31 May 2002
In his report on the financial management of the European Union, published this week, Bourn notes that the Brussels Court of Auditors had found persistent weaknesses in the checking of funding programmes by member states. 'The UK has taken a leading role in supporting the reform process being put into effect by the European Commission, and it is vital it continues to do all it can,' he said.
For the seventh year in succession, the Court of Auditors in Brussels was unable to give unreserved approval of the management of the EU's £57.9bn annual budget for the year 2000.
Over 80% of the expenditure is managed by the 15 member states themselves, and it was here that the principal problems arose. Planning, implementation and monitoring procedures remained complex, preventing better management, a reduction of administrative costs and the easing of the regulatory burden on recipients of EU funds, the auditors said.
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