PRESS RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE

Today, representatives from NAO Malta, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Cyprus, France, and Poland met at the offices of the National Audit Office of Malta in Floriana for the Troika+ Liaison Officers preparatory meeting. NAO Malta was represented by Dr Rebecca Vassallo, Liaison Officer, International Affairs, and Ms Caroline Fenech, Personal Assistant to the Auditor General. This meeting served as an important step in the preparations for the 2025 EU Contact Committee Meeting, which will be hosted by NAO Malta and chaired by the ECA this November.

The EU Contact Committee is an autonomous, independent, and non-political assembly of all the heads of the SAIs of the EU Member States and the ECA. It provides a key platform for dialogue, cooperation, and strategic decision-making on audit and accountability issues relevant to the EU. The Contact Committee plays a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge, promoting common positions on emerging audit challenges, and supporting SAIs of countries subject to the EU enlargement policy.

To prepare for the EU Contact Committee meeting, the Troika+—a group composed of representatives from the previous, current, and next Contact Committee chairs and current Liaison Officers' meeting chair, as well as other key SAIs—plays a crucial role in shaping the agenda and ensuring continuity. Today's discussions focused on defining the main theme for the 2025 EU Contact Committee Meeting, the proposed agenda and structure of the meeting, organisational and logistical arrangements, and follow-up actions leading up to the event. These discussions are essential to ensuring that the Contact Committee remains an effective forum for EU SAIs to address shared challenges, exchange best practices, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

As the host of the 2025 meeting, NAO Malta is committed to facilitating meaningful discussions among EU SAIs, ensuring that the Contact Committee remains a strategic forum for addressing key audit and governance challenges at both the EU and national levels.

Preparations will continue in the coming months, with further exchanges planned to refine the agenda and ensure a successful and impactful 2025 EU Contact Committee Meeting that is being held in Malta for the first time ever.