The Working Group carried out the parallel audit in order to understand why detected errors in Structural Funds are often associated with public procurement rules. The findings show that ‘lack of knowledge’ is the most common reason for errors in public procurement, followed by ‘interpretation difficulties’. The participating SAIs concentrated on the errors reported by national authorities and SAIs. They assessed the national applications of the relevant COCOF guidelines and scrutinised national systems aimed at detecting and preventing errors in public procurement procedures. Furthermore, they analysed the types and causes of errors and identified similarities and differences across the Member States.

on the Parallel Audit on Simplification of the Regulations in Structural Funds by the Working Group on Structural Funds

In this report submitted to the Contact Committee, the Working Group informs the Member States about challenges, key findings and recommendations arising from its parallel audit on the costs of controls of the management of Structural Funds, including the use of technical assistance for the control of Structural Funds. The audit covered a wide range of operational programmes.

In this report the Working Group submitted to the Contact Committee its key findings, good practices, weaknesses and recommendations on the processes in place for identifying, reporting and following up on irregularities depending on Country Reports prepared as results of the parallel audits conducted by the participating SAIs. The findings of the report are related to six key areas: 1) Guidance; 2) Identification and recording of potential irregularities; 3) Examination and decision-making on recorded irregularities; 4) Reporting to the Commission; 5) Follow up/investigation of the reported irregularities; 6) Financial Corrections.

In this report the Working Group submitted to the Contact Committee its key findings, good practices and recommendations on the Performance of the Structural Funds Programmes of the European Union in the Areas of Employment and/or Environment depending on Country Reports prepared as results of the parallel audits conducted by the participating SAIs. The findings of the audit are related to six key areas: 1) Planning of Measures and Selection of Projects; 2) Goal oriented application procedures; 3) Award procedures; 4) Monitoring and Reporting; 5) Evaluation; 6) Participation of the Monitoring Committees in the evaluation of earlier Structural Funds measures and in the planning of new Structural Funds measures.