TCU has been adopting a more “pedagogical” stance, says Vital do Rêgo

The President of the Court of Auditors participated in a seminar promoted by Brasil Export in Paris this Wednesday, during a technical mission to France.

The president of the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU), Vital do Rêgo, highlighted the stance that the Court has been adopting in recent months, described as that of an “inductor of economic development” in Brazil, with the body being more “pedagogical” than “sanctioning” and concerned with expressing itself quickly on public investments and concessions in the infrastructure segment.

The presentation was made to businesspeople and authorities from the port sector – including the Minister of Ports and Airports, Sílvio Costa Filho – on Wednesday morning, at the opening of the second day of the seminar “Actions to enhance Brazil's competitiveness and expand its role in the international market”, organized by the Brasil Export Forum in Paris.

The event was part of the technical program of the Brasil Export Group's international mission to France, which takes place this week.

When discussing how the TCU has been working, Vital do Rêgo emphasized the court's role as a "manager" and "partner," not an "adversary," in overseeing government projects and spending. "It must be educational before it can be sanctioning," he stated. "We want managers to feel confident that the Court of Auditors is a control body, a regulatory body, but one that is absolutely swift and offers legal certainty. Speed, legal certainty, and the treatment managers expect."

The TCU president commented that "Brazil is a litigious country par excellence," stating that "everything we want, everything we plead, if it can't be resolved administratively, we go to court." Given this scenario, the Court relies on seeking consensus as a way to resolve disputes more quickly. "That's how we resolved disputes involving Galeão Airport, Guarulhos Airport, and Santos Dumont Airport."

Vital also emphasized that he has a partner in this strategy in the Minister of Ports and Airports. Addressing Sílvio Costa Filho, who was in the audience, he stated: "Perhaps you are the minister who most frequently visits the Court of Auditors—not to defend yourself, but to propose solutions. You have been an active participant in the search for consensus. And it is by seeking this consensus, unlocking the economy, and analyzing concessions and leases quickly that we can say that, in 2024, we will release four major tenders, with R$4 billion in investments."

When discussing the time it takes to analyze cases, Vital do Rêgo stated that the private sector can expect the TCU to "always be swift." "Disputes that have been going on for 20 years are now being resolved consensually, often within 120 days," he emphasized.

The Court's president also highlighted the agency's ongoing analysis of the Tecon Santos 10 concession project, the mega container and general cargo terminal that the Ministry of Ports and Airports plans to build in Santos. "We are analyzing it very critically in every detail. And we will issue our opinion and our verdict. The opinion of our technical unit and the verdict of the plenary."