Auditors Work in Vain: New Debate on February 20, 10 Institutions Received Qualified Opinions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At the session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina scheduled for February 20, in accordance with the conclusion from the previous session, audit reports will be discussed for those institutions that received qualified opinions from the Audit Office.

Thus, MPs will discuss audit reports for the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, Border Police, Ministry of Security, Indirect Taxation Authority, Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange, High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, State Investigation and Protection Agency, and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The main objections were that there is no accountability for those who received such opinions, and criticism was also directed at the Audit Office for the fact that no institution received an adverse opinion.

- Well, we are like Scandinavia, but I believe even there are institutions that receive adverse opinions - said MP Sadik Ahmetović.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović stated during the debate that for him, the discussion on the financial audit of state institutions is one of the most important debates in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He pointed out that the Audit Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have the legal authority to sanction anyone and that the legislative branch cannot demand this from this institution.

However, the question is why the prosecutor's offices are not working, because based on the findings that auditors produce, an investigation can easily be initiated.

- If we lived in a normal society, this would be an alarm, because obviously those responsible for enforcing the law and sanctioning those who violate it have a problem with applying positive legal regulations - warned Staša Košarac.

He cited weaknesses and deficiencies in the public procurement process as a common problem in all institutions that received qualified opinions.