The State Audit Office of Latvia has hosted an annual meeting of the Working Group on Municipal Audit (WGMA) of the European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) and organized an experience exchange workshop in cooperation with the Supreme Audit Institution of Georgia, this time dedicated to audits on infrastructure projects in municipalities.
“The leadership of the EUROSAI WGMA was entrusted to the State Audit Office of Latvia in May 2024 at the EUROSAI Congress, taking over from the Supreme Audit Institution of Lithuania. This is an important international appreciation of our work and its quality. This Working Group consisting of representatives of 27 Member States is a unique platform where auditors can gain valuable experience and share their knowledge in auditing municipalities. International cooperation and exchange of experience with colleagues from other countries is essential to learn, exchange experience, adapt innovative solutions and provide the citizens with greater benefits from audits. This year the meeting was held in Georgia, but we plan to hold it in Latvia next year,” stated Mr Oskars Erdmanis, Council Member of the State Audit Office of Latvia, Director of the Fifth Audit Department and Head of the WGMA.
The focus of the WGMA meeting held in October was a review of what was accomplished in the previous period, as well elaboration of the work plan for 2025 and future activities. The latest EUROSAI network newsletter was also presented, which summarised the topicality and best practice examples of the Working Group and its Member States regarding audits in municipalities.
In their turn, experts from SAIs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Serbia shared their experience on infrastructure project audits in municipalities including opportunities and challenges in the workshop. Auditor General of Latvia Edgars Korčagins led a workshop session on increasing the impact of audits through the cooperation of SAIs and decision-making power of municipalities with the main benefits and challenges outlined. Mr Gints Puriņš, State Auditor-Lawyer of the State Audit Office of Latvia, also presented the audit results of municipal infrastructure projects.
The EUROSAI WGMA is a cooperation platform for the European SAIs in charge of municipal auditing. The Working Group facilitates cooperation and exchange of best practices among SAIs. The activity of this Working Group is essential to ensure the professional development of auditors and promote best governance practices at the European and municipal level in the public interest.
The WGMA was established in 2016 and its vision is to generate significant improvements in municipal audit systems in EUROSAI countries, while the mission is to create an open platform to share best practice and experience in municipal audits. The State Audit Office of Latvia has been a member of the Working Group since its inception and has been involved in the management and implementation of various activities actively.
The international cooperation of the State Audit Office of Latvia:
- Leads the Working Group on Municipality Audit of EUROSAI, a regional organisation of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), serves on the Contact Committee, of the Cooperation Platform between the SAIs of the EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors, and acts as an auditor of international organisations;
- Ensures participation and professional input in the INTOSAI and EUROSAI International Working Groups and the INTOSAI Financial Auditing Standards Subcommittee;
- Provides development and other support to the SAIs of other countries and offers services in the international consulting market as a professional, highly qualified, and experienced consultant in the field of public sector audits.
About the State Audit Office of Latvia
The State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia is an independent, collegial supreme audit institution. The purpose of its activity is to find out whether the actions with the financial means and property of a public entity are legal, correct, useful and in line with public interests, as well as to provide recommendations for the elimination of discovered irregularities. The State Audit Office conducts audits in accordance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTOSAI (ISSAI), whose recognition in Latvia is determined by the Auditor General. Upon discovering deficiencies, the State Audit Office of Latvia provides recommendations for their elimination, but it informs law enforcement authorities about potential infringements of the law.
Additional information
Ms Gunta Krevica
Head of PR and Internal Communication Division
Ph. 23282332 | E-mail: Gunta.Krevica@lrvk.gov.lv