The ECA calls for a rethink of EU spending rules and recommends simplifying the legislative framework. The 2014-2020 programming period looks likely to remain expenditure oriented - designed for getting the EU budget allocated and spent - rather than focusing on the value it is intended to bring.

"Europe's citizens have a right to know what their money is being spent on and whether it is being used properly," said ECA President Vítor Caldeira, "They also have a right to know whether it is delivering value, particularly at a time when there is such pressure on public finances."

Looking at the EU budget as a whole, the ECA's estimate of the error rate for spending is 4.8 % for the 2012 financial year (3.9% in 2011). All operational spending areas were affected by material error in 2012. The estimate of the error rate is not a measure of fraud or waste. It is an estimate of the money that should not have been paid out because it was not used in accordance with the legislation concerned. Typical errors include payments for beneficiaries or projects that were ineligible or for purchases of services, goods or investments without proper application of public purchasing rules.

In 2012 the EU spent €138.6 billion, of which approximately 80% is jointly managed by the Commission and the Member States. The ECA was critical of Member States' authorities where they had had sufficient information available to have detected and corrected errors before claiming reimbursement from the EU budget. The rules for the current 2007-2013 spending period provide limited incentives for Member States to use financial management systems more effectively. For example, in cohesion spending erroneous claims can just be withdrawn and replaced without losing money from the EU budget.

European Court of Auditors
eca.europa.eu