For people with visual impairments
On 16-17 October, representatives of the supreme audit institutions of the EU member states discussed migration policy, in particular the issues of the integration of migrants into the labour market and their involvement in the education system of the EU countries during the meeting of the Contact Committee held in the city Peyia (Republic of Cyprus). The Accounting Chamber was represented at the event by its members Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak and Kyrylo Klymenko.
For reference: the Accounting Chamber's Work Plan for 2024 includes several audits that are in some way related to the migration policy. In particular, a coordinated parallel audit on ensuring the right to education of Ukrainian children in schools in European countries is planned. As part of the planned control measures, the SAIs of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will investigate the process of ensuring access to education for Ukrainian children in their countries, and the Accounting Chamber will analyse whether the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has provided these children with the opportunity to continue their education online in Ukrainian schools. A financial audit of the State Migration Service of Ukraine is also planned.
During the meeting, the SAI representatives focused on the main challenges currently faced by member states in managing migration, the opportunities that migration provides to the EU labour market, and long-term solutions to effectively respond to the growth of migration flows. The expected impact of the adoption of the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact was also discussed.
In addition, in separate parallel sessions, the participants presented the results of their control measures regarding migration policy.
‘It is very useful for us to discuss with our colleagues their experience on these issues, because we mostly talked about our compatriots who are seeking asylum in the EU countries because of the war. Also, the issue of migration policy is relevant for Ukraine in the context of the future EU membership and possible increase in migration flows during the post-war reconstruction period,’ said Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak , a Member of the Accounting Chamber.
The SAI representatives also discussed the difficulties faced by Ukrainians abroad, in particular, with regard to access to information and education. In this context, several representatives of SAIs expressed their willingness to join the international coordinated audit on ensuring the right to education of Ukrainian children in schools in European countries, which is being implemented by the Accounting Chamber together with SAIs of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
‘A separate challenge for us remains the return of Ukrainians home after the war and bringing the aggressor country to justice for the damage caused. In this context, we discussed joining forces to audit the costs caused by Russian aggression. The joint work of the SAIs of the EU countries can help to assess the real cost of the war for each country, and this will be an important contribution to the international efforts to bring the aggressor to justice,’ said Kyrylo Klymenko, a Member of the Accounting Chamber, following the meeting.
The day before, on 15 October, the members of the Accounting Chamber attended the conference on the independence of the Supreme Audit Institutions of the EU member states. During the panel meetings, the participants of the event presented their positions on the role of independent supreme audit institutions in proper governance and the rule of law, discussed the challenges faced by SAIs, the impact of restrictions on their independence, and the issues of strengthening and advocating for the independence of SAIs. It should be noted that strengthening the independence is one of the key changes that should be ensured by the updated legislation on the Accounting Chamber.
Yelyzaveta Pushko-Tsybuliak and Kyrylo Klymenko also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. In particular, they met with the newly appointed Auditor General of the Republic of Cyprus Andreas Papaconstantinou and President of the Portuguese Court of Audit Philippa Urbano Calvao and handed them congratulatory letters from the Chairwoman of the Accounting Chamber Olha Pishchanska on the occasion of their appointment.
Members of the Accounting Chamber discussed the assessment of the state of public administration in Ukraine and compliance of the draft law "On the Accounting Chamber" with international standards in the field of external audit with the Deputy Head of the OECD/SIGMA Programme Bianca Bretes, with the Deputy Director of the Joint Audit Directorate for Cohesion of the European Commission Androula Ioannou - compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law, with the Senior President of the Belgian Court of Audit Hilda Francois - current issues of cooperation between institutions, and with the Director General of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) Einar Gorrissen - instruments of international protection of SAI independence. In particular, they discussed the SAI Independence Rapid Advocacy Mechanism (SIRAM), which was created for timely response to threats and violations of SAI independence around the world.
As a reminder, the Contact Committee of Supreme Audit Institutions of the EU Member States is an independent platform for meetings of the heads of Supreme Audit Institutions of the EU Member States and the European Chamber of Auditors (ECA). Its purpose is to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the field of audit and related activities, to develop common approaches to audit and accountability issues, and to share experiences and best practices. Since 2022, the Accounting Chamber has been an observer of the Contact Committee.
