Brussels, 17/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 February, European Court of Auditors President Vítor Caldeira set out the Court's 2009 work programme for the European Parliament budgetary control committee. The Court has identified specific priorities for the coming year: - the multi-annual nature of much of the expenditure; - innovation and the internal market; - human capital; - sustainable energy; - the Commission's strategy for simplifying the regulatory framework for business and citizens.
In 2009, the Court of Auditors plans to adopt many special reports presented around the various headings in the EU budget.
Sustainable Growth - competitiveness for growth and employment (heading 1a). The reports will refer to: - EU rail infrastructure intervention; - Galileo Programme development and validation phase; - networks of excellence and integrated projects, research infrastructure; - executive agencies.
Sustainable Growth - cohesion for growth and employment (1b). Audits will be carried out on: - structural measure spending on waste water projects; - vocational training action for women; - the Instrument of Structural Policies for pre-Accession (ISPA).
Preservation and Management of Natural Resources (2). The special reports will relate to: - the restructuring of the sugar sector; - measures to promote agricultural products; - food aid for the deprived; - LIFE nature projects; - the completion of the SPS (single payment scheme) entitlements; - management, by the Commission, of the system of health checks for meat imports.
Citizenship, Freedom, Security and Justice (3). The Court will look at: - the EU's public health programme 2003-2007; - the mobility measure of the Leonardo da Vinci programme for 2000-2006.
The EU as a global player (4). The Court's work programme will concentrate on: - non-state players' involvement in EC development cooperation; - banking measures in the Mediterranean area as part of the MEDA programme and previous protocols; - CARDS spending on justice and home affairs; - pre-accession aid for Turkey; - United Nations organisations.
Administration (5). The special reports will deal with personnel selection activities carried out by the European Personnel Selection Office, and Commission treasury management.
A significant proportion of the Court's available resources are devoted to financial audit in the form of the statement of assurance (also known as the “DAS”). This involves examination and testing of the EC general budget and European Development Fund accounts and transactions for each financial year. In 2009, the Court will work on the completion and publication of the statement of
assurance on the 2008 financial year, as part of the Court's annual report on the 2008 budget.
New products. The Court will widen the range of its audit-based products between 2009 and 2012. In 2009, the Court intends to develop, inter alia, the following new products: - a dedicated follow-up report to provide greater focus on the action taken on previous performance audit recommendations; - cross-cutting reports (the two themes for 2009 are the environment and measures to assist SMEs); - a high-risk areas report on financial management of the EU budget.
The role of the Court of Auditors “is particularly important in the context of an EU of 27 member states that faces global challenges, such as dealing with the current financial crisis, creating jobs and achieving sustainability,” Caldeira told MEPs. He added that these challenges “are putting pressure on public finances everywhere” and will require the EU to spend its resources wisely on behalf of its citizens and taxpayers. (L.C./transl.rt)