Ltter

Ref. Ares(2024)2375942 - 01/04/2024 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS Resources and performance management Control and evaluation Brussels, 27 March 2024 ECFIN.R.4/GG/ (2024)2653427 Subject: EPM 'Fact finding missions' Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan Ref.: Engagement No. EE-Q1-2024 FACT FINDING MISSION ON PP/ SA (to be used in all correspondence) Your Excellency, On 20/02/2024 and 21/02/2024, the auditors of Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (hereinafter: “ECFIN”) carried out a fact-finding mission in relation to the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan (hereinafter: “RRP”). The legal basis for the engagement is laid down in the Financial Regulation, namely in its Articles 74(6) and 129(1) and in the Financing Agreement under Articles 11(4) and 12(1). The objective of this remote mission was to gain assurance that the Estonian authorities are regularly and effectively verifying compliance with the applicable public procurement (hereinafter: “PP”) and state aid (hereinafter: “SA”) rules for measures covered by the Council Implementing Decision. The work included checks on the effectiveness of the entities’ work done on checking the implementing bodies compliance with state aid and public procurement rules. On the basis of its examination, the Commission services have the following observations: • Audit Authority - Integrate PP and SA checks in future audits. - Integrate PP and SA audit reports in the summary of audit accompanying future payment requests • Coordinating Body: SSSC No recommendations for SA and PP verification procedure • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications: KMK - Develop and use a specific template for the PP checklist • Information System Authority ISA Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111  - Develop and use a specific template for the PP checklist • Environmental Investment Centre: KIK No recommendations for SA verification procedure • Agricultural Registers and Information Board: PRIA No recommendations for SA verification procedure Based on the evidence collected and assessed, and to the best of their knowledge, the ECFIN auditors consider that, for the selected measures, the risk of non-respect by Estonia to its obligation to regularly check that State aid and public procurement rules are complied with in the context of 2023 payment is low. This assessment is without prejudice to any conclusions that the Commission could draw from any possible further on-the-spot audit work. Yours faithfully, Electronically signed Bernadette FREDERICK c.c.: Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs Mark Schelfhout, Head of Unit, ECFIN R.4 Jakob Wegener Friis, Director ECFIN E Joern Griesse, Head of Unit, ECFIN E.2 Declan Costello, Deputy Director General, ECFIN E, F,G James Hinton, Head of Unit, ECFIN.A.2 Recovery and Resilience Task Force Maria Teresa Fabregas Fernandez, Director, SG.RECOVER.B Luca Rossi, Head of Unit, SG.RECOVER.B2 Ave Schank-Lukas, SG.RECOVER.B2 – Tallinn 2 Electronically signed on 27/03/2024 17:40 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121 Saatja: "ECFIN UNIT R4" <[email protected]> Saaja: "ORAV Aivo (Permanent Representation of Estonia = Représentation permanente de l'Estonie)" <[email protected]>, "RAM Info" Teema: EPM 'Fact finding missions' Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan Q1-2024 FACT FINDING MISSION ON PP/ SA - Ares(2024)2375942 Kuupäev: 2024-04-01 08:26 *** Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. *** Your Excellency, Please find enclosed a letter sent by Ms Bernadette FREDERICK, ECFIN R Director - Resources and Performance management (Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs - European Commission). Best regards, Evangelos SELLAS Secretary to the Unit Unit R4: Control, Planning and Evaluation. European Commission Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) CHAR 10/005 B-1049 Brussels/Belgium +32 229-92817 Email: [email protected]