ECA/08/05
26 February 2008
President Vítor Caldeira presents the ECA's 2008 work programme to the Committee on Budgetary Control of the European Parliament
ECA President Vítor Caldeira today presented the ECA's 2008 work programme to the Committee on Budgetary Control (COCOBU) of the European Parliament at its meeting in Brussels.
President Vítor Caldeira said:
"The Court faces a number of challenges over the coming year:
to produce a substantially revised and improved annual report; to increase the number of its selected audits, while completing those already started; to deliver on time all the specific annual reports on the agencies; and to undertake an ambitious reform programme"
The Court is currently fully engaged on preparing the annual reports on the 2007 financial year. As previously, the Court's work covers three major fields: the general budget, the European Development Funds and the agencies. The main general budget subject remains the Statement of Assurance (DAS). Both to reflect the new format of the budget and to improve clarity of presentation, the 2007 Annual Report will be presented in terms of a logical groupings of the 31 policy areas of the EU budget.
As regards the audit tasks to be concluded during 2008, the Court will publish special reports in the areas of revenue; competiveness (research and energy); agriculture and natural resources; cohesion; citizenship, freedom and security; external aid for developing and transition countries; and EU agencies.
Concerning new tasks in 2008, as defined in the Court's audit strategy, particular attention will be devoted to priority areas such as: innovation and internal market; human capital; sustainable energy; and the Commission’s strategy to simplify the regulatory framework for European business and citizens.
Other areas where important changes have taken place also merit special attention within the Court's work programme, namely the introduction of the new or revised rules and regulations covering the new spending programmes for the 2007 to 2013 period, particularly in the Structural Funds; the progress of the Commission’s action plan towards an integrated internal control framework; and the ongoing introduction of the single farm payment system for agriculture, and the “health check” of this spending.
The Court's commitment to efficiency builds on an updated mission statement emphasising the Court’s contribution to improving the financial management of the EU and acting as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union. The Court's vision is to be recognised for its values of independence, integrity, impartiality and professionalism; for the added value, quality and impact of its audits; and for being closer to its stakeholders and to the European citizens.
To find out more about the ECA's 2008 work programme, please see:
http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/841520.PDF
To read President Caldeira's COCOBU speech, please see:
http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/845520.PDF
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