EUROSAI President Mr. Matanyahu Englman (SAI Israel): "State audit must have a professional brain, but it must always maintain a human heart. behind the audits, there are always people"
The EUROSAI Governing Board convened in Rome this week for its 65th meeting, a two-day summit dedicated to shaping the future of public sector auditing across Europe (25-26/5/2026).
Hosted by SAI Italy, the event was chaired by EUROSAI President, Mr. Matanyahu Englman, State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel. The meeting brought together the heads of European Supreme Audit Institutions to discuss strategic priorities and high-level professional topics, including civil population defense and the integration of Artificial Intelligence in the audit process.
President Englman and members of the EUROSAI Governing Board in Rome. Photo: SAI Italy
In a first-ever ceremony held during its 65th Governing Board meeting in Rome, EUROSAI honored excellence in public auditing. The Supreme Audit Office of the Czech Republic received the top EUROSAI Award for Exceptional Auditing for its report on air quality funds. Certificates of Recognition were also presented to the national audit offices of the UK, Austria and Germany (jointly), and Ukraine for their innovative and impactful work. EUROSAI President congratulated the winners and the 14 participating institutions, highlighting the competition's role in promoting excellence and cooperation in the field..
Mr. Englman Delivers Opening Remarks at the Governing Board Meeting. Photo: SAI Italy
In his farewell address, President Englman reflected on his tenure and shared a core philosophy that guided his presidency. "State audit must have a professional brain, but it must always maintain a human heart," he urged his colleagues, adding that "behind the audits, there are always people".
He also underscored the importance of innovation, celebrating the organization's work on "multinational parallel audits on the cutting edge of modern governance - most notably, our recently concluded landmark report on Artificial Intelligence coordinated by SAI Israel".
Farewell, Mr. Matanyahu Englman
As the successful meeting concluded, President Englman expressed his gratitude to the board members and the wider EUROSAI community. "The strength of EUROSAI lies in its people", he concluded. "It lies in the remarkable spirit of cooperation, mutual support, and unwavering dedication".
