PRESS RELEASE
May 28
th
2014
PUBLIC FINANCES AND ACCOUNTS
CERTIFICATION OF THE FRENCH CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2013
The
Cour des comptes
–
French Supreme Audit Institution
–
hereby issues its audit opinion of the French Central
Government Financial Statements for the year 2013, prepared in accordance with article 58-5 of the
Constitutional Bylaw on Budget Acts (LOLF in French, for 'loi organique relative aux lois de finances').
The
Cour des comptes
certifies that the French Central Government Financial Statements for the year
2013 are, according to the applicable accounting rules and principles, consistent and sincere, and give a
fair and accurate view of the Central Government financial situation and assets, with exception of five
substantial qualifications.
France is one of the very few Nations in the euro zone to have committed, with the LOLF, to a certification of its
government accounts by a totally independent external auditor. This approach is a distinct advantage, especially
in the current economic and financial situation.
1.
The improved quality of the Central Government financial statements enables the removal of
two previous qualifications.
These improvements were given a boost with the successful introduction in 2012 of a new ERP software
(Chorus). While the core of the financial information system is now stable, the public administration has achieved
in 2013 a reliable inventory and evaluation of the Central Government real estate assets as well as of the
guarantees granted, and the strengthening of the underlying processes in both cases.
These improvements leads the
Cour des comptes
to remove 16 sections of the seven qualifications issued on the
previous financial statements. As a result, two previous qualifications, concerning respectively real estate assets
and non-financial liabilities, are no longer issued.
2. For 2013, the
Cour des comptes
issues five substantial qualifications.
These qualifications pertain to:
1)
the financial information system, insufficiently suited to accounting and auditing requirements;
2)
the ministerial internal controls and audits, significantly lacking effectiveness and efficacy;
3)
the accounting of the Central Government tax income, still hindered by significant uncertainties;
4)
the deficiencies detected in the inventory and evaluation of the Defence Ministry's assets and liabilities;
5)
the assessment of the financial assets, which also still suffers from significant uncertainties.
To read the full report click here
PRESS CONTACTS:
Ted Marx
Director of communications
T +33
1 42 98 55 62
tmarx@ccomptes.fr
Denis Gettliffe
Press relations manager
T +33
1 42 98 55 77
dgettliffe@ccomptes.fr
@Courdescomptes