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REPARIS for SMEs

The fourth Forum of Public Oversight Bodies (POB Forum)

The fourth Forum of Public Oversight Bodies (POB Forum) will take place in Tirana, Albania, on 9-10 December 2025. 

The POB Forum, established in May 2023 under REPARIS for SMEs, aims to enhance audit quality in Western Balkan countries through learning, experience exchange, and regional cooperation. It serves as a platform for sharing international and regional knowledge and experience in the field of public oversight and quality assurance. This initiative is now supported by the EAASURE regional program, involving competent authorities from 11 participating countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.

The target audience includes representatives of ministries of finance responsible for accounting and audit legislation; executive staff, board members, and quality assurance inspectors of public audit oversight authorities; as well as representatives of professional accounting organizations (PAOs) with delegated responsibilities related to quality assurance or other tasks.

The specific objectives of this forum are to:

• Learn from the experience of Albania in strengthening the relevant stakeholders’ capacity to improve, apply and enforce corporate financial reporting in line with good international standards and practices.
• Hear updates from participating countries on the results of implementing reforms in audit oversight and the actions planned in the next period.
• Discuss issues raised in the CFRR paper  including with peer EU  Audit Oversight bodies with similar characteristics. These issues include: the independence of board members; appointing and retaining staff; salary levels; rating inspections; first-time inspection outcomes; dealing with burdensome legal process; and focusing on helping firms to improve not on punishment etc.
• Hear updates on the latest developments on audit oversight related matters from relevant authorities, which could include the EC, CEAOB, CEAOB working groups, IFIAR (all to be confirmed).
• Advance the discussion on the increasing role and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on audit oversight and regulation, such as incorporating AI and other technologies in audit inspections.  
• Have an interactive and participatory discussion among participants on how to focus audit oversight on improving audit quality rather than focusing on disciplinary actions and fines. 

The expected outcomes of this event are that the knowledge and experience gained will: (i) support the further alignment of countries' corporate financial and sustainability reporting frameworks with relevant EU Directives and regulations, (ii) support the implementation of key evolving areas of corporate reporting and audit oversight, and (iii) assist POBs in developing strategies to address common challenges faced by POBs in the EU and worldwide.

Language: The language of the event will be English, with simultaneous interpretation available in Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, and Russian.

Event is by invitations only.