of Auditors (ECA) generally concludes that the Common External Relations Information System (CRIS) effectively responds to the Commission's information needs in the field of external action. However, after ten years of development, it is still subject to persistent shortcomings. These concern the definition of CRIS' role with regard to the Commission's accounting system, weaknesses in data coding, insufficient effectiveness in ensuring data integrity and, more generally, insufficient security of the system and its data.
Since the system became operational in 2002, its functions have been constantly extended. It is financed by the EU general budget and by the European Development Fund (EDF) and is currently the main reference information system for management, reporting and documentation of external action measures. (LC/transl.jl)