The European Court of Auditors (ECA), as the EU's external audit institution, seeks good contacts and working relations with similar organisations all over the world. Particular attention is given to the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in Europe, where cooperation with SAIs of EU Member States and EU candidate and potential candidate countries is especially important.
The objective of this cooperation is closely linked to the Court's responsibility for the audit of EU funds. As these funds generally pass through the national administrations of the countries concerned and the respective SAIs audit those administrations, close cooperation between the ECA and national SAIs is essential for effective and efficient implementation of the ECA's tasks.
The ECA applies generally accepted international public sector auditing standards and international cooperation provides valuable opportunities to exchange views and experiences on their use.
ECA President Vitor Caldeira (third from the left), Mr Vicente Brusca, Auditor-General of the SAI of the Republic of Argentina and ECA Member Lazaros Lazarou (on his right), Mr. Alejandro Nieva, Auditor-General of the SAI of the Republic of Argentina, Mr. François Osete and Mr. Batinic (on his left)
From left to right: Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Luc Frieden, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, Vítor Caldeira, President of the European Court of Auditors and Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank.
Luxembourg - 14 October 2011
