As the defence of the European Union is one of the most important priorities and the related funding is increasing each year, the question of ensuring effective management, reporting, monitoring, control and audit of EU defence funds is becoming a growing priority for public authorities, auditors, and beneficiaries.
In response to these developments, EIPA is launching a new practical course: “Management, Control, and Audit of Projects Financed by EDF, SAFE, and other EU Defence Funds”, taking place on 21 and 23 October in Madrid.
Our course comes at a time of major evolution in the EU’s defence funding landscape. New instruments such as Security Action for Europe (SAFE), together with the continued implementation of the European Defence Fund (EDF), European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and preparations for future defence initiatives, reflect the EU’s ambition to strengthen European defence capabilities, industrial cooperation and strategic autonomy.
With increased funding comes increased responsibility. Defence-related projects financed through EU Defence Funds (instruments) involve complex partnerships, significant financial resources, advanced procurement arrangements and long implementation periods. Effective management, monitoring and control systems are therefore essential to ensure that EU funds are used efficiently, projects deliver their intended results, and risks related to irregularities, procurement, financial management and performance are properly addressed.
Our new course brings together experts from European Institutions and national authorities to examine how EU defence-funded projects are managed, monitored and audited in practice. Participants will gain insights from representatives of the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors and Member State authorities involved in the implementation and oversight of EU defence initiatives.
The programme will address key questions facing those responsible for EU defence funding, including:
- How EDF, SAFE and other EU Defence Funds are structured and are/will be implemented
- The regulatory, financial and operational requirements applying to defence-related projects and programmes
- Common risks, weaknesses, audit findings identified in EU defence -funded projects and lessons learned from other EU programmes
- Best practices in monitoring and control of EU defence funds, including how managing bodies and beneficiaries can detect and prevent irregularities
- Approaches used by EU and national auditors when performing financial, compliance and performance audits
The European Court of Auditors (and Supreme Audit Institutions have increasingly highlighted the importance of sound governance, clear accountability and effective monitoring when implementing large-scale EU programmes. As defence spending and EU-level cooperation continue to grow, strengthening audit readiness and ensuring robust control frameworks will remain essential.
Through practical workshops and case studies, participants will have the opportunity to analyse real-life scenarios related to project implementation risks, procurement challenges, financial compliance and audit findings. The course aims to support both public authorities and beneficiaries in developing the practical knowledge needed to manage EU defence funds effectively and transparently.
The course will feature contributions from experts from the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors, Member State authorities: ISDEFE, national audit authorities, and practitioners with experience in EU-funded defence programmes.
As stated by Radoslav Nedyalkov, Audit Authority:
“The course will be very practical and useful for everyone involved in the SAFE programme and other EU defence funding programmes — from managing and national authorities to final beneficiaries. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the practical requirements, what the European Commission expects, and the best practices for ensuring sound financial management throughout their projects. We will also look at the typical findings and challenges identified by the European Court of Auditors and national supreme audit institutions when auditing these types of projects.”
Strengthening the capacity to manage, control and audit EU defence funds is key to ensuring that strategic investments deliver lasting results for Europe.
