The Inspectorate General (IGS - Inspection Générale des Services) existed to promote efficiency, effectiveness and economy in the functioning of the Commission's services. For this purpose it provided the Commission with analyses and recommendations concerning: the organisation and use of resources (human, material, financial) employed by the services, the relationship between the resources used and the results obtained, the respect of the priorities decided by the Commission, the respect of appropriate procedures, working methods and rules.
The IGS performed its work on the basis of a mandate, endorsed by the Vice-President after consultation with the relevant members of the Commission and Heads of Services. Its reports are sent to the Vice-President, to the President and Secretary General of the Commission. Each report was made by a team of inspectors working in collaboration with the service concerned, with full freedom of movement and investigation.
The work of IGS was conducted by methods designed to ensure high standards of objective analysis. The methodology is based on best practice prevailing in the field of organisational audit, and was subject to regular revision. The results of its work was evaluated with the aid of the services audited. Its work programme, working practices and organisation were determined in accordance with the Commission's decision of 1991 concerning the creation of IGS.
A number of specific reports on "thematic" issues were made by the IGS during the DECODE exercise, on human resources, organisation etc. Later further reports were made by Neil Kinnock, and circulated within the Commission, on themes such as Excellence in Public Administration, and Good Practices in the Commission's Services.
These files also give the background to Prodi's decisions with regard to the "first steps" in the reform of the Commission, which were later confirmed by the Commission when it formally took office in September 1999.
These files also concern the work of the IGS from its inception to its abolition, in particulare the series of Activity Reports presented to the Commission, and also the DECODE report on the IGS itself.
The papers on specific inspections concern particularly the Interpretation Service, the Translation Service, the Secretariat General, the Euratom Safeguards Office, the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Office (TAIEX), nuclear safety, food safety and the DG for Personnel and Administration.

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