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National Audit Office Press Notice

Financial Management in the European Union
 

THIS STATEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST BEFORE 0001 HOURS ON FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2008

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General
HC 480 2007-2008
25 April 2008
ISBN: 9780102953695
Price: £13.90

The European Commission and Member States have made progress in strengthening the financial management of European Union funds, according to a report today from the National Audit Office. But for the thirteenth year in a row the European Court of Auditors (ECA) did not provide a positive Statement of Assurance on the legality and regularity of expenditure.

Today’s report summarizes the results of the Court’s examination of the European Union’s accounts and progress on the range of initiatives being taken forward by the Commission and Member States.

In the Common Agricultural Policy (which represents the largest expenditure component), the Court noted a marked reduction in the overall error to a point where it was just above the level at which a positive opinion could be given. Despite problems with its implementation in the UK, there are indications that the introduction of the Single Payments Scheme and the continued application of the Integrated Administration and Control System have helped achieve a lower error rate in those Member States which have adopted the Scheme.

Achieving a positive Statement of Assurance in funding for Structural Measures, which are designed to reduce disparities in the level of development between regions and Member States, remains the most challenging component of the budget. Generally ineffective or moderately effective control systems within Member States, and only moderately effective supervision by the Commission, led the Court to conclude that this expenditure was subject to material error.

In March, the Commission confirmed a decision to impose a financial correction of some €25 million (£17 million) on the United Kingdom for not exercising its supervisory role in an effective manner in a European Regional Development Fund programme in the North-West.

A number of Member States, including the United Kingdom, have indicated their intention to improve transparency of the expenditure of European Union funds through some form of enhanced reporting to their national parliaments. As part of this initiative the Treasury will publish, in June 2008, its first annual consolidated statement on the United Kingdom’s use of European funds.

Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said today:

“There has been some improvement in financial management of EU funds in 2006, but there are still significant challenges to achieving a positive Statement of Assurance on legality and regularity of expenditure. To reduce the level of error the Commission needs to strengthen its supervision of Structural Measures expenditure. But with some three-quarters of European expenditure managed by Member States, they too have a major role in improving the financial management of European Union funds. The United Kingdom’s forthcoming account of its own use of European Funds is a helpful development.”

Notes for Editors:

  1. The European Court of Auditors is the external auditor of the European Community. The Court reports annually on its findings on the management of Community funds. It also provides an annual Statement of Assurance on the reliability of the Community’s accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions. The Court is made up of one member from each Member State.
  2. EU expenditure in 2006 was over £72 billion (€106.6 billion), with £2.9 billion (€4.3 billion) in net UK contributions – the second highest after Germany.
  3. The Annual Report of the Court of Auditors concerning the financial year 2006 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in November 2007.
  4. Press notices and reports are available from the date of publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.
  5. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Tim Burr, is the head of the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies have used their resources.

Press Notice 22/08
All enquiries to Phil Groves, NAO Press Office: Tel: 020 7798 5339
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