The ECA is financed by the general budget of the European Union. The Court’s budget represents less than 0.1% of total EU spending and 1.5% of total administrative spending.
A description of the ECA’s budget and its implementation can be found in the
ECA’s activity report.
Reports by the external auditor on the European Court of Auditors’ accounts
The ECA’s Annual accounts are drawn up by the Accounting Officer and are audited annually by an external auditor.
The audited Annual accounts together with the external auditor’s reports are sent to the Commission for consolidation purposes, and to the European Parliament and the Council.
Report on budgetary and financial management
The ECA’s budgetary and financial management report provides an overview of the implementation of the ECA’s budget and explains events which have had a significant impact on the institution’s activities. The report is sent to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.
This report contains information about the European Court of Auditors’ management of resources, and about the efficiency and effectiveness of its internal control systems. It provides management accountability both internally within the ECA and externally to the budgetary authorities.
The report is issued by the Secretary-General each year in accordance with Article 74(9) of the Financial Regulation; it is sent to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council as part of the annual budget discharge procedure.
Report of the authorising officer by delegation for 2020
Internal Audit Service
The ECA’s Internal Audit Service (IAS) was created in 2002 following administrative reform and within the framework of the new Financial Regulation No 1605/2002 which introduced the principle of "sound financial management". The appointment and function of the internal auditor is laid down in Articles 98 to 100 of the Financial Regulation and Articles 114 to 120 of its implementing rules.
The IAS has complete independence in carrying out its audits, which cover all the Institution's activities and departments. It shall have full and unlimited access to all the information it needs to carry out its work.
Each year, the ECA forwards a report to the European Parliament and the Council containing a summary of the number and type of internal audits carried out, the recommendations made and the action taken on those recommendations.
Internal Audit Committee
The ECA has also established and appointed an Audit Committee responsible for internal audit issues. The Committee is composed of ECA Members and an external figure.
The current members of the Audit Committee are:
- Ivana Maletić, ECA Member
- Joëlle Elvinger, ECA Member
- Viorel Ștefan, ECA Member
- Paul Koechlin, External Expert