The twinning project between the Supreme Audit Office of Poland (NIK) and the State Audit Office of Georgia was closed by the study visit of its presidents and directors of key departments to Warsaw. For five days the Georgians observed Polish solutions related to the financial audit, compliance audit and reporting process.
The project aimed at assisting the State Audit Office of Georgia in adjusting to the EU standards finished on 30 September. The European Commission appointed the Supreme Audit Office of Poland and the German Federal Court of Auditors to implement this task. The twinning cooperation lasted two years and was entirely financed by the EU funds.
In the last five days of the project key Georgian auditors, including the Auditor General, Lasha Tordia, his Deputy, Devi Vepkhavadze, and directors of departments of the Georgian SAI paid a study visit to Warsaw. The guests had the opportunity to analyse the Polish solutions related to the audit organisation and process. Apart from the headquarters of NIK the Georgian representatives visited the Ministry of Finance and NIK regional Branch in Wrocław.
The organised seminar encompassed the annual planning of financial audits with a focus on risk analysis and sampling, audit scope and schedule at the auditee’s level, as well as coordination of the financial audits with the state financial analysis. The representatives of the Georgian SAI were also interested in the role and division of duties at NIK regional offices, as well as agreeing their activities with the headquarters.
During the study visit the programme implemented in Georgia for two years was summed up - The twinning project enabled us to make a major step forward in terms of standards implemented in our international audits - said the Georgian Auditor General, Lasha Tordia. The President of NIK, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, admits that the Georgian project encouraged the Polish auditors to involve in other similar undertakings. - We also learned a lot in the last two years - concluded President Kwiatkowski.
During the study visit in Warsaw heads of both SAIs paid tribute to the late Polish President, Lech Kaczyński, who died a tragic death in the plane crash in Smoleńsk. Krzysztof Kwiatkowski and Lasha Tordia laid flowers at the memorial plaque in the headquarters of NIK. President Kaczyński is greatly respected by the Georgians.
In course of twinning projects corresponding institutions of the Member States and states subject to the European development aid share experience and good practices. The implementation of such projects is entirely financed by the EU funds. NIK was appointed partner of the twinning projects in a competitive procedure established by the European Commission.
