The 2010 Lázaro Award for research on public sector auditing has been granted in its first edition jointly to Sara Belleil and José Antonio Fernández Ajenjo. This award has the aim of developing further its links with the academic community and helping the development of public audit in Europe.

The first edition of the ECA award pays tribute to the memory of Mr Jesús Lázaro Cuenca, former Director of the Court, who contributed over many years to developing the audit methods and approaches of this institution. ECA President Vítor Caldeira believes that this initiative has a particular importance for the European Court of Auditors. Consistent with its mission and values, the ECA seeks to be at the forefront of the evolution of public sector audit in the European Union and globally. For this reason, the Court decided to create this award for academic works related to public sector audit to encourage research and to appreciate and recognise the value of such work.

The 2010 winners received their prizes at a ceremony held at the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg. They also enjoyed the occasion to expose their theses. Mrs Sara Belleil, with her thesis “Contribution to a sociology of management practices in European policy audits of humanitarian NGOs: between importation and appropriation” and Mr José Antonio Fernández Ajenjo with his thesis “The control of public administration and the fight against corruption: Special reference to the Court of Audit and general audit of the state administration”.

The Selection Panel considered that both theses equally merited the award.The panel appreciated in particular their originality, the innovative qualities, the significance and the overall quality of the academic work.