EUROSAI. Magazine N22 - 2016

eurosai 18 EUROSAI Activities European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions In February at the latest, the GT4 should deliver to the GB the final report on the EUROSAI Self- Assessment and the draft Strategic Plan, based on which the GB will reflect on the next steps to be taken for phase II of the independent evaluation. The GB also decided that phase II of the evaluation (an independent external review) should only start after concluding phase I, and that it would be more valuable if it took into account the new strategic plan, to avoid duplicating the work of phase I. The independent external evaluation might therefore be performed in the context of the mid-term review of the Strategic Plan 2017-2023. Item 13. Regarding the expectations and role of the EUROSAI GB, the discussions highlighted one paragraph of the regional paper on Professionalization that captures well the discussion: “to organise itself on the basis of intended results”. This should be taken into account when drafting the new EUROSAI Strategic Plan. Item 14. Regarding the expectations of the EUROSAI representatives in the INTOSAI GB, the GB discussed that they should be willing to represent the EUROSAI community, they should be committed to EUROSAI and prepare the INTOSAI GB meetings in close coordination with the EUROSAI President and Secretary General, provide EUROSAI with feedback on the INTOSAI GB discussions, find new agile ways of communicating with the EUROSAI GB, keep in mind that they are representing EUROSAI and search for common positions on strategic issues which might be debated in INTOSAI. In general, it would be desirable that EUROSAI representatives would provide for more transparency and openness in respect of the INTOSAI GB discussions. Item 15. Several decisions were taken by the GB after the discussion on the preparation of the EUROSAI Strategic Plan 2017 – 2023: • The GB agreed that the new Strategic Plan for EUROSAI should be demand - and outcome- oriented, and that it should follow a logical three- step process (define the desired outputs and outcomes, identify activities and initiatives and determine how to organize ourselves). The GB also authorized GT4 to not necessarily mirror the INTOSAI goals when thinking about a more flexible and agile structure. • Furthermore the GB agreed on the Secretary General’s proposal for GB members to join and assist GT4 in the finalization of phase I and in the development of the strategic plan. • The GB agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting in February, to be hosted by the SAI of Moldova, which will be dedicated to the discussion of the draft Strategic Plan for 2017 – 2023. The Chair of GT4 informed that the first milestone in the drafting of the EUROSAI Strategic Plan 2017 – 2023 would be the finalisation of the self-assessment report. There would then be a discussion about the needs assessment within GT4 (enlarged with all GB members) to define outcomes and goals, after the self-assessment’s approval by the GB in February 2017. Mr. Visser said that by the end of March there should be a consolidated draft for the GB to present to the Congress. Item 16. Regarding cooperation with INTOSAI Regional Working Groups (RWG), the Secretariat presented the discussion paper on EUROSAI Cooperation with other INTOSAI RWGs and various proposals to improve cooperation with other regions. As a result of the discussions, the following decisions were taken by the GB: • EUROSAI will continue organising Joint Conferences with OLACEFS, ARABOSAI and ASOSAI and implement the proposals set out in the Secretariat’s discussion paper concerning format, participants, frequency (no fixed schedule, depending on relevant topics) and final outcomes. • No formal declarations/statements will be issued as a final result of Joint Conferences. 44th EUROSAI Governing Board Meeting (Luxemburg), 13-14 June 2016