Auditors from more than ten countries met in Sopot (1-4 October). The issue of malpractices related to financial frauds is of global nature. That is why the group includes SAIs from all over the world. During the Sopot conference, auditors from Poland, Austria, Czech, Germany and Norway were sitting next to their colleagues e.g. from China, Ecuador, Malaysia, as well as Fiji and Namibia. The group, chaired by Egypt, has been drafting guidelines that will help fight corruption and money laundering more effectively.
The guidelines are being prepared under the umbrella of INTOSAI, the organisation gathering Supreme Audit Institutions from all around the globe. After the guidelines are ready, all the associated countries should apply them in their audits. “This is a good idea. It is going to make our institutions stronger and more effective in the combat against dangerous financial trends” - stated Mr. Abdullah Safaeenasab from the Iranian SAI during the meeting in Sopot. He also added that the Iranian SAI which had a 100 years’ experience in the public audit was ready not only to share its experience but also to learn from others. “This is a good way to improve our own audits” – he argued.
According to Mr. Jacek Kościelniak, Advisor to the NIK President, NIK can also offer specific solutions to its overseas partners, as it has great experience in the fight against corruption as well. “We have just finished a big audit in an institution reviewing financial flows. We want to share the methodology applied during that audit with our guests. We also want to encourage them to conduct similar audits in their countries.
The INTOSAI Working Group on the Fight Against Corruption and Money Laundering was established in 2007. From the beginning, one of its priorities has been cooperation with international institutions dealing with that subject matter. Therefore, representatives of the World Bank and European Court of Auditors were also invited to Sopot.