Special Report No 11/2013: Getting the gross national income (GNI) data right: A more structured and better-focused approach would improve the effectiveness of the Commission’s verification

Abstract:

A significant share of the revenue in the EU budget is derived from own resources calculated on the basis of Member States’ gross national income (GNI). Effective verification of GNI data is crucial to ensure that Member States' respective contributions are correctly and fairly calculated. The Court’s audit examined the Commission’s verification of these data for the years 2002 to 2007 which became definitive in 2012.

Even though this verification may well improve the quality of GNI data, the Court concluded that this verification was not sufficiently structured and focused to be fully effective. The Court recommends that the Commission focuses on material and risky GNI components, based on a structured and formalised planning and prioritisation exercise.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU budget: UK ordered to pay extra €2.1bn by December http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-budget-uk-ordered-to-pay-extra-e2-1bn-by-december/

ECA: Special Report No 11/2013: “Getting the Gross National Income (GNI) data right: a more structured and better-focussed approach would improve the effectiveness of the Commission’s verification” [PDF] http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR13_11/SR13_11_EN.pdf

ECA: Press Release, 10.12.13: “Improvements needed in checks on data for Member States’ budget contributions”, say “Improvements needed in checks on data for Member States’ budget contributions”, say EU Auditors http://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/INSR13_11/INSR13_11_EN.pdf

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