The EU wasted more than three billion euros in 2018

ECA controls whether the EU budget is spent in accordance with the bloc's rules.

Waste may occur as a result of financial error or when funds are used for other purposes.

On rare occasions because of fraud.

Auditors stressed that the percentage of waste of funds was 2.6% of total expenditures.

Errors were found mainly in high-risk areas, such as rural development and expenses for poorer member states.

EU spending reached 156.7 billion euros in 2018, representing about 1% of gross national income.

A small part of the total public spending of 28 member states.

ECA chief Klaus-Heiner Lehne called on, elected President Ursula von der Leyen, to improve financial and transparency standards.

The start of a new legislative period and the financial programme create new opportunities. Policy designers should use these to focus EU policies and expenditures on giving results and added value to”, Lehne said. / ATSH/