Strengthening Audit Cooperation: Group of Auditors Meeting in Belgrade
Our Office had the honor of hosting colleagues from Romania at the 11th Group of Auditors Meeting in Belgrade within the framework of Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme, an important event dedicated to advancing cross-border cooperation and strengthening audit practices within the framework of EU-funded programmes. The representative of the Romanian Managing Authority was also part of the mission from Romania.
The meeting addressed both the IPA III and IPA II perspectives, with a particular focus on the significance and real-world effects of the Serbia–Romania Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. This programme plays a crucial role in fostering joint development of border areas through initiatives aimed at: protecting the environment, promoting social and economic progress, improving border management, supporting tourism and employment.
By encouraging partnerships among local and regional authorities, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and businesses, the programme contributes to sustainable development and stronger ties between Serbia and Romania.
Key topics
Key topics discussed during the meeting included:
- lessons learned from previous audit missions,
- the audit strategy for the 2021–2027 period,
- the role of digitalization and the use of modern AI tools in auditing, reflecting the profession’s ongoing commitment to innovation and efficiency.
Forward Outlook & Commitment
Both parties affirmed their conviction that the cooperation between Serbia and Romania under the Interreg IPA framework will continue to flourish. Several key takeaways emerged:
- The robust pipeline of IPA-funded projects ensures that auditors will remain at the core of governance, oversight, and assurance of projects implementation in the cross-border area.
- Embracing digital tools and AI is no longer optional but a necessity, to maintain audit relevance and efficiency in increasingly data-intensive projects.
- Strong institutional coordination, joint training, and shared audit approaches will be vital in the coming years to manage risk, ensure consistency, and maximize impact across borders.
