ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM: INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE WORK TO BE SPLIT WITHIN THE COMMISSION.

• Position: Brief Article

In an effort to strengthen the Internal Audit Service (IAS), the European Commission approved measures on November 18 providing for the division of the current structure into two distinct Directorates: one focusing on implementing audits, with the other responsible for resources, co-ordination and communication. As a result of this approach it will also now be possible to publish both internally and externally a call for candidates for the post of IAS Director General, in order to replace Jules Muis who is due to step down at his own request in March 2004. Created in April 2000 in the context of wide-ranging reform of financial management and control within the Commission, the IAS became in independent Directorate-General in July 2001. The IAS has a crucial role to play in financial management and control within the Commission.

A number of new challenges including the new Financial...