Brussels, 21/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The new President of the Court of Auditors, Juan Manuel Fabra Valles, presented the Court's work programme for this year to the members of the EP's Budgetary Control Committee this week. The two priorities are preparing for EU enlargement and the reform of the European Commission. Environment, health and potential irregularities are also on the list of subjects the Court will be focusing on in 2002.
Enlargement. The Court will look at the management of pre-accession instruments (ISPA and Sapard) and various Phare programmes (environmental projects, aid for public institutions and managing financial control systems) and will investigate the measures taken by the Commission to assess candidate countries' legal and administrative framework in the framework of the EU's own resources.
Administrative expenditure. As is the case every year, the Court will audit the decentralised bodies and the efficiency of the management of the European Central Bank, the own resources in the European Investment Bank and the measures managed by the EIB. Mr Fabra Valles added that the Court would carefully audit the Commission's internal control systems.
Agriculture. The measures for the mid-term review of the CAP have been considered and the Court's analysis will concern public storage systems, export refunds, and the common organisation of the markets in tobacco, cotton and bananas. In addition, the Court will audit veterinary measures, forestry and reforestation and the cattle identification and registration system.
Structural measures. The Court will pay particular attention will be paid to the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund and the management control systems of the new programming period for the European Social Fund. Employment-related measures have also been selected in order to complete the Court's analysis of the policy.
Internal policies and research. The Court will audit the Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes, the indirect measures of the fifth Research Framework Programme and financial instruments in the area of the environment.
External aid. The audit of food aid and safety will be completed and cover topics such as aid for India, for the private sector and civil society
Own resources. The Court of Auditors will audit agricultural tariff quotas and the Fiscalis programme (to co-ordinate the prevention and elimination of tax fraud).