Whether investments in renewable energies, digital infrastructure or research: In many areas, projects are funded from the budget of the European Union (EU). In order to ensure that these funds are used efficiently and properly, the European supreme audit institutions work closely together. One important instrument to do so is the EU Contact Committee.
The Contact Committee is the most important committee for the cooperation of the supreme audit institutions of the EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors (ECA). In this context, the supreme audit institutions share information on current audit work, working methods and results. Sharing information is of key importance to combine audit strategies and to close audit gaps.
While the ECA is responsible for auditing EU funds, the supreme audit institutions of the Member States review the use of the respective national funds. However, since the audited entities are exclusively the own governments, audit gaps may emerge. For example, the Bundesrechnungshof cannot audit the European Commission even if audit work is about the use of the German contributions to the European Union. Only the ECA may audit the European Commission. It is therefore all the more important that the national supreme audit institutions and the ECA collaborate closely. It is of equal importance that the national supreme audit institutions network in audits and topics of mutual interest. Both is key for the effectiveness of external auditing within the European Union.
