With the coordination and partnership of Lever – Development Consultants S.A., a member of the Samaras & Partners Group, numerous local authorities (first and second degree) in Central and Northern Greece have made notable progress in implementing internal audit procedures, as mandated by Law 4795/2021, decision ΦΓ8/2020, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Hellenic Court of Audit.
Examples of such municipalities include:
- Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- Municipality of Komotini
- Municipality of Didymoteicho
- Municipality of Drama
- Municipality of Pylaia – Chortiatis
- Municipality of Pydna – Kolindros
- Municipality of Paranesti
- Municipality of Lake Plastira
- Municipality of Farsala
- Municipality of Elassona
- Region of Thessaly
- Municipality of Skiathos
- Municipality of Skopelos
The successful course of these local authorities is clearly confirmed by evaluation reports on the progress of their Internal Audit Units (IAUs) and by the regional auditors of the Court of Audit, who are the sole evaluators of IAUs in conjunction with Audit Committees. Despite being located outside the Attica region—away from the central scientific and institutional developments of the country—these municipalities have shown great commitment to adopting internal audit principles and standards across most of their financial and administrative processes. They have also actively contributed to the adaptation of international standards to the context of the Greek public sector.
Based on this effort, the above-mentioned local authorities have established effective internal audit systems, where control mechanisms function successfully in the daily handling of financial transactions and management of public assets. These are in accordance with the guidelines of the National Transparency Authority, the COSO Committee, and internal audit principles. According to Law 4795/2021, this ensures the provision of quality public services and the protection of equality, justice, and social solidarity.
Law 4795/2021, by institutionalizing internal audit in public sector entities, strengthens the accountability and integrity mechanisms of both first- and second-degree local authorities. This mission is fulfilled through a set of principles whose effectiveness is confirmed by the internal audit function. Specifically:
- The principle of good governance
- The principle of sound administration and legality
- The principle of transparency and accountability
- The principle of efficiency and effectiveness
- The principle of necessity and subsidiarity
- The principle of meritocracy and professionalism
Through effective collaboration with specialized internal audit professionals, significant advances are expected not only in terms of transparency and effective corporate governance for local authorities in the coming years, but also in improving their interactions with external stakeholders.
