Mission
The EU's independent external auditor
As the EU's independent external auditor, the ECA contributes to improving EU financial management, promotes accountability and transparency, and acts as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union.

The ECA – an EU institution
The ECA is the EU institution for auditing the EU’s finances. It was established in 1977 and became a fully-fledged EU institution in 1993. The ECA is committed to being an efficient organisation at the forefront of developments in public audit and administration.

Role
External auditor
In democratic societies, complete, accurate and readily available information on budgetary and policy implementation is essential for effective scrutiny and decision-making. Such information helps promote sound financial management and serves as a basis for accountability. Like Member States, the EU needs an external auditor which can act as an independent guardian of the financial interests of its citizens.

The EU’s “financial watchdog”
As Europe faces ever greater challenges and increasing pressure on its public finances, the role of the European Court of Auditors is of increasing importance. The ECA warns of risks, provides assurance and offers guidance to EU policymakers on how to improve the management of public finances and ensure that Europe’s citizens know how their money is being spent. This is the essence of the ECA’s contribution to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and sustainability of the European Union.