# C_2004286EN.01001301.xml

| 23.11.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 286/13 |
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23.11.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 286/13

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Report
by the Court of Auditors on the audit of the operational efficiency of the
management of the European Central Bank for the financial year 2003, together
with the European Central Bank's replies

(2004/C 286/02)

| 1. | The Court's audit was based on Article 27.2 of the Protocol on
the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central
Bank (ECB) annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community. By virtue
of this Article, the Court is mandated to examine ‘the operational efficiency of the
management of the ECB’. |
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1.

The Court's audit was based on Article 27.2 of the Protocol on
the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central
Bank (ECB) annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community. By virtue
of this Article, the Court is mandated to examine ‘the operational efficiency of the
management of the ECB’.

| 2. | The
Court selects different management fields for examination each year. |
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2.

The
Court selects different management fields for examination each year.

| 3. | The
audit for 2003 dealt with the decision-implementation process and the reliability
of data processed by the information technology (IT) system for financial
and management accounting. |
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3.

The
audit for 2003 dealt with the decision-implementation process and the reliability
of data processed by the information technology (IT) system for financial
and management accounting.

| 4. | The delays in
implementing projects remain significant. The Court encourages the ECB to
focus on the main reasons for these delays, their effects and the steps that
need to be taken to prevent their recurrence. Increased attention
should be given to proper planning and monitoring of human resources in this
area. The Court notes, however, that many of the delays arose during a period
of rapid growth for the ECB. |
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4.

The delays in
implementing projects remain significant. The Court encourages the ECB to
focus on the main reasons for these delays, their effects and the steps that
need to be taken to prevent their recurrence. Increased attention
should be given to proper planning and monitoring of human resources in this
area. The Court notes, however, that many of the delays arose during a period
of rapid growth for the ECB.

| 5. | For the data
processed by the ECB's financial and management accounting IT system, the
ECB should keep up its efforts to document change-management procedures. This
will add to the integrity of the system. |
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5.

For the data
processed by the ECB's financial and management accounting IT system, the
ECB should keep up its efforts to document change-management procedures. This
will add to the integrity of the system.

| 6. | In
general, the audit found that the procedures in place worked adequately, with
some improvements required. Various issues have already been addressed by
the ECB and steps have been taken to avoid their recurrence. Those improvements
that could still be made have been notified in detail to the ECB's management. |
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6.

In
general, the audit found that the procedures in place worked adequately, with
some improvements required. Various issues have already been addressed by
the ECB and steps have been taken to avoid their recurrence. Those improvements
that could still be made have been notified in detail to the ECB's management.

This
report was adopted by the Court of Auditors in Luxembourg at its meeting of 16 September 2004.

For the Court of Auditors

Juan Manuel FABRA
VALLÉS

President

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