14 December 2011Austrian Ambassador visits the State Audit Office of Hungary
Dr. Michael Zimmermann, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, paid a visit on 13 December to the President of the State Audit Office of Hungary. The meeting provided them an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. Mr. László Domokos, President of the State Audit Office of Hungary (SAO) provided comprehensive information on the expansion in the audit duties of SAO, as well as the professional tasks, challenges faced. Among the issues addressed he emphasized the need to renew the audit approach applied to enterprises owned by the central and local governments, and also the importance of high-quality audit and methodological work. The restructuring of the SAO – in terms of both organisational arrangements and professional activities – that already started earlier and is still going on; as well as the amendments brought by the new Act on SAO – like the wider authorities assigned to the Supreme Audit Institution – were also high on the agenda.

During the meeting, the Ambassador and the President also discussed international developments related to the accountability for public funds and the effectiveness of audit activities of national SAIs, as well as their independence, with special regard to the international efforts made by INTOSAI to strengthen the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions.