Welcome to Serbia, to the First Regional Conference of State Audit Institutions hosted by the State Audit Institution with the support of UNDP under whose patronage the conference is being held as part of the project “Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms in Public Finance”.

One of the conference’s basic goals is the exchange of experiences this important institution garners in each of our respective countries so that each and every one of you would leave the conference with knew knowledge and new solutions to the problems you face.

The State Audit Institution in Serbia is a recent institution. It was established by the law passed in 2005 and is tasked with controlling budgetary subjects which at present exceed 8500. The National Assembly, which monitors the executive government, closely follows the activities of this authority which is its partner in the implementation of its control role.

In that respect, in the latest amendments to its Rules of Procedure, the National Assembly once again emphasised the independence of this institution, on whose activities the MPs are regularly briefed as the State Audit Institution submits an Activity Report as well as a report on the audit of the annual statement which is its obligation under law. This is an opportunity to once again, on the behalf of the NARS, lend full support to the State Audit Institution in developing accountability as regards public expenditure. The National Assembly adopted all the recommendations given by the State Audit Institution in the Audit Report of the Republic of Serbia 2009 Budget, and the good cooperation is manifested in the cooperation between the Assembly’s Finance Committee and the State Audit Institution.

NARS also helps overcome the difficulties the State Audit Institution faces in its daily operation thus improving the material and legal position of the auditing staff, although there is still room for improvement.

The State Audit Institution is one of those institutions whose functioning emphasizes the democratic potential of every society. This conference will surely create room for all of you, colleagues, to further strengthen your institutions’ professionalism using your own and others’ experience, which is important both internally and in the sphere of European integration. Of course, the support of our Slovenian colleagues who can tell us about their own findings from the perspective of an EU member will be invaluable.

With ample optimism, expecting that the project would lend full support to the establishment of efficient and sustainable accountability mechanisms in public expenditure in Serbia and that identical public benefits might be gained by the other national audit institutions, on the behalf of the NARS let me once again, as always, applaud the idea of cooperation and wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank you for your attention.