Auditors publish Background Paper on desertification in the EU

The European Court of Auditors has published a background paper on the effectiveness of the actions being taken by countries in the region affected by desertification. The paper was published ahead of the World Day to Combat Desertification that will be marked on Sunday, 17 June 2018.

The paper states that 13 countries in the EU have declared they are affected by desertification, and that the auditors have visited 5 of those countries. The Auditors report will answer two key questions:

1) Do the Commission and the Member States have reliable information on areas at risk of desertification – including an effective monitoring system?

2) Do the Commission and the Member States have a sound framework to address desertification?

In January, the EU Court of Auditors announced that it would examine the EU strategy to combat desertification.

For more information, visit the EU Court of Auditors announcement.

Read the press release, which is available in 22 other languages.

Download the background paper.