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The EUROSAI Congress extended the mandate of the EUROSAI Working Group on the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes, under the chairmanship of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, until 2024. The relevant decision was made during the XI EUROSAI Congress, which took place online due to the coronavirus epidemic. The representatives of 48 supreme audit institutions took part in the event.
The Chairman of the Accounting Chamber Valeriy Patskan, during his speech at the Congress, reminded that the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine is the Chair of the EUROSAI Working Group on the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes since 2014. The Strategic Goals of the EUROSAI Working Group for 2017-2021 were professional cooperation, professional development and contributing to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The mission of our Working Group is to assist governments of different countries in developing effective mechanisms for prevention and consequences elimination of catastrophes to protect the population and economies of our countries. In order to resolve and eliminate the consequences of emerging disasters, the efforts of not one or more countries, but the entire international community must be done with the involvement of international organizations, experts, financial assistance and volunteers” – Valeriy Patskan stressed.
During this time, the EUROSAI Working Group under the coordination of the Accounting Chamber carried out two international audits – “On the Prevention and Consequences Elimination of Floods” with participation of 7 supreme audit institutions (SAIs), namely, SAIs of Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Serbia, Georgia, Turkey, as well as the European Court of Auditors and “On Waste Management and Utilization” with participation of 3 SAIs (Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia). The international audits on protection of the Bug River catchment area from pollution (follow-up audit) and on transboundary movements of wastes between Ukraine, Slovakia and Poland during 2015 – I half of 2019 in the light of the Basel Convention provisions (is in the process of completion and was carried out with the participation of the SAIs of Ukraine, Slovakia and Poland), were held. In addition, the Good practice Recommendations for Conducting Audits in the Field of Prevention and Consequences Elimination of Floods were prepared and approved; three annual meetings and four seminars on the most topical issues for the members of the Working Group were held; contacts with experts on issues related to areas of the Working Group’s activity were expanded.
“The defined strategic goals have been generally met, but we are not going to stop there. Within our Working Group more attention should be paid to conducting audits of governments’ efforts to implement the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030. It is a question of the sphere of prevention and liquidation of consequences of catastrophes. In particular, such global as the current pandemic”, – Valeriy Patskan noted.
Therefore it was proposed to extend the mandate of the EUROSAI Working Group for the next period under the chairmanship of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine. This initiative was supported by all the participants of the XI EUROSAI Congress.
The Accounting Chamber prepared the Strategic Plan of the Working Group for the next three years taking into account the Strategic Goals of EUROSAI, as well as the challenges of the modern world that require an appropriate response of supreme audit institutions. Valeriy Patskan stressed that the EUROSAI Working Group on the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes will strengthen cooperation with other working groups of EUROSAI and INTOSAI, expand cooperation with non-governmental organizations and experts.
The Member of the Accounting Chamber Viktor Bohun also took part in the event.
For reference: European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) was established in 1990 in order to ensure the achievement of goals of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) at the regional level, while giving members the opportunity to focus on issues specific to their region.
Now EUROSAI membership stands at 50 SAIs (the SAIs of 49 European States and the European Court of Auditors). The Accounting Chamber is a full member of EUROSAI since 1999.
The EUROSAI Congress is the supreme body of EUROSAI and is composed by all members of EUROSAI (through their Heads or their duly authorized representatives). It meets in ordinary session every three years.
The last Congress (X) was held in Istanbul from 22 to 25 May, 2017, and was organized by the Turkish Court of Accounts under the theme “Implementation of ISSAIs; Challenges and Solutions for Further Improvement”. The next Congress (XII) will take place in the State of Israel in 2024.
