Liliyana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency, visits EU Auditors
Ms Liliyana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council, visited the European Court of Auditors (ECA) today, Thursday 18 January, in Luxembourg. She was welcomed by ECA President Mr Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Ms Iliana Ivanova, the Bulgarian Member of the ECA, and Mr Rimantas Šadžius, the ECA Member responsible for institutional relations.
At a meeting with the ECA’s college of Members, Minister Pavlova discussed the current Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, setting out its priorities and main areas of interest. She and the Members also discussed the future of the EU and its finances, as well as the ECA's role and importance in the overall framework of the EU.
“We very much appreciated Minister Pavlova’s visit and the interesting exchange of thoughts,” said ECA President Lehne. “The Bulgarian Presidency’s programme and its objectives are ambitious and of great importance. The ECA will continue its efforts to ensure that every euro spent at EU level has a clear added value for the taxpayers in the Member States.”
“Ms Pavlova’s visit to the ECA is an excellent example of the joint efforts of all EU institutions to ensure more transparency and accountability for the EU budget,” remarked ECA Member Ivanova, dean of the ECA chamber responsible for auditing EU investment for cohesion, growth and inclusion, adding: “I am happy that the Bulgarian Presidency is focusing on priorities such as the future of cohesion policy and youth employment."
On behalf of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Minister Pavlova told the ECA’s Members: “I would like to reassure all of you that Bulgaria as a Member State and as the holder of the Presidency of the Council attaches great importance to the ECA’s work, which is a guarantee that every euro from the EU budget is spent as it should be, according to the rules. We believe that the EU’s expenditure should be subject to proper scrutiny."
President Lehne wished Minister Pavlova and the Bulgarian Government a very successful Presidency.
As the EU's independent external auditor, the ECA contributes to improving EU financial management, promotes accountability and transparency, and acts as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union. Bulgaria holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2018.