INTOSAI Secretary General and Austrian Court of Audit President Margit Kraker advocates for the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions across the globe
“Independence means that the Supreme Audit Institution can publish at any time, and that the Supreme Audit Institution can also choose the topics itself,“ said Margit Kraker, President of the ACA, in her function as Secretary General of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions on the occasion of INTOSAI’s 70-year anniversary. INTOSAI is the umbrella organization of a network of Supreme Audit Institutions across the globe with almost 200 members. Exchanging knowledge, setting common auditing standards and providing mutual support are part of INTOSAI’s core mission. The motto of INTOSAI reads: “Mutual experience benefits all“, which also includes “Leaving no one behind”. ACA President Margit Kraker and Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the Austrian National Council, are hosting a festive event in the National Council Chamber of Parliament on Monday, 20 November. In addition to 70 years of INTOSAI, the 60-year anniversary of the General Secretariat in Vienna will also be celebrated. High-level international guests (see programme) will talk about the topic of sustainable development and the contribution that Supreme Audit Institutions can make towards implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
Kraker emphasizes the importance of the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions
Supreme Audit Institutions have evolved over time. “We apply audit standards, we apply the international criteria, the so-called ISSAIs, and we attach great importance to Supreme Audit Institutions being able to exercise their control function without interferences,” said Kraker. That is why, according to the ACA President, independence played a particularly important role for the position of Supreme Audit Institutions at large. She stated that every Supreme Audit Institution had different tasks and competences. “But one thing unites us: that we act as counterparts to governments and that we assess how funds are spent in the respective state,” said INTOSAI’s Secretary General.
Only seven years left to implement the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda
INTOSAI and its member Supreme Audit Institutions have committed themselves to making a significant contribution to the achievement of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the core of the Agenda 2030 are 17 goals: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are in the middle of the implementation stage of the Agenda 2030. There are only seven years left until 2030, which is not a long time, and there is a lot to do. Supreme Audit Institutions will work vigorously to ensure that we can make an adequate contribution to global sustainability at various levels,” stated ACA President Margit Kraker.
The ACA has also already produced reports relating to the SDGs, such as the report “Reducing Food Waste – Implementation of SDG Target 12.3 of the 2030 Agenda” or the report “The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Implementation of the Agenda 2030 in Austria”.
“Making a difference to the lives of citizens”
“As the umbrella organization of Supreme Audit Institutions across the globe, INTOSAI plays a key role in helping its members to strengthen their position in their respective states, fulfil their mission and develop their capacities in order to make a difference to the lives of citizens – through their audits, their recommendations and their expertise,” Kraker emphasized.
INTOSAI was formed in November 1953 in Havana, Cuba. The ACA has been hosting the INTOSAI General Secretariat in Vienna since 1963. INTOSAI is a non-governmental organization with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. At its formation, the organization had 34 members. Today, INTOSAI counts 195 full members, five associate members and two affiliate members.
Press Release: 70 Years INTOSAI
Podcast Trust (recorded in German)
Podcast Trust: Find the English transcript here
Anniversary Publication: 70 Years INTOSAI
Information for journalists
The ACA will tweet about the event in the National Council using @70yearsINTOSAI.Coverage of the anniversary event on the ACA’s social media channels is tagged with the hashtag #70yearsINTOSAI.
For more information about INTOSAI and the festive event please refer to
- the anniversary publication 70 Years INTOSAI and
- Trust, the ACA Podcast with President Margit Kraker at www.rechnungshof.gv.at/trust
Festive event in the Chamber of the National Council of the Austrian Parliament on 20 November 2023:
3.00 pm to 5.00 pm
PROGRAMME
Welcome remarks
Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council
Margit Kraker, President of the Austrian Court of Audit and INTOSAI Secretary General
Statements
Bruno Dantas, President of the TCU Brazil and Chair of the INTOSAI Governing Board
Hussam Alangari, President of the GCA Saudi Arabia and Chair of the INTOSAI Policy, Finance and Administration Committee
Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and Vice-Chair of the INTOSAI Policy, Finance and Administration Committee
Tsakani Maluleke, Auditor-General of South Africa and Chair of the INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee
Kay Scheller, President of the Bundesrechnungshof Germany
Rhoda Weeks-Brown, General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department, International Monetary Fund
David Le Blanc, Chief of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, United Nations