Visit of the EURORAI President

During the meeting of the Auditor General Ms Giedrė Švedienė with the President of the European Organisation of Regional External Public Finance Audit Institutions (EURORAI) Mr Christian Melly issues relating to Lithuanian and Swiss external audit systems, activities of the National Audit Office of Lithuania and its relationship with the Association of Controllers for Local Authorities in Lithuania were discussed.

“Your visit to he National Audit Office was arranged at the initiative of the Association of Municipal Controllers and this indicates good co-operation between our Office and the Association. In relation with the public sector accounting reform currently taking place in Lithuania our relationship will strengthen even more, therefore we are delighted by the opportunity to learn more about international experience of our partners and to become acquainted with foreign practices in the area of public sector external audit”, said the Auditor General.

Mr Melly who is also the Head of the Audit Office of the Canton of Valais (Switzerland) introduced the activity of EURORAI. When speaking about public audit institution activities Mr Melly agreed with the idea of Ms Švedienė that audit institutions should not act as punishers. “Auditors should be advisors, not punishers. Violations detected by auditors should be investigated by law enforcement institutions. Audit mission is to advise but not frighten“, stressed the President of EURORAI. Mr Melly also emphasized independence of public audit institutions. „I know how important for the National Audit Office are the Lima and Mexico Declarations which embed independence of supreme audit institutions and which have been signed by all the membrs of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) including the Lithuanian SAI. I am pleased that the National Audit Office of Lithuania is independent in its activities“.

EURORAI - the European Organisation of Regional External Public Finance Audit Institutions - is a cooperation project among public sector audit institutions in Europe which provides an exchange of experiences and enables to make progress in the common field of regional and local public sector financial control in order to guarantee a better use of public finances. Organization was established in 1992. Lithuanian Association of Controllers for Local Authorities participates in EURORAI activities as an observer since 2007.