ECA President Lehne and Member Ivanova in Bulgaria today

​Today ECA President Klaus-Heiner Lehne and Bulgarian Member Iliana Ivanova met the President of the Bulgarian National Audit Office, Tzvetan Tzvetkov, to discuss the effective cooperation between their two institutions. Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, a Vice-President at the Bulgarian National Audit Office, was also present. Ms Ivanova presented the ECA’s 2016 annual report. On this visit, the ECA President is taking part in the conference “Next MFF: distributive, allocative and stabilization functions”, as a key speaker in a debate on the future of EU public finance.

“Our latest annual report shows a sustained improvement in EU finances which is reflected by our qualified positive opinion. Half of the EU spending audited for 2016 was below the 2 % threshold for the material level of error,” said Mr Lehne. “At a time of change in Europe, our role as auditors is to advise on how best to manage the EU’s finances. Looking out beyond 2020, we see a need for a new and robust definition of value-added in EU spending as well as greater transparency and accountability among the EU bodies.”

Ms Ivanova said: “I am convinced that the Bulgarian Presidency will contribute significantly to the debate on the next multiannual financial framework and, together with the other EU Member States, design an effective and efficient EU framework for the years post-2020.”

Mr Tzvetkov said: “Our cooperation with the European Court of Auditors is based on common goals defined by the new realities. Both audit institutions strive to answer the questions whether the institutions apply the principles of good governance and whether their work adds value to the society. The focus is on whether the actions are not only lawful but with real benefits.”