The Financial Regulation is the basic text setting out the principles and procedures for establishing and implementing the EU budget, and for scrutinising EU finances.
ECA budget
The ECA is financed by the general budget of the European Union. Our budget represents less than 0.1% of total EU spending and 1.5% of total administrative spending.
You can find a description of our budget and how we implement it in the
ECA’s activity report.
Reports by the external auditor on the European Court of Auditors’ accounts
Our annual accounts are drawn up by the ECA’s Accounting Officer and are audited annually by an external auditor.
The audited annual accounts together with the external auditor’s reports are sent to the European Commission for consolidation purposes, and to the European Parliament and the Council.
Report on budgetary and financial management
This report provides an overview of the implementation of our budget and explains events which have had a significant impact on our activities. The report is sent to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.
Report of the authorising officer by delegation
This report contains information about how we manage our resources, and about the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal control systems. The report provides management accountability both internally within the ECA and externally to the budgetary authorities.
The report is issued by the Secretary-General each year in accordance with Article 74(9) of the Financial Regulation; it is sent to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council as part of the annual budget discharge procedure.
Environmental statement
The ECA is committed to being a sustainable institution, and for several years we have been stepping up our efforts to minimise our impact on the environment.
We calculate our carbon footprint every year and take part in the EU's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). We achieved EMAS registration in March 2017, and successfully operate an environmental management system in line with the provisions of ISO 14001 and EMAS Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2017/1505.
Sustainability reporting
Sustainability involves more than just greening. It is also about social, economic and environmental impact, ethical conduct and good governance. We have therefore incorporated these values into our organisational culture.
Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in our ongoing efforts to promote good governance and accountability, by which we seek to ensure that public money is used efficiently and effectively, these being fundamental principles of sustainability.
We report annually on our sustainability practices and behaviour. This information is available as an annex to the “Our activities" report (for 2023 and after) or as a separate report (for 2022 and 2021).
Internal Audit Service
The ECA’s Internal Audit Service (IAS) was created in 2002, following administrative reform and within the framework of the new Financial Regulation No 1605/2002, which introduced the principle of "sound financial management".
The appointment and function of the internal auditor are laid down in Articles 117 to 122 of the Financial Regulation No 2018/1046.
The IAS has complete independence in carrying out its audits, which cover all the institution's activities and departments. It has full and unlimited access to all the information it needs to carry out its work.
Each year, the ECA forwards a report to the European Parliament and the Council containing a summary of the number and type of internal audits carried out, the recommendations made and the actions taken on those recommendations.
Internal Audit Committee
We have also an Audit Committee responsible for internal audit issues. The Committee is composed of ECA Members and an external figure.
The current members of the Internal Audit Committee are:
