Between 7 and 10 October 2025 in Bratislava, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Slovak Republic hosted the 23rd annual meeting of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) which was organised by SAI Poland titled Climate-Water-Biodiversity Nexus: risks, relations & challenges. Climate, water and biodiversity provide a key foundation for environmental stability, which is why it is crucial in the times of constant changes to safeguard these elements to strengthen resilience and to foster effective adaptation. This, however, goes hand in hand with coordinated operations and policies directed towards natural resources protection and sustainable development. In this regard, environmental auditing is of significant importance – it ensures understanding of risks, directs actions and reinforces accountability.
Mr Ľubomír Andrassy, President of SAI Slovak Republic, emphasised in his opening speech: "Water today cannot be regarded merely as a strategic resource – European auditors see it as a form of national wealth. That is why national governments need long-term strategies for the development of water infrastructure, with clearly defined financial frame and protection of the public interest. Every public institution must act proactively and preventively, not only when it is time to put out fires."
Representatives of 44 SAIs from across Europe discussed how to design audit methodologies, criteria and measurable indicators that will enable the assessment of countries’ progress in tackling climate change and protecting water resources. On behalf of the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Igor Vošnjak, Principal Auditor, participated in the meeting in order to exchange audit ideas, approaches and outcomes. At one of the workshops discussions were focused on the key challenges that SAIs face when defining an audit scope and when trying to find solutions to audit problems with Mr Vošnjak presenting in more detail the audit implemented by the Slovenian Court of Audit on the efficiency of protection against invasive alien species.
Additionally, several debates followed, the representatives of SAI Portugal thus presented examples from their cross-sectional audit about water management, while the representatives of SAI Netherlands among others stressed risks related to the reduction of drinking water use. The discussion brought together experts from state institutions and from academic spheres.