The National Transparency Authority (NTA) in cooperation with the Economic Police Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Hellenic Police, carried out audits on 28.05.2020 at the Headquarters and six (6) accommodation structures of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in Lesvos.
These audits are part of the operational schedule that the Authority has developed with the Hellenic Police and concerns entities and bodies active in the field of migration and asylum.
A mixed audit team consisting of 10 members of the Financial Police Directorate, four members of the Criminal Investigations Directorate and seven NTA Inspectors-Auditors collected data and carried out autopsies to verify the legality of the NGO’s actions in relation to the management of financial programmes of the European Commission for the 2014-2020 programming period and in particular from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (TAME/AMIF)
In the framework of the audits, digital and physical records related to actions of the audited entity were handed over, received and seized:
- Files containing documents relating to the grant agreement for the action and the technical file for the action
- A large number of documents and supporting expenditure relating to the physical scope of the project financed
- Management Guide - Link between the physical and financial object
- Employee's personal data sheets
- Contract amendments
- Invoices for grants relating to the operation of the structures
The members of the team, with the support of the specialized staff of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, visited six shelters for unaccompanied minors, in order to assess the conditions of implementation of the project funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the compliance or not of the conditions and procedures of the scope described in the relevant technical action sheet, as well as their general operation and the suitability of facilities according to the Guide for the Implementation & Operation of Accommodation Facilities for Unaccompanied Minors (11th/2017).
In particular, data in paper and digital were received and seized:
- List of beneficiaries since the start of the project
- List of staff
- Current programmes for feeding, education, creative activities, psychological support and cleaning
- Internal Regulations of the structures
- Documents related to the distribution of a cash benefit of 30€ to the beneficiaries
- Shifts of staff employed since the start of the project
- Archive of daily information bulletins to the National Centre for Social Solidarity
- Lease contracts and floor plans of the building
- Permits/certificates required for the operation of the structure (fire safety etc.)
- Expenditure on minor expenses
- Forms of documents used by the structure such as hospitality agreement
The inspection programme also involved the verification of the number and specialisations of the staff of the facilities, as well as of the beneficiaries of minors present (126 unaccompanied minors were recorded), staff employed (social workers, scientific supervisors, psychologists, etc.) were examined and six detailed autopsy reports were drawn up.
The inspections focus on ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of the European and national funds financing these bodies’ activities.
National Transparency Authority
The Governor
Angelos Binis