A significant date for the Audit Office is Wednesday, September 17, 2025. In three days, the House Legal Affairs Committee will begin deliberations on the draft bills concerning the reform of the Audit Office. After 65 years, five landmark changes are being introduced, the most important of which is the establishment of the Audit Council. As Offsite reports, the reform is expected to be implemented from 2027 onward.

First: The Audit Office will gain financial autonomy by preparing its own budget without interference from the executive branch.

Second: The Auditor General and the Deputy Auditor General will be appointed for a single eight-year term, with no possibility of reappointment.

Third: The qualifications required for the position of Auditor General will be clearly defined.

Fourth: A three-member Audit Council will be established. The Council will be appointed by the Council of Ministers, with the three members selected from a shortlist of five suitable candidates.

Fifth: The Audit Council will review and issue opinions on the Office’s interim and annual reports. These opinions will be included as appendices in the reports.

The three-member Audit Council will be structured according to international models. This innovation is expected to serve as an additional safeguard within the Audit Office, ensuring the objectivity of its reports and the impartiality of the Auditor General’s conduct.

However, risks exist. Decisions of the Audit Council may conflict with the Auditor General’s reports, and the process could potentially delay the publication of reports.

The appointment of the Audit Council solely by the government leaves Parliament outside the process. This is seen as a missed opportunity to include a stronger element of political cooperation and an additional layer of oversight, especially given that the Audit Office is primarily tasked with scrutinizing government actions.

In July, Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou sent a letter to Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis seeking clarifications on the draft bill. He expressed support for its core provisions, particularly the financial independence of the Audit Office and the introduction of its own budget.

According to Papaconstantinou, the single eight-year term for both the Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General is a step in the right direction, enabling effective leadership of the Audit Office.

Currently, the Auditor General has the draft bill under review and is expected to present his official positions to Parliament on Wednesday. Nonetheless, concerns remain within the Audit Office about how the Audit Council will operate and how it will cooperate with the Auditor General.