“There is always a compromise that must be made between the two areas. On one hand, it is necessary to ensure control and then post-monitoring and audit of expenses, but at the same time, it is crucial to consider this objective with the assurance of speed and quick execution of expenses to ensure that the different needs of the population are met on time,” said the former Minister of Finance in statements to Lusa on the sidelines of a presentation at the Court of Auditors in Lisbon.
The government intends to alter the Court of Auditors’ law, reducing prior oversight and increasing auditing to ensure it functions according to its jurisdictional role.
João Leão, who presented the 2024 Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), declined to comment on the proposal as a member of the ECA but emphasized that, in his personal opinion, “the best choice must be made to guarantee this balance,” though “this is up to the member states.”
The Minister of State and Administrative Reform, Gonçalo Matias, stated during a hearing in the parliamentary committee on State Reform and Local Power, that the model of the Portuguese Court of Auditors has no parallel in Europe.
“We are currently working on the Court of Auditors law and will bring it to parliament – it is a matter under the competence of the Assembly of the Republic – for approval,” he added.
The minister expects “to have a proposal at the beginning of next year” to present.
