Brussels, 31/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 May, the European Commission adopted the synthesis report that sets out comments by directors-general and heads of service on the reliability of internal audit systems for the year 2006. In December 2000, the Commission decided that each director general and head of service should present an annual report on the activity of his/her DG and on the management of resources. The total number of reservations expressed by directors-general has fallen from 32 in 2005 to 20 in 2006. Problems brought to the knowledge of European Commissioners concern, for example: - major failings noted by DG Employment and Social Affairs in the management and audit systems of operational programmes for the European Social Fund (ESF) in Spain, the United Kingdom (Scotland), Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia and in the regions of Calabria and Lazio in Italy; - similar failings, this time noted by DG Regional Policy, in the management in the United Kingdom of certain ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programmes, and in the management of most INTERREG programmes; - recurrent difficulties encountered by Greece in the implementation of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) for agricultural spending; - failings in the procedures of national agencies that manage the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and Youth programmes (DG Education and Culture); - and errors concerning the costs and contracts of the 5th and 6th framework programme for research. (lc)