The ECA’s publications and archives

Most ECA publications are available on our website.

The ECA’s archives contain all of the institution’s reports and opinions since . Paper copies of documents published up to have been transferred to our holding at the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence.

ECA Library

The ECA Library is primarily for the use of ECA staff, but is also open to staff from the other EU institutions and, on request, to external researchers. The collection features a wide range of publications on audit, accounting, EU law and EU policy areas. It includes books, periodicals, press services, reference works and databases in electronic and printed format. The entire collection can be searched online using the public tool BibliotECA Discovery.

Open data

To improve the flow of information between the ECA and the general public, and to facilitate the widespread reuse of information, the ECA adopted Decision 6-2019 on its open data policy and the reuse of documents. Through the decision, the ECA commits to making documents held and produced by the ECA that have already been made public, available on the internet in open and machine-readable formats, wherever possible. The reports with available datasets are listed on a specific open data page.

Open data originating from the ECA is also available through the EU Open Data Portal at data.europa.eu, together with datasets from other EU institutions, bodies and agencies, and from EU member states.

Access to documents

The ECA strives to be of service to EU citizens, conducting its activity to the highest possible standards of transparency, accountability and integrity.

Legal basis

Requests for access to documents are handled in accordance with the principle of the right to good administration and the principle of transparency, and with Decision No 37-2023 of the European Court of Auditors regarding public access to ECA documents.

Requesting access

Requests for access to documents should be sent using our Contact form, and can be written in any official EU language.

Processing of requests

Each request is carefully assessed within one month of registering the application. The decision to allow or refuse access will depend, for example, on whether there is a need to protect the public interest, or the confidential nature of audit information.

Appeal

If access to a requested document has been refused, the applicant may submit a written appeal (a “confirmatory application”) to the President of the ECA, within one month of receiving the ECA’s reply, asking the ECA to reconsider its position. Within a maximum of one month of registering a confirmatory application, the ECA shall either grant access to the requested document or refuse it.

Other legal references

Treaty on European Union: Article 1(2) on the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Article 15(1) on transparency in the work of the EU institutions; Article 15 (3) on the right of access to documents

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU: Article 42 on the right of access to documents

Useful links