Discussion Note on Strengthening the Parliament and Supreme Audit Institution Relationship to Enhance External Audit Performance in the Western Balkans
The World Bank has been collaborating with finance, budget, and public accounts committees in the Western Balkans as part of a knowledge partnership focusing on strengthening financial oversight practices. Despite some gains in external auditing pe...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/745551586326241890/Discussion-Note-on-Strengthening-the-Parliament-and-Supreme-Audit-Institution-Relationship-to-Enhance-External-Audit-Performance-in-the-Western-Balkans http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33628 |
| Summary: | The World Bank has been collaborating
with finance, budget, and public accounts committees in the
Western Balkans as part of a knowledge partnership focusing
on strengthening financial oversight practices. Despite some
gains in external auditing performance, the region continues
to underperform when it comes to legislative scrutiny of
audit reports. Therefore, the knowledge partnership includes
a focus on how finance, budget, and public accounts
committees discharge their responsibilities to scrutinize
government performance using the audit reports produced by
Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the region. The network
of the SAIs of European Union (EU) candidate countries and
potential candidates and the European court of auditors has
identified the working relationship between SAIs and
parliaments as a critical component for effective external
audit. This discussion note is intended as a primer for
dialogue between parliaments, SAIs, and practitioners on how
to better define and strengthen the relationship between the
external audit and legislative scrutiny stakeholders. It
outlines the context and challenges, and also frames some
questions that can help stakeholders reflect on the existing
and aspirational nature of the relationship. The discussion
note proceeds in five parts. First, the context for the
discussion is outlined. Second, the accountability
relationship between SAIs and parliaments is explored.
Third, the main challenges for effective external audit and
financial oversight is reviewed. Fourth, global and regional
external audit benchmarks will be detailed. Finally, the
challenges for the Parliament-SAI relationship in the
Western Balkans will be examined and discussion questions
framed around three areas of mutual interest for SAIs and
parliaments - SAI independence; examination of the audit
reports by the parliament; and follow-up on recommendations
based on the audit reports. |
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