Brussels, 09/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Special Report No. 2/2002 on the Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes in 1995-1999, the European Court of Auditors makes a number of recommendations for improving the way the programmes are managed, such as closing the Technical Assistance Office (TAO) that the Commission uses to manage around 30% of both programmes and replacing it with a Community agency; clearly defining the relationship between the Commission and national authorities, improving control and monitoring at all levels and providing effective and timely evaluations.
The Court of Auditors audit uncovered serious shortcomings in the management of both management systems, explaining in an information note that both programmes were too complex (too many ill-defined objectives) which lead to "different interpretations and practical difficulties in co-operation between the beneficiary states". The Court found programmes with the TAO in the "delegation of responsibilities by the Commission, possible conflicts of interest, risks to the Communities' assets and a high costs of management. The National Agencies suffered from the absence of an adequate legal framework setting out the precise division of responsibilities between themselves and the Commission"; both programmes started late due to late adoption of the legal frameworks; and irregularities, "some of which raised suspicions of fraud and accordingly communicated by the Court to OLAF". (Report available on http: //http://www.eca.eu.int ).