Minister Vital do Rêgo Meets with Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions and OECD Representatives in Paris

During a mission to Paris, France, Minister Vital do Rêgo, President of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and Chair of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), held a series of meetings. The Brazilian delegation met with the heads of several Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), as well as with Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

On January 27, the Minister delivered the opening address at the event “IDI-OECD Global Project on SAI Independence.” The event was also attended by Einar Gørrissen, Director General of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI); Janos Bartok, Deputy Director of Public Governance at the OECD; Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States; and Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, Auditor General of Norway and Chair of the IDI Board.

Minister Vital do Rêgo emphasized the key role of independent audit institutions in safeguarding the integrity of the public administration. "Their independence," he affirmed, "is essential to building public trust, ensuring integrity in public administration, and protecting against corruption and inefficiency. This autonomy empowers SAIs to effectively serve as guardians of public resources, ensuring they are legitimately used, efficiently, and for the benefit of all.

Launched in 2024, the "Global Project on SAI Independence," a joint OECD and IDI initiative, aims to strengthen the autonomy of government audit institutions worldwide. Rather than focusing solely on legal frameworks, the project seeks to understand the practical challenges to SAI independence. It is supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the INTOSAI General Secretariat, and the INTOSAI Policy, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC).

“The Global Project that brings us together today represents a collective effort to consolidate SAI autonomy worldwide. With its innovative approach, I am confident that this initiative will have a positive and lasting impact in enhancing our institutions,” said Minister Vital do Rêgo.

SAIs and Green Transition

On January 28, the President participated in the panel discussion “Increasing the Impact of Sustainability Audits” alongside officials from the Supreme Audit Institutions of Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, and Malta. The panel analyzed the role of SAIs in the green transition. On this occasion, the Minister presented data and updates on the ClimateScanner and discussed the Energy Transition Audit Guide.

“Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our time, affecting not only the environment but also economies, food security, health, and social stability on a global scale. Overcoming these challenges requires coordinated action guided by solidarity and a commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. In this context, SAIs play a central role in monitoring, auditing, and ensuring that actions to fight, mitigate, and adapt to climate change are carried out responsibly,” stated the President.

Minister Vital do Rêgo also highlighted the TCU’s intention to launch a global initiative to investigate government actions in addressing hunger and poverty.

Partnership with the OECD

During a meeting held on January 29, President Vital do Rêgo and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann discussed, among other topics, the role of audit institutions in strengthening transparency and citizen participation.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reinforce the partnership between the TCU and the OECD. This collaboration began in 2011 with the review of the federal government’s financial audits, continued with a public governance project (2014–2016), and the work on Decentralized Public Policies (2018–2020), which led to the creation of the Integrar Network.