Audit of EU Regional Funds projects focused on the environment and environmentally friendly energy

Report ID: 162

1. This report concerns a coordinated audit performed by National Audit Office of Denmark (Rigsrevisionen) and the Gdansk Regional Branch of the Supreme Audit Office of the Republic of Poland (NIK) on the EU Regional Funds projects focused on the environment and environmentally friendly energy for the programme period 2007-2013.

2. The report contains information about programmes co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including their administration, control follow-up, and how they are organised in Denmark and the Pomorskie Voivodship (region). The report is based on information gathered from national audits, the internet and other open sources.

3. In February 2010, Rigsrevisionen and the NIK engaged in a coordinated audit of environmental projects accepted to receive grants from the ERDF. The objective of the cooperation was for both Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to gain comparable knowledge about the regional fund and find out whether administration and management of regional fund projects focused on the environment and environmentally friendly energy were adequate in the two countries. This was done on the basis of samples from environmental projects accepted to receive grants from the ERDF in the period 2007-2009.

4. Furthermore, the purpose of conducting the audit as a coordinated audit was to identify examples of ‘good practice’ on the basis of the audit findings to the benefit of both SAIs and the administrations in the two countries.

5. Rigsrevisionen and the NIK have each performed the audit relating to Denmark and the Pomorskie Voivodship, respectively. These audits have been reported separately to the administrations in the two countries.

6. On the basis of these reports, this joint report with examples of “good practice” has been drawn up. The results of the Danish audit, the conclusions of the joint audit and the examples of ‘good practice’ will form part of Rigsrevisionen’s report to the Danish parliament on the audit of EU funds for 2009 while the findings of the Polish audit were included in the information on the audit results published by the NIK.

International Coordinated Audit (Control) of Public Funds, Allocated to prevention and Consequences elimination of Disasters and Catastrophes

Report ID: 250

The International Coordinated Audit (Control) of Public Funds, Allocated to Prevention and consequences Elimination of Disasters and Catastrophes was included into the Work Plan of the EUROSAI Task Force on the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes for 2012-2014, and was conducted by the SAIs of 9 participated countries.

The audit (control) objective was to assess legality and utilization efficiency of the public funds
allocated to establishment, functioning and development of the national system for prevention
and response to natural and man-caused disasters and catastrophes.

This audit also allowed to test Good Practice Recommendations for the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes, which were developed by the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine within the framework of the EUROSAI Task Force and were prepared for approval in 2014.

COORDINATED AUDIT ABOUT THE OVERSIGHT OF THE PUBLIC REVENUES FROM THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, AND PERU

Report ID: 307

The performance audit on the audit of public revenues from the exploitation and production of oil and natural gas in Brazil, Colombia and Peru was carried out by the Supreme Audit Institutions of these countries. This audit was carried out in the coordinated audit modality, within the framework of the activities of the OLACEFS Capacity Building Committee, and was supported by GIZ.

Hydrocarbon production is a highly relevant economic activity for many Latin American countries because, in addition to its strategic energy importance, it generates significant impacts on public revenues, mainly through the receipt of government contributions. As a result, the correct control of these resources by the State is a sensitive issue.

The objective of the coordinated audit, under the performance approach, was to assess the regulatory, institutional and operational conditions in which the government agencies and entities responsible for controlling the measurement of oil and natural gas production and for controlling the calculation and payment of government shares from this production, identifying possible obstacles and opportunities for improvement, as well as good practices that contribute to the improvement of management. 

In addition, the audit included an analysis of the experience of the coordinated audit, based on a) the perspectives and main results of the audit for the countries; b) the perspectives and main results of the audit for the SAIs; and c) the opinion on the experience of the coordinated audit.

SOURCE: http://www.wgei.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/auditoria-coordenada-de-petroleo-e-gas_Ingles_web.pdf

Report available in english and also in spanish.

Áreas protegidas del bioma amazónico - Resumen ejecutivo de la Auditoría coordinada

Report ID: 376

Las áreas protegidas (APs) forman parte de una estrategia mundial de conservación de la biodiversidad. Dentro de las APs existen manantiales de agua, depósitos minerales, troncos de madera, látex, frutos secos y otros recursos naturales con valor económico, social y ambiental. Los PAS son espacios protegidos por características naturales relevantes, siendo instituidos por la autoridad pública considerando que son parte importante del patrimonio ambiental.

Entre 2012 y 2013, el Tribunal Federal de Cuentas de la Unión de Brasil (TCU) y los nueve Tribunales de Cuentas estatales de la Amazonia brasileña (Acre, Amazonas, Amapa, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondonia, Roraima y Tocatins) realizaron una auditoría coordinada para evaluar todas las áreas protegidas federales y estatales del bioma amazónico. La auditoría permitió a los órganos de control trabajar de forma integrada para obtener una evaluación sistémica de las 247 áreas protegidas de ese bioma, siendo 107 de ámbito federal y 140 de ámbito estatal.

Debido a la relevancia de la región amazónica, la auditoría evaluó hasta qué punto las condiciones normativas, institucionales y operativas son suficientes para que las APs alcancen sus objetivos. Para evaluar los APs en la Amazonia brasileña, el TCU creó el Índice de Implementación y Gestión de Áreas Protegidas (Indimapa), un instrumento para evaluar, comunicar y monitorear las APs, a través de mapas geo referenciados. El instrumento clasifica las APs en tres niveles: rojo, amarillo y verde, utilizando 14 indicadores. A partir de este análisis, la auditoría verificó que sólo el 4% de las APs federales y estatales de la Amazonia brasileña se consideran con un alto grado de implementación y gestión, el nivel necesario para el cumplimiento de sus objetivos.

Finalmente, se observó que la creación y el mantenimiento de las APs ofrece importantes beneficios como la contribución al control de la deforestación y la reducción de las emisiones de carbono. Sin embargo, estas áreas tienen objetivos que van más allá de la conservación. Otras actividades también forman parte de sus objetivos como: la visitas, el turismo, la investigación, la tala sostenible, etc. Estas actividades dependen de la eficacia de la gestión con que se desarrollen, lo que requiere acciones que van más allá de la creación de APs. 

Fuente: https://portal.tcu.gov.br/biblioteca-digital/auditoria-coordenada-em-unidades-de-conservacao-da-amazonia.htm

Áreas protegidas do bioma amazónico - Resumo Executivo da Auditoria Coordenada

Report ID: 377

As áreas protegidas (Pas) fazem parte de uma estratégia mundial para a conservação da biodiversidade. Dentro das PAS existem nascentes de água, depósitos minerais, toros de madeira, látex, nozes e outros recursos naturais com valor económico, social e ambiental. Pas são espaços protegidos devido a características naturais relevantes, sendo instituídos pela autoridade pública considerando que são uma parte importante do património ambiental. 

Entre 2012 e 2013, o Tribunal Federal de Contas do Brasil (TCU) e os nove Tribunais de Contas estaduais da Amazônia brasileira (Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima e Tocatins) realizaram uma auditoria coordenada para avaliar todas as áreas protegidas federais e estaduais do bioma amazônico. A auditoria permitiu aos órgãos de fiscalização trabalhar de forma integrada para obter uma avaliação sistémica das 247 áreas protegidas desse bioma, sendo 107 a nível federal e 140 a nível estadual.

Devido à relevância da região amazónica, a auditoria avaliou até que ponto as condições normativas, institucionais e operacionais são suficientes para que o Pas atinja os seus objectivos.

Para avaliar o Pas na Amazônia brasileira, a TCU criou o Índice de Implementação e Gestão de Áreas Protegidas (Indimapa), um instrumento para avaliar, comunicar e monitorizar o PA, através de mapas geo-referenciados. O instrumento classifica o Pas em três níveis: vermelho, amarelo e verde, utilizando 14 indicadores.

Com base nesta análise, a auditoria verificou que apenas 4% dos Pas federais e estaduais na Amazônia brasileira são considerados como tendo um elevado grau de implementação e gestão, o nível necessário para o completo cumprimento dos seus objectivos.

Finalmente, observou-se que a criação e manutenção de Pas oferece benefícios importantes como a contribuição para o controlo da desflorestação e a redução das emissões de carbono. No entanto, estas áreas têm objectivos que vão mais além da conservação. Outras actividades fazem também parte dos seus objectivos como: visitação, turismo, investigação, exploração florestal sustentável, etc. Estas actividades dependem da eficiência de gestão a ser desenvolvida, o que requer acções que vão para além da criação da Pas.

Fonte: https://portal.tcu.gov.br/biblioteca-digital/auditoria-coordenada-em-unidades-de-conservacao-da-amazonia.htm