The European Union is comprised of seven institutions: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors. The latter is the last founded EU Institution and was established by the Treaty to carry out the audit of EU finances. “As the EU's external auditor it contributes to improving EU financial management and acts as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union.”
This term paper provides an insight into the work procedures of the Court of Auditors and its approach to audit EU´s budgets according to the Annual Activity Report 2009. Moreover this paper points out the importance and achievements of the Court´s work particularly on the basis of the special report No 6, 2009 about the “European Union food aid for derived persons”.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What is the European Court of Auditors?
- 2.1. Historical Background
- 2.2. Organization
- 2.3. The Staff
- 2.4. What does the Court do?
- 3. Audit Visits
- 4. Public reports of the ECA
- 5. Cooperation with OLAF
- 5.1. OLAF's Mission
- 5.2. Case study: The Rehabilitation of a power station in Serbia
- 6. International Relationships
- 7. Objectives of the ECA
- 8. Internal and External Audit Control
- 9. The EU's budget
- 10. Case study: EU food aid for derived person
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to provide insight into the European Court of Auditors' (ECA) work procedures and its approach to auditing EU budgets, primarily referencing the 2009 Annual Activity Report. It highlights the importance and achievements of the Court's work, particularly focusing on a special report concerning EU food aid. Due to limited access to resources, the paper relies heavily on information from the ECA's website.
- The structure and function of the European Court of Auditors.
- The ECA's audit processes and methodologies.
- The ECA's role in ensuring accountability and transparency in EU financial management.
- The ECA's cooperation with other EU institutions, particularly OLAF.
- Case studies illustrating the ECA's impact.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) as one of the seven institutions of the European Union, highlighting its role as the EU's external auditor responsible for auditing EU finances and contributing to improved financial management. The chapter also states the paper's objective to provide insight into the ECA's work procedures and its approach to auditing EU budgets, with a particular focus on the Annual Activity Report 2009 and a special report on EU food aid.
2. What is the European Court of Auditors?: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), its establishment in 1975, its composition of one member from each EU member state, and its location in Luxembourg. It details the ECA's historical evolution, starting from its initial establishment as an external Community audit body and its subsequent elevation to an institution in 1993, highlighting the progression of its independence and authority. The chapter also touches upon the Court's organizational structure, staff composition, and its broad range of professional expertise.
3. Audit Visits: This chapter describes the ECA's audit visit process to Member States and recipient countries of EU funds. These visits involve obtaining audit evidence from central and local administrations involved in processing, managing and paying EU funds, and also from the final beneficiaries. The teams conducting these audits typically comprise two or three auditors and each mission lasts up to two weeks, depending on factors like audit type and travel distances. Collaboration with supreme audit institutions of visited Member States is often a key component of the process, providing logistical and practical support.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
European Court of Auditors (ECA), EU budget, audit, financial management, accountability, transparency, OLAF, annual activity report, special reports, EU food aid, performance audit, compliance audit, financial audit.
Frequently Asked Questions: European Court of Auditors Term Paper Preview
What is the purpose of this document?
This document serves as a comprehensive preview of a term paper analyzing the European Court of Auditors (ECA). It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the term paper?
The term paper explores the European Court of Auditors' work procedures and its approach to auditing EU budgets, focusing on the 2009 Annual Activity Report. Key topics include the structure and function of the ECA, its audit processes and methodologies, its role in ensuring accountability and transparency, its cooperation with other EU institutions (particularly OLAF), and case studies illustrating its impact.
What is the structure of the term paper?
The term paper is structured as follows: Introduction; What is the European Court of Auditors? (including historical background, organization, staff, and functions); Audit Visits; Public reports of the ECA; Cooperation with OLAF (including OLAF's mission and a case study); International Relationships; Objectives of the ECA; Internal and External Audit Control; The EU's budget; and a Case study: EU food aid for derived persons.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes revolve around the ECA's role in ensuring accountability and transparency in EU financial management, its audit methodologies, its cooperation with other EU institutions, and the impact of its audits, particularly concerning EU food aid.
What sources of information are used in the paper?
The paper primarily relies on information from the ECA's website and the 2009 Annual Activity Report, due to limited access to other resources.
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the paper (as previewed)?
The preview does not present specific findings, but highlights the ECA's importance and achievements in auditing EU budgets and promoting financial accountability and transparency.
What case studies are included?
The preview mentions two case studies: the rehabilitation of a power station in Serbia (in the context of OLAF cooperation) and EU food aid for derived persons.
What are the key words associated with the term paper?
Key words include: European Court of Auditors (ECA), EU budget, audit, financial management, accountability, transparency, OLAF, annual activity report, special reports, EU food aid, performance audit, compliance audit, financial audit.
How does the paper describe the ECA's audit process?
The preview describes the ECA's audit visits to Member States, involving obtaining evidence from various actors, including central and local administrations and final beneficiaries. It highlights the collaboration with supreme audit institutions of visited Member States.
What is the role of OLAF in relation to the ECA?
The preview highlights the cooperation between the ECA and OLAF, another EU institution focusing on combating fraud.
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- Mario Palamara (Autor:in), 2010, Meaning of the European Court of Auditors, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/172550
