EUROSAI by the Czech Republic

Candidacy

We have a clear and defined vision on what EUROSAI organisation should look like and how it should work. It reflects one substantial idea – the idea of maximum usability for its members for the purpose of fulfilment of its core mission – to bring value to citizens. For that, we want EUROSAI to move forward. It should be an organisation, which functions as a basis with tools and methods for effective exchange of information useful particularly for member’s audit activities, yet with minimal effort from EUROSAI members, but with maximal value for their work. We want EUROSAI as organisation where all will talk with whom they have something to say instead of spending hours in sometimes unnecessarily long meetings passively watching presentations. It is time when not always effective circular letters will be substituted with relevant objectives addressing concrete issues and involving particular members. It is time to become more effective and efficient. That is our vision.

To achieve this goal, EUROSAI should be characterised by ten following features:

• useful, providing its members with useful ideas, tools and methods for voluntarily use in their operations and performance,
• practical, responding to the specifically identified current and important needs of its members,
• flexible, able to react to new challenges and SAIs´ demands fast and effectively,
• up-to-date, following and addressing the recent developments in audit domain,
• effective, a result-oriented organisation setting its particular goals and following their progress towards their achievement,
• active, offering its useful and particular results and activities to its members,
• responsive, listening and operatively addressing demands and suggestions of the members,
• communicative, facilitating an exchange of information with new methods and tools,
• transparent, clearly presenting the results of its activities and fairly addressing shortcomings,
• influential, representing the interest of its members in other SAIs´ platforms (e.g. INTOSAI).

We consider the above mentioned set as the principles to be followed during our presidency. We are also convinced that they address the ideas, concerns and suggestions expressed by EUROSAI members during recently concluded self-assessment scrutiny.

“3C” project for particular and useful results

We will facilitate the exchange of information and documents by fostering existing networks and information channels. To become useful and operational, we will support as much practical arrangements for mutual work via EUROSAI implementing bodies, and will advertise the dissemination of their results. We strive to overcome as much as possible the obstacles and bottlenecks in mutual communication, including those caused by the diversity of languages.

Hence, also supporting the principles stated in the ISSAI 12, and reflecting the EUROSAI goals of capacity building, adherence to professional standards and knowledge sharing, we are ready to put the fulfilment of the aforementioned goals promotion of so-called 3C project composed of comparison, communication and cooperation in the center of our activities:

First C for Comparison

We believe that sharing useful information and indicators from broader than national basis, and a possibility to make international comparisons and benchmarking is an effective and convincing tool notably in performance auditing. However, for this we need comparable parameters and to know their values. We see huge potential in efficient sharing of selected international performance parameters with minimal burden for member SAIs and with maximal value for their work. We have already launched the Benchmarking Information Exchange Project (BIEP) enabling international comparison of indicators usable particularly in performance auditing within the framework of V4+2 group of SAIs1. International comparisons and benchmarking are also often used for instance by the European Court of Auditors in their performance audits of EU funds executed in the member states.

Second C for Communication

We are ready to communicate with the members and establish methodology, database and tools for using the comparable data. These new communication tools will facilitate such benchmarking, and safe time to auditors since the reliable data will be available. Moreover, we are aware that majority of EUROSAI members is still disadvantaged because they lack the possibility to follow the meetings/documents in the native language. However, today's technology already offers tools that allow automatic translation and even instant transcription of speech to text. Certainly, these tools do have their limits, and they are a long way from being able to comprehensively work with human language. However, we have been already experimenting with such tools and follow carefully recent developments in this area. We will offer and promote most suitable solutions for members to facilitate successful communication.

Third C for Cooperation

Creating tools and space for better cooperation is our main objective for the Presidency of EUROSAI. This process we started as the Goal Team 3 chair with the development of databases available to all EUROSAI members and other knowledge sharing activities. This cooperation will be further enhanced by effective communicating the data, indicators and other information usable for comparisons, and learning from others experience.

In summary, our vision of EUROSAI is based on creating and improving the conditions for voluntary cooperation of EUROSAI members. We want to facilitate the sharing of the most precious thing all the members have – the unique and unreplaceable audit findings. It’s the way how to move our work to the next level – level, which brings more value to citizens. The question now is simple: Are you in? We are.

For more details about our candidacy see the Bid Book (pdf 712 kB).