21-22 JUNE MEETING OF THE CONTACT COMMITTEE OF THE HEADS OF THE SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS (SAIS) OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The annual meeting of the Contact Committee of the Presidents of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the European Union was held in Lisbon on June 21 and 22.
The meeting, which was hosted by the Portuguese Tribunal de contas, was attended by the President of the Corte dei conti, Mr. Guido Carlino.
Among the topics on the agenda were those related to the energy issue and implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans under the Next Generation Europe program. The Contact Committee is an autonomous and independent assembly of the Heads of EU Member States SAIs and the President of the European Court of Auditors and it represents, at the Community level, one of the most important forum for international cooperation and discussion on audit matters.
The meeting was structured in three sessions. The first (Energy session) focused on the role of SAIs in common strategies to combat the energy crisis and promote the ecological transition. The second (RRF session), addressed issues related to the Next Generation Europe challenges and related National Recovery and Resilience Plans, with specific orientation on the audits sector. Finally, the In-camera session was focused on the contribution made by SAIs - within their mandates and competencies – to ensuring the efficient and proper management of European resources, in the current complex common environment. In parallel to the In-camera session, the meeting of the Liaison Agents of the participating SAIs was also held.
The Corte dei conti, with its contribution, outlined the framework of national energy policies and the audit activities carried out on the European funds used in the sector, highlighting the possible hypotheses for the modification of the NRRP - and the coherent adjustment of the control system itself - in line with the needs that have emerged during the year. The participating SAIs, at the conclusion of the work, agreed on the need for strengthened planning of joint and coordinated actions in audits, with a view to greater sharing of the results achieved.
With the handover from the Portuguese to the Cypriot presidency, the 2024 edition of the Contact Committee will be hosted by the Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus.