ECA audit missions in EU member states – an opportunity to co-operate

Article by Auditor General Mr. Henrik Otbo published in the special issue of the ”Kontrola Pa ństwowa” by the Supreme Chamber of Control of Poland on the occasion of the EU Contact Committee Meeting in Warsaw, December 11-12, 2006. The National Audit Office of Denmark Auditor General Henrik Otbo The European Court of Auditors’ audit missions – an opportunity to co-operate on EU financial management in EU Member States The importance of co-operation within the European Union I am pleased to be given this opportunity to address the readers of the Kontrola Panstwowa and I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts on the importance of co-operation on EU financial management on a number of levels within the EU structure. It is evident to focus on co-operation when speaking of the European Union since co-operation is indeed the essence of the great European project. My point of departure is the co-operation which takes place in the EU Contact Committee which meets once a year – in 2006 the meeting takes place in Warsaw on December 11-12. The EU Contact Committee consists of the heads of the EU Member States’ National Audit Institution (EU NAIs) and the President of the European Court of Auditors (the ECA). The co-operation within the context of the EU Contact Committee is encouraged in the declaration 18 of the Nice Treaty: “The Conference invites the ...