Social Democratic MEP Carlos Coelho states that the functioning of the European Court of Auditors is at risk, as it has been functioning with one judge less for “more than two years”.
Returning to the European Parliament, MEP Carlos Coelho stressed in statements to DN that “processes will be postponed” at a time when “the European Court of Auditors is under great pressure to carry out audits and ensure the good use of money from the European taxpayers,” including the application of PRR funds.
The deputy finds it “hardly understandable” that the government has not yet appointed a replacement judge to fill the vacant position “following the tragic and untimely death of Portuguese judge João Figueiredo” on June 30, 2021, in the court overseeing the collection and use of European Union funds.
Carlos Coelho is now asking the commission for comment on the matter, formally questioning the community administrator “if there are precedents, [ou] if only Portugal is in this situation”.
“It is hardly understandable that Portugal, which has everything to gain from participating in community institutions, allows a situation in which it has not filled the vacancy for two years,” regrets the deputy, while waiting for Brussels to comment on the matter .
“I ask the European Commission whether, as guardian of the treaties, it does not have a responsibility to put pressure on the Member States, to invite Member States to fill vacancies more quickly,” says Carlos Coelho, although he admits that the failure is not of the European Commission.
“I have no doubt that the Portuguese government’s indication here will fail. Then there will be a hearing in the European Parliament and confirmation by the Council, but the initiative must come from the Member States,” Carlos Coelho emphasizes. which “this situation raises serious questions about Portugal’s ability to effectively fulfill its responsibilities within the European Court of Auditors”.
The members of the Court of Auditors are appointed for a renewable period of six years by the European Council, in consultation with the European Parliament.
The European Court of Auditors currently consists of twenty members, five deans and a president. There are 26 judges, nationals of 26 Member States of the European Union, with only one representative appointed by Portugal.
The members of the European Court of Auditors and the auditors are divided among five audit offices, headed by an elected dean.
“The council, consisting of the 27 members [actualmente 26]meets approximately twice a month in plenary,” according to the official website of the European Court of Auditors.
The Court of Auditors is responsible for audits of the EU’s revenue and expenditure, “to verify that funds are collected and spent correctly, that they provide added value and that they are properly accounted for”. The body is also responsible for “controlling people or organizations managing EU funds, in particular through unforeseen checks in European institutions (especially the Commission), in EU countries and in third countries receiving aid from them”.
Its duties also include reporting “suspected fraud, corruption or other illegal activities to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)”.
The ECA’s audit work focuses in particular on the European Commission, which is “the main institution responsible for the implementation of the EU budget”, and “works closely with national authorities as the majority of EU funds (approximately 80%) jointly by them and the Commission,” the Court said.
Source: DN
