European finance ministers have reached an agreement on getting the EU's £70bn budget signed off without qualification.
Ministers have expressed concern that the annual EU budget has not received a clean bill of health from the European court of Auditors for over ten years, with an 11th successive qualification expected next week.
The EC was bracing itself for the qualification as the Economic and Financial Affairs Council chaired by Gordon Brown agreed the 'roadmap' towards a positive Statement of Assurance.
The council will prioritise a crackdown on member states systems for accounting for funds distributed by Brussels, which account for 80 per cent of Commission expenditure.
See full Press Release.
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