Joint Report on EUROFISC Cooperative Audit

Report ID: 255

Since 2011, EU Member States have implemented EUROFISC, an early warning system, which enables them to share information on suspected companies and their customers. EUROFISC increases the chances of national administrations to detect fraudsters in due time. The quality of data, IT support, response times and response rates of the Member States, however, need to be enhanced to effectively combat VAT fraud within the EU.

The current value added tax (VAT) system in the European Union (EU) provides opportunities for intra–Community fraud that all Member States have to deal with. This is sufficient reason for the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the EU to address this topic. Due to its European dimension, the SAIs considered it necessary to cooperate in their audit activities. Consequently, a number of coordinated audits were conducted during the last years within the EU.

The SAIs of Austria, Germany and Hungary carried out a coordinated audit in 2013 and 2014 by each SAI in its territory and according to its own mandate. Their audit activities resulted in national reports for each of the three participating countries, and a joint report. The joint report presents the overall and synthesized conclusions and recommendations supported by the relevant audit observations of the participating SAIS. The audit period covered the years 2011 to 2013.

Joint Report Funds earmarked for the implementation of the Swiss–Czech Cooperation Programme to reduce economic and social disparities within the enlarged European Union

Report ID: 260

In 2013 the SAIs of  Czech Republic and Switzerland  agreed to perform a coordinated audit of the “Funds earmarked for the implementation of the Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme (SCCP) to reduce economic and social disparities within the enlarged European Union”.

The objective of the parallel audit was  to verify the compliance of the cooperation programme activities with the relevant obligations stipulated in the Swiss–Czech Framework Agreement (SCFA), signed on 20 December 2007, as well as in the national legislations and guidelines. Both audits aimed at reviewing the implementation system of the SCCP, the reliability of the control and audit system, the fulfilment of programme objectives and selected projects of beneficiaries.

EUROSAI IT Working Group Parallel Audit on Biometric Passports

Report ID: 261

At the 8th Meeting of the EUROSAI IT Working Group (ITWG), held in Paris, France, in 2013, the SAIs of Switzerland (Audit coordinator), Portugal, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway, decided to carry out Parallel Audit on Biometric Passports

The objective of the audit was to assess whether adequate management and control processes are in place relating to the biometric passport production process. Within the primary objective, auditors were expected to ascertain whether the process to obtain a reliable and secure biometric passport is well defined and properly implemented.

The main goal of this audit was to validate the following areas with regard to the production process, including the risk mitigation aspect: Benefit realisation, Security, Effectiveness and efficiency

The evaluation of the reported results showed that the overall passport process is generally under control while a couple of high-risk findings were identified in the non-process-specific assessments. In the non-process-specific assessments, most of the countries found deficiencies and weaknesses related to the IS/IT system and the IT management. Medium risks have been identified in the area of laws and regulations, cost-benefit realisation and transparency, as well as in security regulations relating to internal and external personnel.

Source: https://www.vkontrole.lt/en/docs/booklet-parallel-audit-on-biometricpassports.pdf

Multilateral Audit on the Arctic States’ national authorities’ work with the Arctic Council

Report ID: 262

The SAIs of  Denmark, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States of America collaborated on a multilateral audit of national participation in the Arctic Council - an intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation on Arctic issues.

The multilateral audit, coordinated by SAI Norway and SAI Russia, was carried out in accordance with a strategic plan signed by the participating SAIs in October 2012 and was aimed to inform Arctic governance and enhance the usefulness of the Council in understanding and managing Arctic issues.

In addition to the national reports, the SAIs issued a memorandum  highlighting the results of a cooperative audit. The audits conducted by the five SAIs where they are similar in scope, and does not necessarily represent the views or conclusions of each SAI.

Key findings include the following:

• Changes in the Arctic have elevated the importance of international cooperation in the Arctic
• The Arctic Council has contributed to enhanced cooperation, governance and Scientific knowledge
• The Council faces key challenges related to its organizational structure, establishing priorities, funding its work, and ensuring the effective implementation of voluntary recommendations adopted by member states
• Indigenous groups make important contributions to the council, but face Challenges participating

Source: https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/1527

Audit of Disaster Risk Reduction

Report ID: 267

WIthin the framework of the activities of the former INTOSAI Working Group on Accountability for and the Audit of Disaster–related Aid (AADA), from 2011 to 2013 the SAIs of Azerbaijan, Chile, India, Indonesia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Turkey (coordinator) and Ukraine carried out a coordinated audit.

The aim of the audit was  to provide inputs for the draft versions of ISSAI 5510 "Audit of Disaster Risk Reduction" and testing and improving its content.

The joint report presents the results of the international parallel/coordinated audit in two sections:

• In part I: Joint report and common conclusions of the international parallel/coordinated audit.

• In part II: Summaries of the national audits were given.

Source: http://www.sayistay.gov.tr/en/?p=2&ContentID=234