From October 22 to 23, 2024, the third regional forum of public oversight bodies (POB Forum) was held in Bucharest, Romania. This event was organized jointly under two main programs of the World Bank for financial reporting reform (CFRR) based in Vienna: the Accounting Reform and Institutional Strengthening Program for Small and Medium Enterprises “Road to Europe” (REPARIS for SMEs) and the new Program for Enhancing Accounting, Auditing, and Sustainability Reporting (EAASURE).
The POB Forum was established in May 2023 within the REPARIS for SMEs initiative, aiming to improve the quality of auditing in the Western Balkan countries through learning, experience sharing, and regional cooperation. It facilitates the exchange of international and regional knowledge and experiences in the area of public oversight and quality assurance. This platform is now supported by the regional EAASURE program, which includes competent authorities from 11 participating countries.
Marko Janković, the Chairman of the Securities Commission, and Aleksandra Anđelković, Quality Control Officer from the Audit Quality Sector, had the opportunity to participate in a panel titled "Improving Audit Quality through Cooperation," where the Serbian delegation shared its experiences in establishing a public oversight system and ensuring quality in accordance with EU regulations. They also outlined the key institutional arrangements, roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the involved institutions. The panelists discussed existing challenges in implementation and enforcement in Serbia, as well as the actions taken in response.