Russia to be fully integrated to Europe from point of view of financial control

Russia is fully integrated to Europe and the major European organisations from the point of view of financial control, Head of the Russian Audit Chamber Sergei Stepashin told RIA Novosti on Wednesday following the session of the council of the European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) in Rome.

According to Stepashin, the meeting focused on Russia's relations with the European Union at the level of national and sub-national audit chambers and with relevant structures of the countries not included in the EU.

The use of Italy and other European countries' experience of direct reference of audit chambers to court without using the law enforcement bodies in respect of gross violators of the budget legislation was the key issue of the discussion, Stepashin said.

This is a vital issue in Russia today, Stepashin stressed. According to him, this idea will be advanced via relevant legislation of other EUROSAI member-states.

Stepashin pointed out Russia's initiative on Kazakhstan's admission to the EUROSAI, which was put to the vote. In his opinion, this is important from the point of view of Russian-Kazakh relations, economic partnership, common border and historic roots.

Sergei Stepashin met with his Spanish and Italian counterparts during the session. An agreement on the development of bilateral relations in the sphere of experience exchange and joint audit events was confirmed at Stepashin's meeting with President of the Italian Court of Auditors.