EU4PFM and the Ministry of Finance advance public internal financial control reform: work on piloting underway

On August 20, EU4PFM International Expert on PIFC, Manfred van Kesteren, together with representatives of the PIFC Harmonisation Department of the Ministry of Finance, met with the leadership of the Ministry of Justice responsible for internal control.

EU4PFM supports the Ministry of Justice in improving and strengthening the internal control system of the process of providing free legal aid. For this purpose, a pilot initiative has started in which EU4PFM experts, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, contribute to the improvement of the process that addresses basic constitutional rights of Ukraine’s citizens.

The meeting focused on reviewing the results of the initial data collection stage of the pilot project «Strengthening Internal Control in the Ministry of Justice» and presenting the internal control system of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid under the Ministry of Justice. The participants also approved the composition of the Working Group in charge of the pilot.

The main objective of this initiative is to equip the Ministry of Justice with practical tools and skills for strengthening risk management capacity, enhancing cooperation between the 2nd and 3rd line functions, and connecting internal control to budget programmes and internal processes.

Since the pilot’s launch, the partners have selected two budget programmes and held two meetings to exchange initial information.

In opening remarks, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Oleksandr Bukhanevych, underlined:

«For the Ministry of Justice, building an effective internal control system is an important prerequisite for the institution’s stability and development in wartime conditions. It will help us respond to risks in a timely manner, manage budget programmes effectively, and ensure that citizens receive quality and accessible services. We value the support of EU4PFM, as this cooperation enables us to implement the best European practices and take another step towards Ukraine’s European integration.»

This pilot aims to implement a practical mechanism for assessing and improving the internal control system within the Ministry of Justice, aligned with international best practices, including the COSO Internal Control Framework and SIGMA guidelines.

In the welcome speech, Manfred van Kesteren expressed gratitude to the partners for smooth cooperation and provision of essential information that helps to better understand the context of the budget programmes involved. The Expert noted:

«Our effort is aimed at identifying where practical improvements can be made to bring the control of these budget programmes closer in line with European best practices. This is about working collaboratively, learning from each other, and taking step-by-step measures that align the process with European standards.»

Participants also discussed the preliminary mapping of the free legal aid process, further formats of cooperation, identified risks from the data collection phase, and agreed on a roadmap.

The implementation of this pilot will not only strengthen PIFC principles but also serve as a model for wider reforms, supporting Ukraine’s European integration path.

Learn more: EU4PFM pilots internal control functioning in the Ministry of Justice