The National Audit Office of the Republic of Estonia and the Court of Audit of the Russian Federation (hereinafter parties) conducted a parallel audit on environmental protection and the sustainable use of transboundary waters of the Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus is the 4th largest lake in Europe and the largest transboundary water body in the European Union. The lake is an important source of freshwater and it is also important because of its fish stocks, recreation areas and waterways. In addition, it is the habitat of many species, including migratory birds.
The status of Lake Peipus is influenced by the everyday activities of people living on the Estonian and Russian side of the catchment area, as well as activities related to agriculture, extraction of mineral resources, forest management and other economic activities.
The main problem is the lake’s eutrophication (nutrient saturation, especially of phosphorous and nitrogenous compounds), which causes changes in the lake’s ecosystem, reduces fish stocks, decreases the quality of water and in critical cases also encourages the spread of blue-green algae that emit poison which endangers the biota as well as the health of swimmers.
The audit was started based on the cooperation agreement concluded in 2010 between the National Audit Office of Estonia and the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, according to which both states shall audit the factors influencing the status of Lake Peipus in their respective states.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the measures implemented by the state have helped to reduce the pollution load of Lake Peipus and the achievement of the good status of the lake. Attention was especially paid to the inspection of activities influencing the pollution load of Lake Peipus (point source and diffuse pollution) as well as Estonian-Russian cooperation in this area.
The audit focused on the following main issues:
1. Is the quality of water in and the status of the ecosystem of Lake Peipus being assessed?
2. Are there any measures taken to reduce pollution in and to protect Lake Peipus?
3. Is supervision carried out over the conformity to environmental requirements of the sources of pollution in Lake Peipus?
4. Is the co-operation between Estonia and Russia contributing to the preservation and improvement of the status of Lake Peipus?
A Memorandum on the results of the parallel audit was issued by both SAIs. Each party prepared a report on the results of the parallel audit separately and independently. The parties based their parallel audit on the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTOSAI and Europe Supreme Audit Institutions EUROSAI standards and auditing principles.
The Memorandum is available in Estonian and Russian.
SOURCE: https://www.riigikontroll.ee/Kontaktid/T%C3%B6%C3%B6tajad/T%C3%B6%C3%B6taja/tabid/215/Audit/2233/WorkerId/116/language/en-US/Default.aspx