Objectives of the communication policy
The communication policy reflects the values of the Court of Audit and the communication principles developed in its mission statement.
In that regard, the communication policy aims to spread correct, objective, complete, current, clear and useful information about the audits carried out by the Court of Audit. This information is delivered in paper and electronic reports. The Court of Audit directly provides the parliamentary assemblies with useful and reliable information following on from a contradictory procedure. The findings, opinions and recommendations formulated in the reports enable this privileged recipient to exercise its legislative and budgetary function, as well as to control the executive power. Thanks to a broad distribution of clearly worded reports, the Court of Audit more largely contributes to improving public management.
The Court of Audit’s communication policy statement sets out:
- the principles underlying the Court’s communication policy;
- the public character of its reports;
- the products that are being generated and the practical implementation of this policy.
Principles of the communication policy
- The communication policy aims to ensure a clear and univocal presentation of the findings, conclusions and recommendations made by the Court of Audit following its investigations.
- The contradictory procedure with the administration and the competent minister is recorded in the Court of Audit’s publications in order to ensure the provision of quality information.
- The Court of Audit sends on and, if necessary, presents its reports to the parliamentary assemblies. In compliance with the prerogatives of the parliamentary assemblies, it sees to it that the results of its audits are first and foremost debated within these assemblies.
- In accordance with the international standards on external audit and more specifically with the principle of a contradictory procedure, the Court of Audit only provides information from the published reports. Its intervention in a later stage intends to clarify the scope of its reports and to correct possible misinterpretations.
- The Court of Audit’s reports are published in the languages of the parliamentary assemblies concerned.
- In its communication process, the Court of Audit ensures that data confidentiality is preserved.
Publicity of the Court of Audit’s reports
The Court of Audit’s communication policy is based on the public character of its reports. However, the parliamentary assemblies are the first to be informed of the Court’s reports, before the media and the general public.
This policy relates to:
- information intended for the members of Parliament;
- information intended for the ministers and public authorities concerned;
- press relations;
- the handing over of the Court’s reports to any interested person or organization.
Products and practical implementation of the communication policy
The Court of Audit’s publications consist of a yearly book on the accounts of the federal State, the Communities and the Regions, with the results of the audits conducted on these accounts, and of specific reports that are drawn up either under particular provisions or when there is justification in the audits’ results for informing the parliamentary assembly. Furthermore, the Court of Audit publishes an annual report. These printed publications can be downloaded for free on the website of the Court of Audit, as well as some data, accounts or audits’ results that are not recorded in a book or in a separate report and are only available in electronic format.
This website is the most complete and current source of information about the reports published by the Court.
The Court of Audit issues press releases and organizes press conferences with the view of expressing its point of view and answering the questions of the press.