23.11.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 286/13

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.

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.

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.