Meeting of Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Visegrád countries, Austria and Slovenia (V4+2)

The lead topics of the annual meeting of Heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the Visegrád countries, Austria and Slovenia (V4+2) were the use of audit software, publishing of national reports on the EU financial management, and auditing of EU cross-border cooperation projects. Traditionally, developments in the EU financial management and governance as well as V4+2 regional and national experience were discussed.

The tradition of meetings of Heads of SAIs of the Visegrád countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) goes back to 1993. At a later stage, the SAIs of Slovenia and Austria were invited to join in. This year’s meeting was held at the hotel Augustiánský dům in Luhačovice, Czech Republic, on 22 – 23 September 2011.

The use of audit software and integration of used modules are crucial in ensuring high quality of audit work. The first discussion topic was the use of audit software, especially how it supports work on daily basis, what software tools are used, and plans for the future. In the next discussion SAIs focused on the importance of publishing national reports on the EU financial management, different approaches taken by individual SAIs, and possibilities of developing them further.

Cross-border cooperation projects are an important aspect of the EU’s regional policy. In a separate part experience in auditing projects on a national and bilateral level and possibilities of cooperation in the future were discussed.

Recent developments concerning the EU financial management and governance are another topic of V4+2 meetings. Heads of SAIs discuss issues before the annual meeting of the Contact Committee (meeting of Heads of SAIs of the EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors). This year, a report was given on the European Semester, EU economic governance, and developments concerning revision of EU Financial Regulation and national declarations.

Further discussion is regularly dedicated to national projects and cooperation within the V4+2 framework. Following up on a seminar on the fight against fraud and corruption that was held in Slovenia in spring this year, delegations agreed to create a working group to develop a manual for auditors concerning fraud and corruption.

The next meeting of the Heads of the V4+2 SAIs will be organised in Hungary in 2012.

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