EU4PFM internal control pilot project enters its final stage

Over the past year, the EU4PFM Expert Team on Public Internal Financial Control (PIFC) has worked closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision (the pilot institution) to strengthen internal control within the system for providing free legal aid. 

Recently, EU4PFM experts discussed the draft final report on the results of the pilot with the partners.

The aim of the pilot is to transform internal control from a formal requirement into a practical management tool. This means establishing clearer links between objectives, risks, control measures and performance indicators, as well as between internal control, planning and budgeting.

The key message is simple: internal control should help managers make better decisions rather than become a box-ticking exercise. This means moving from a compliance-oriented mindset towards a risk-based approach.

“In the report, we identified specific areas that would benefit from further strengthening. Many elements of our partners’ system are already working very well, but there is always room for improvement – and these are the areas we have focused on,” said Manfred van Kesteren, EU4PFM International Expert on PIFC.

Representatives of the Coordination Centre thanked the EU4PFM team for a year of systematic support, noting that the cooperation had laid the foundations for further developing the internal control system. They also emphasised that the report reflects the key ideas and outcomes of their joint work.

The Head of the Coordination Centre Oleksandr Baranov stressed that this work has already helped regional centre managers look beyond day-to-day operations, respond more effectively to emerging challenges and risks, address their root causes, and prevent recurrence. It will also support their professional development and promote wider application of these management principles across the free legal aid system.

According to the partners, it has been a year of productive and well-coordinated cooperation – one that is expected to deliver tangible results.

Following this round of discussions, the draft report will be discussed with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine as the main beneficiary of EU4PFM support in this area. The official results of the pilot will be presented in September.

 The pilot project was initiated by EU4PFM jointly with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. Its results should support the Ministry of Finance in developing an effective internal control policy and scaling up successful practices across Ukraine’s public sector.