Joint final report on the audit of environmental monitoring and fisheries management and control in the Baltic Sea 2009
Report ID: 44

In 2008 the Supreme Audit Institutions of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden conducted an audit of environmental monitoring and fisheries management and control in the Baltic Sea.

The audit was divided into two parts: Germany, Latvia, Poland, and Denmark participated in the first part which is about environmental monitoring in the Baltic Sea. Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark participated in the second part about fisheries management and control in the Baltic Sea.

The overall objective of the first part was to assess whether the signatory states of the Helsinki Convention are complying with the standards of the Cooperative Monitoring in the Baltic Marine Environment (COMBINE) and how the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) will affect national monitoring.

The overall objective of the second part was to conduct a review of fisheries management and control in the Baltic Sea.

Cross-border movement of wastes between Poland and the Russian Federation
Report ID: 151

The Poland-Russia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 has been drafted jointly by the Polish and Russian parties. It will be co-financed by the European Union and the Russian Federation. The financial contribution of the EU will be provided by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and European Regional Development Fund under the 2014-2020 financial perspective of the European Union.

The Joint Operational Programme for the Poland-Russia CBC Programme 2014-2020 was prepared in the legal framework of the following regulations and documents:

  • Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 966/2012 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities;
  • Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument;
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 897/2014 of 18 August 2014 laying down specific provisions for the implementation of cross-border cooperation programmes financed under Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument;
  • Programming document for EU support to ENI Cross-Border Cooperation (2014-2020);
  • Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union’s instruments for financing external actions;

Additionally, for the Russian Federation the document was prepared on the basis of the following documents:

  • The Strategy of the Social and Economic Development of the North-Western Federal District Region of the Russian Federation till 2020 approved with the Government Executive Order of the Russian Federation № 2074-р of 18 November 2011; Federal law on procurement № 44-ФЗ of 5 April 2013;
  • Strategy for the social and economic development of the Russian Federation till 2020
  • Programme of the Government of the Russian Federation «Social and economic development of the Kaliningrad region till 2020»
  • Concept for the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation adopted by the President of the Russian Federation on 12 February 2013;
  • Tax Code of the Russian Federation;
  • Applicable decrees of the President of the Russian Federation and the Russian Government

Implementation of the Programme will comply with the provisions of relevant financing agreement between the Russian Federation, the European Union and the Republic of Poland after the JOP is adopted.

The central Government?s actions for sustainable fisheries (RiR 2008:23)
Report ID: 204

The overcapacity of the fishing fleet is an important reason why several fish stocks are overfished today. This means that fishing must be reduced to more sustainable levels to give fish stocks a chance to recover.

Sweden’s fisheries policy is part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The objectives of fisheries policy and the legislation governing it have changed in recent decades. While the objectives in the past used to be geared mainly towards development of the industry, they are nowadays designed to ensure a long-term sustainable development: economically, socially and environmentally. The objectives of this legislation are to ensure the viability of the fisheries sector, so that fishermen can earn a living; to promote employment in small-scale coastal fisheries; and to stop overfishing that threatens fish stocks.

The overall orientation of the CFP also entails a requirement for the EU Member States to apply the precautionary approach in taking measures designed to protect and conserve living aquatic resources, to provide for their sustainable exploitation and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems.

Riksrevisionen (the Swedish National Audit Office, SNAO) has examined whether the action taken by the Swedish central-government sector has been effective in promoting the intentions of the legislation governing fisheries policy and whether the Government and the various government agencies have fulfilled their obligations in the field of fisheries policy as laid down in that legislation.

The SNAO’s general conclusion is that, overall, the action taken has been ineffective. In fact, Sweden is moving away from the objectives in several material respects even though the problems concerned have been known for a long time, many policy instruments are being used and public spending for this purpose is high. The Government and the government agencies have also failed to ensure full compliance with legislation.

Compliance with the economic objective of a viable fisheries sector is deteriorating. A large proportion of commercial fishermen are experiencing a reduction in profitability, and the level of net profit for the fisheries sector as a whole has fallen strongly in recent years. Compliance with the social objective of promoting employment in small-scale coastal fisheries is also deteriorating.

The number of days spent at sea in the coastal-fisheries sector has fallen from just under 78,000 in 2002 to just under 62,000 in 2007. And the objectives relating to an environmentally sustainable development are also not being met.

According to reports on the environmental objectives set by the Riksdag (parliament), the situation of several fish stocks is critical; in certain cases the situation has grown worse. What is more, the relative size of stocks of different species has changed considerably, which may have an impact on the maritime eco-system as a whole.

The SNAO’s audit is part of a joint Baltic audit. The supreme audit institutions of Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Finland are conducting parallel audits of the state of marine life in the Baltic Sea. The Danish national audit office (Rigsrevisionen) will compile a joint Baltic report to be published in February 2009.

Joint Report on the parallel audit "Protection of the waters in the Bug River catchment area from pollution"
Report ID: 269

In 2006, the Supreme Audit Institutions of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Poland and Ukraine conducted a parallel audit “Protection of the Bug river drainage basin waters against pollution”. The audit was conducted based on cooperation agreements signed  among the three participating SAIs.

Before audit commencement, in February 2006, SAI – audit members agreed and signed “Joint position on the scope of parallel audit regarding protection of the Bug river drainage basin waters from pollution” and methodology (goal, scope, audit criteria, procedures, etc).

The parallel audit objective was to analyze and assess:

− The international cooperation as regards pollution protection of cross-border drainage basin waters of the Bug river, implementation of assumptions and leading recommendations of the pilot project regarding the implementation and assessment the pollution of cross-border drainage basin waters of the Bug river, in accordance with the provisions of Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes,

− Investment activities undertaken in order to improve the purity of the Bug river drainage basin waters as well as effectiveness of utilization of financial funds allocated for such activities.

The audit covered the period of 2003 – 2005 and 2006.

Source: https://rp.gov.ua/upload-files/IntCooperation/IntAudits/31-12-2008%2010-00-00/Zvit_Protection_Bug.pdf

Joint Report of the Paralllel Audit to the implementation of the NATURA 2000 NETWORK in Europe
Report ID: 271

Natura 2000 is an EU wide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive.

As stated in the European Commission strategy to protect Europe's most important wildlife areas, the aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It comprises Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) designated by Member States under the Habitats Directive, and Special Protection Areas (SPA) designated under the 1979 Birds Directive.

From february to october 2007, the SAIs of Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, and United Kingdom participated in the audit, coordinated by the French Cour des Comptes with the technical  assistance of the European Court of Auditors.

The scope of the audit on implementation of the European Natura 2000 network was to  examine whether and how the provisions of the European Directives, and especially Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, were observed in an effective and efficient way. The audit examined three key elements, namely compliance, governance and funding.