Call for External Audit Firm
Call for External Audit Firm
Interreg NEXT MED Programme 2021–2027
Projects Covered by this Call
This call concerns the provision of external audit services for the following EU-funded projects under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme:
- GREENMEDPORTS
Green Ports Cluster for a Sustainable Mediterranean Maritime and Transport Ecosystem - GREENOLIVE
Green Mediterranean through Solar Driven Decarbonization of Industries - HEEFTA
Holistic Environmental Education from Training to Action - RESt4GREEN
Renewable Energy Sources and Smart Energy Conservation for a Greener Mediterranean - SPEEDUP
EU-MED Hubs to Accelerate SMEs’ Sustainable and Competitive Growth
1. Background
The above-mentioned projects are co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme 2021–2027, aiming to promote sustainable development, green transition, innovation, energy efficiency, environmental education, and competitiveness across the Mediterranean region.
In accordance with:
- EU Financial Regulations
- Interreg NEXT MED Programme rules and manuals
- Grant Contracts and their annexes
The Lead Partners are required to appoint an independent External Audit Firm to verify project expenditures, ensure compliance with eligibility rules, and support sound financial management throughout project implementation.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to contract a qualified and independent Audit Firm to perform external audit and verification of expenditures for the five projects, ensuring that all reported costs:
- Are eligible under EU and Programme rules
- Comply with public procurement, state aid, and no-profit principles
- Are properly recorded, documented, and traceable
3. Scope of Work
The External Audit Firm shall carry out, inter alia, the following tasks:
3.1 Financial Verification
- Verify the eligibility of expenditures in accordance with:
- Grant Contract provisions
- Interreg NEXT MED Programme manuals and guidelines
- Applicable EU and national regulations
- Check consistency between:
- Accounting records
- Supporting documents
- Financial reports submitted through the Programme system
3.2 Compliance and Control
- Verify compliance with:
- Public procurement rules (EU and national level)
- State aid provisions
- Non-profit rule
- Ensure the existence of a complete and reliable audit trail
3.3 Reporting and Certification
- Review and validate:
- Interim and final financial reports
- Expenditure declarations
- Issue audit reports and certifications in line with Programme requirements
3.4 Risk and Irregularity Assessment
- Identify financial risks, ineligible expenditures, or irregularities
- Provide recommendations for corrective measures
- Support Lead Partners during audits, checks, or verifications conducted by:
- Managing Authority
- Joint Secretariat
- EU or national control bodies
4. Deliverables
The Audit Firm shall provide:
- External audit report(s) for each project, prepared in English
- Certification/validation of expenditures, where required
- Findings and recommendations reports
- Clarifications and follow-up documentation upon request
5. Required Qualifications and Experience
The Audit Firm must meet the following requirements:
- Legally registered Audit Firm authorized to provide external audit services
- Minimum 7 years of proven experience in auditing EU-funded projects
- Demonstrated experience with:
- Interreg
- ENI CBC / ENPI
- Other EU territorial cooperation programmes
- Strong knowledge of:
- EU Financial Regulations (including Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 and related regulations)
- Interreg Programme rules and procedures
- Public procurement and financial control systems
- Availability of qualified audit staff with relevant professional certifications
6. Independence and Ethical Standards
- The Audit Firm must be fully independent from all project partners
- No involvement in project implementation or management
- Full compliance with EU rules on conflict of interest, confidentiality, and good conduct
7. Duration of the Assignment
The contract duration shall correspond to the implementation periods of the five projects, as defined in their respective Grant Contracts, including any extensions approved by the Programme.
8. Application Procedure
Interested Audit Firms are invited to submit the following documents:
- Technical Offer, including:
- Company profile and legal registration
- Description of relevant experience in EU-funded projects
- Proposed audit methodology and work plan
- Financial Offer
- List of similar assignments and references
Applications shall be submitted by email to:
Professor Yasser Gaber Dessouky,
Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation
Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)
Abu Kir Campus, PO Box: 1029, Miami,
Alexandria, EGYPT
Mobile: +2 01006030790
E-mail: ygdessouky@yahoo.com]
Deadline for submission: [28-01-2026]