WORKING WITH DG ECHO AS AN NGO PARTNER | FPA 2014 - 2020

PARTNER ASSESSMENT

FAQ 8 - Article 6.2.b of the General Conditions states that "the Humanitarian Organisation shall submit (…) the annual statutory accounts certified by an approved external auditor". What does external approved auditor mean?

The concept of an 'approved external auditor' is referred to in Article 196(3) of the Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation. According to this Article, a certified external auditor is an auditor which is not appointed by or affiliated with the applicant organisation and is thus not accountable to the latter.

The certification is to be carried out pursuant to Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC and repealing Council Directive 84/253/EEC by the competent authorities of a Member State.

Each Member State shall designate competent authorities, which shall be responsible for approving statutory auditors and audit firms.