Project launched for strengthening State Audit capacities

BELGRADE Serbian and foreign experts have said that the State Audit Institution of Serbia (DRI) was developing very fast, reporting significant results in a short time. This appraisal came ahead of the beginning of a two-year twinning project entitled “Strengthening Capacities of the State Audit Institution of Serbia”, funded by the European Union with EUR 1.4 million. Project launched for strengthening State Audit capacities While presenting the project, Director of the State Audit Institution (DRI) Radoslav Sretenovic said that state audit institutions have the vital role in checking whether the executive power is administering public funds in a responsible way, and ensuring the transparency of state business operations. We expect to get two comprehensive methodological guides in 24 months - for financial audit and the one that would determine whether spending is justified, Sretenovic said. Head of the EU delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert stated that the project encompasses a review of regulations relating to the DRI and their harmonization with international and European standards. The organizational structure will also be observed within the project, as well as the ability of state auditors to perform their tasks, he added. The project is aimed at strengthening citizens' trust in the DRI, and, on the other hand, from a European perspective, to see that the external audit is in keeping with EU's expectation, he said. The external audit contributes to the good functioning of the state and democracy and introduces the principle 'good result at lower prices,' by which it contributes to the fight against corruption, Degert said. Dutch Ambassador to Serbia Laurent Stokvis underlined the significance of a strong and independent state audit institution for the success of the Serbian government's policy in ensuring stability, democracy and furthering the fight against corruption. Noting that in the laws, the DRI was defined as a strong, effective and independent institution, Stokvis said that the DRI has already acquired credibility, and that the project should help Serbia implement good practices faster and avoid mistakes. British Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport underscored the importance of the DRI's independence, which should be one of the pillars of democracy, adding that the transparent way of spending public funds strengthens the integrity of both government and parliament. Davenport qualified as encouraging the fact that Serbia is taking steps towards further capacity building of the DRI. Project Leader Andre Van Ommeren from the Netherlands Court of Audit is of the opinion that for a short time, the DRI expanded its scope of audit, and its recommendations are more thorough and serious. The DRI is developing very quickly. The progress that the body has achieved for only five years has not been seen before, Ommeren said, adding that at the moment, it is inevitable that the body has a jurisdiction to file lawsuits. This project, which is realized by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in cooperation with partners from Serbia, would further strengthen the DRI, Ommeren stressed. Tanjug

Project launched for strengthening State Audit capacities

While presenting the project, Director of the State Audit Institution (DRI) Radoslav Sretenović said that state audit institutions have the vital role in checking whether the executive power is administering public funds in a responsible way, and ensuring the transparency of state business operations.

We expect to get two comprehensive methodological guides in 24 months - for financial audit and the one that would determine whether spending is justified, Sretenović said.

Head of the EU delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert stated that the project encompasses a review of regulations relating to the DRI and their harmonization with international and European standards.

The organizational structure will also be observed within the project, as well as the ability of state auditors to perform their tasks, he added.

The project is aimed at strengthening citizens' trust in the DRI, and, on the other hand, from a European perspective, to see that the external audit is in keeping with EU's expectation, he said.

The external audit contributes to the good functioning of the state and democracy and introduces the principle 'good result at lower prices,' by which it contributes to the fight against corruption, Degert said.

Dutch Ambassador to Serbia Laurent Stokvis underlined the significance of a strong and independent state audit institution for the success of the Serbian government's policy in ensuring stability, democracy and furthering the fight against corruption.

Noting that in the laws, the DRI was defined as a strong, effective and independent institution, Stokvis said that the DRI has already acquired credibility, and that the project should help Serbia implement good practices faster and avoid mistakes.

British Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport underscored the importance of the DRI's independence, which should be one of the pillars of democracy, adding that the transparent way of spending public funds strengthens the integrity of both government and parliament.

Davenport qualified as encouraging the fact that Serbia is taking steps towards further capacity building of the DRI.

Project Leader Andre Van Ommeren from the Netherlands Court of Audit is of the opinion that for a short time, the DRI expanded its scope of audit, and its recommendations are more thorough and serious.

The DRI is developing very quickly. The progress that the body has achieved for only five years has not been seen before, Ommeren said, adding that at the moment, it is inevitable that the body has a jurisdiction to file lawsuits.

This project, which is realized by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in cooperation with partners from Serbia, would further strengthen the DRI, Ommeren stressed.