Between 15 and 17 October 2024, the President of the Court of Audit Jana Ahčin attended two important events organised by SAI Cyprus at the forefront of which were independence of the supreme audit institutions (SAI) and migrations.
On 15 October 2024, SAI Cyprus in cooperation with the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) organised High-level event on EU SAIs independence with the purpose to discuss challenges and opportunities related to independence of the SAIs in the EU. The President of the Court of Audit Jana Ahčin also participated in the event. During the 3-session assembly, the representatives of different European institutions talked about international framework and the significance of the SAI's independence in order to provide for good governance and the rule of law. The first session was focused on the analysis of the current international framework for the SAI's independence, the second shed light on challenges faced by SAIs and showed limitations for their work, the third session offered an opportunity for discussing possible ways forward and improvements.
Between 16 and 17 October 2024, there was the regular annual Contact Committee meeting of the heads of supreme audit institutions (SAIs) of European Union and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) hosted by the SAI Cyprus in Pafos. It gathered more than 80 delegates among them were candidate countries, potential candidate countries, observers and guests from other organisations, including representatives of the Court of Audit. The key topic of this year's meeting was migrations as a challenge and an opportunity.
Auditor General of the SAI Cyprus Andreas Papaconstantinou stressed the importance of cooperation among the EU supreme audit institutions in facing common challenges as well as independent and autonomous operations of the Contact Committee that provides forum for discussing topics of joint interest. The participants discussed, among other topics, the EU’s migration policy, its past lessons learned and expectations related to new European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. Guest speakers presented their views about migrations from different perspectives as well as experiences of the Republic of Cyprus at the national level, and pointed out challenges and opportunities for the EU member states. The discussions touched upon sustainable development goals and the role of migrations in that context. On this occasion, the President of the Court of Audit Jana Ahčin had several bilateral meetings and informal talks with colleagues from other SAIs considering current and future cooperative activities.
The meeting was rounded up by presenting the findings of parallel sessions and final discussions followed by handing over the presidency of the Contact Committee to the European Court of Auditors who shall organise the next meeting.
