The official visit of Mr Klaus-Heiner Lehne, President The European Court of Auditors, at the Romanian Court of Accounts
The President of the European Court of Auditors, Mr. Klaus-Heiner Lehne, accompanied by an official delegation, paid a working visit to Romania during 29th and 31st of October 2019, in response to the invitation of Mr. Mihai Busuioc, President of the Romanian Court of Accounts.
On this occasion, the high European officials had a series of discussions with members of the Plenum of the Romanian Court of Accounts. During the debates were addressed general issues related to the challenges of the external public audit activity in relation to the new developments in technology and society, in order to identify innovative elements that add value to the audits carried out.
“I am pleased with our meetings where we can share common concerns and experiences on important issues of public audit, a field in constant dynamics and change in relation to the evolutions of the modern world. Only through a continuous exchange of information we can make progress so that we can anticipate the challenges that society will face in the future. In this regard, we need modern Supreme Audit Institutions that, in terms of innovation and adjustment to the techniques used in the audit activity, will be able to respond in accordance to the expectations of the citizens”. (Mihai Busuioc, President of the Romanian Court of Accounts).
In the message addressed to the Plenum of the Romanian Court of Accounts, the President of the European Court of Auditors, Mr. Klaus-Heiner Lehne, has stressed the importance of transparency and responsibility in the external public audit act, as a basis for increasing the confidence of citizens in the activity carried out by the Supreme Audit Institutions.
“Public audit is the key that ensures the confidence of citizens in the state, making the latter responsible for how it spends the money from taxes. The role of the Supreme Audit Institutions at European level, as well as at national level, has evolved and is much more than one of financial supervision, we, the auditors, also offering relevant information of expertise and advice so that the political decision-makers and legislators can take the right decisions”. (Klaus-Lehne, President of the European Court of Auditors).
Also, during the official visit, the President of the European Court of Auditors, Mr. Klaus-Heiner Lehne, received the honorary title "Doctor Honoris Causa" from the Senate of the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, in recognition of his contribution for promoting European values at international level and to the development of the European legislative framework regarding the community acquis in the legal and economic field, granted by prof. univ. dr. Nicolae Istudor - rector ASE and prof. Dr. Pavel Năstase - President of the Senate.
During the acceptance speech for the distinction received, the President of the European Court of Auditors, Mr. Klaus-Heiner Lehne, spoke about the importance of the collaboration of the Supreme Audit Institutions with the academic environment in order to anticipate and respond together to the challenges that the European society will face in the future.
“Permanent renewal is a process through which the Supreme Audit Institutions, such as the European Court of Auditors and the Romanian Court of Accounts, must go through in order to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. From previous visits to Bucharest, I know that President Mihai Busuioc is dealing precisely with this process by reforming the Romanian Court of Accounts in order to ensure that this institution will meet the expectations of the Romanian citizens in the future”. (Klaus-Heiner Lehne, President of the European Court of Auditors).
Mr. Viorel Stefan, Member of the European Court of Auditors and Mrs. Elisabeth Franco, Head of the Liaison Office of the European Court of Auditors, were also part of the official delegation, together with the President of the European Court of Auditors.
