International seminar on achieving audit quality, attended by the representatives of the State Audit Institution of the Republic of Serbia, was held in Prague, organized by the Supreme Audit Office of the Czech Republic. Seminar represented the other activity of the Network of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of the EU candidates and potential candidates’ countries and the European Court of Auditors. Key topics of the seminar were the supervisory and review roles during the conduct of the audit, implementation of other elements of the ISSAI 40 (conducting, ethical standards and monitoring) and manners for improving quality control.  Goal of the seminar was introduction of standards through implementation of the selected elements of ISSAI 40 and ISQC-1, exchange of experience on daily practice in implementing quality control, determining the required improvements and promoting cooperation between the supreme audit institutions members of the Network. Presentations were held by experts from SAI, which are Network members, and representatives of the SAI of the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Norway and Sigma.

Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD/Sigma), European Court of Auditors and Joint Working Group for Audit Activities provided technical, methodological and financial support for the seminar, which was attended by more than 40 participant from 18 organizations and institutions.

President of the State Audit Institution, Mr. Radoslav Sretenovic, met with the President of the Court of Auditors, Mr. Luigi Giampaolino in Rome. During the official bilateral meeting, the two Presidents talked about organization structures and competences of the  two institutions and possible areas for establishing bilateral cooperation.

Rome also hosted a meeting of the liaison officers of the Network of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of the EU candidates and potential candidates’ countries and the European Court of Auditors. The event, chaired by the SAI of Macedonia, among other things included discussion of the report on the Workshop regarding audit of the annual statement of accounts of the budget and audit of consolidated financial statements, which was held in Belgrade in the end of last year. Report on the Workshop was submitted by the Serbian SAI, with the support of the European Court of Auditors and Joint working Group for Audit Activities. Liaison officers discussed the final preparations for the Seminar on Audit Quality, which was held in Prague.
Participants in the event agreed that the workshops, at the level of experts, are very useful and that they represent a good foundation for improvement of work of the SAIs. The event also included the discussion of topics for future activities of the Network, after 2012, such as strategic planning and risk analysis, audit of public procurements, role of SAI in fight against frauds and corruption.

The Italian capital also hosted the meeting of liaison officers of the Supreme Audit Institution of the EU. The event, chaired by the Italian SAI, was attended by the liaison officers of the Network of SIAs of the EU candidates and potential candidates’ countries and European Court of Auditors as active observers.