Page contentsPage contents History In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Internal Audit Service (IAS) launched a history book. Explore it The Internal Audit Service (IAS) of the European Commission was created as a part of Administrative Reform in the late nineties. It became an independent Service on the 4th of July 2001. The Internal Audit Capabilities (IACs) and the Audit Progress Committee of the European Commission (APC) were created at the same time. In 2003, the IAS was mandated to audit the EU agencies – today it has over 40 agencies and bodies in its portfolio. The IAS was declared compliant with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Standards and Code of Ethics on the 4th of July 2008, following an external quality review. Since then, further external quality assessments (EQA) have been completed with the IAS achieving the same satisfactory overall assessment of being generally compliant with the IIA Standards and Code of Ethics. Timeline IAS History July, 2001The IAS becomes an independent service, with Jules Muis as Director General.The new Service is part of the changed audit architecture in the Commission, reporting to the Audit Progress Committee (APC) of the European Commission, and co-ordinates with the Internal Audit Capabilities (IACs) embedded in each Directorate-General.2002The IAS continues to implement Action 87 of the Reform White Paper: “the Internal Audit Service will carry out a complete cycle of indepth audits of management and control systems in all DGs”.2003The revised Financial Regulation (Article 185) makes the IAS auditor of the EU agencies.2004Jules Muis steps down as DG, to be replaced by Walter Deffaa. 2005Risk management becomes embedded in the Commission’s SPP/ABM planning cycle.The IAS sets up a dedicated quality cell. 2006The IAS carries out a quality review of the Internal Audit Capabilities (IACs). 2007 The Mission charter of the IAS is updated, and a model charter for IACs introduced. 2008Certification – the IAS undergoes a quality review which led to certification that its audit activity within the Commission generally complies with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) Standards and Code of Ethics.2009Walter Deffaa leaves the IAS; Brian Gray becomes the third Director General of the Service.2010AuditnetLandmark 75th meeting of Auditnet, the forum for exchange of best practice and co-ordination between the IAS and the IACs2011Overall OpinionThe IAS completes its first Overall Opinion into the state of internal control in the Commission. The IAS becomes the Internal Auditor of the European External Action Service2012AppointmentPhilippe Taverne takes over from Brian Gray as a Director Generalof the Service2015CentralisationThe Commission decided to centralise its internal audit function. As a consequence the Internal Audit Capabilities were dismantled and the IAS remained the sole internal audit functionfor the Commission and its Executive Agencies.The IAS Charter has consequently beenupdated.2016AppointmentJeff Mason becomes the acting Director-Generalof the IAS2017AppointmentManfred Kraff has become Director-General of the IAS. Revision of the IAS mission Chater to align it with the changes in the International Professional Practices Framework.Show 11 more items2020New IAS MissionRevision of the Mission Charter to reflect the changes of the NewCommission 2019-2024 Related links Twenty years of the Internal Audit Service (IAS)
