2026-05-19
- By 2025, 87% of the National Audit Office’s recommendations had been implemented; however, nearly one in four changes is delayed due to delays in legislative, public procurement, and information system processes.
- Audits revealed that the reliability of some government financial data cannot be confirmed: systemic problems persist in the areas of public finance, national security, state reserves, strategic projects, and public services.
- Following the completion of the 2014–2020 EU investment audit cycle, the highest error rate for the entire period was identified—more than 14%, resulting in Lithuania having to cover more than EUR 216 million from state funds.
Presenting the National Audit Office’s 2025 Activity Report to the Seimas today, Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė warned that some systemic problems in the country have been recurring year after year, while the implementation of critical decisions has been too slow.
Today, Lithuania must simultaneously increase defence spending, ensure the sustainability of public finances, strengthen energy security, and adapt to rapid technological changes; however, some decisions are still stalled due to fragmented implementation and a lack of clear accountability.
“The country has no shortage of strategies, plans, or recommendations, but some changes get bogged down in bureaucratic labyrinths. When decisions are delayed for years on end, the state loses not only time and money—public trust in the public sector also diminishes. Faster change requires responsible leadership, inter-agency cooperation, smoother lawmaking, more efficient public procurement, and IT solutions,” emphasises Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė.
Greater scope of operations and flexible response to current issues
In 2025, the National Audit Office conducted 25 audits and assessments, issued 6 fiscal monitoring opinions and 2 reports on the monitoring of the implementation of recommendations. Last year, the institution also received two additional assignments from the Seimas—to conduct audits of the activities of Lithuanian National Radio and Television and the “Curonian Nord” offshore wind farm project. As a result, the scope of planned work had to be adjusted, but the main operational priorities were maintained.
At the same time, the institution responded to current issues—it conducted an assessment of the decision to add an additional 10-points to state matriculation examination results and a review of public sector employee salaries. Such independent and timely assessments help decision-makers anticipate potential consequences and ensure greater transparency and soundness in decision-making.
Some changes are taking place, but systemic problems persist
Monitoring of the implementation of recommendations shows that some changes are taking place in the public sector. By 2025, 87% of the National Audit Office’s recommendations had been implemented, but a growing trend of delays is observed—one in four recommendations is not implemented on time.
Some of the solutions have already brought tangible benefits to residents: access to preschool education is increasing for children at social risk; a portion of previously “stalled” one-time SODRA payments has been inventoried and is reaching residents; and conditions have been created to organise the work of courts more efficiently and to provide notary services remotely.
Nevertheless, a significant number of changes continue to be stalled. The most common reasons include protracted legislative processes, complex public procurement procedures, slow implementation of information systems, and unclear division of responsibilities among institutions.
Fiscal sustainability is also becoming a matter of national security
In its assessment of the state of public finances, the National Audit Office notes that fiscal risks will increase in the coming years. Although the 2026 budget still complies with European Union fiscal rules, the general government deficit may exceed the 3% of GDP threshold in the medium term. This means increasing pressure on the state to finance defence needs, social commitments, and the quality of public services.
The audits also showed that the reliability of some of the state’s financial data still cannot be confirmed. Material misstatements were identified in the areas of state assets, reserves, biological assets, mineral resources, and other accounting areas.
National security: gaps in coordination and preparedness
In 2025, significant attention was devoted to audits of national security and national resilience. The audits assessed military staffing, the civil resistance system, the national reserve, the public warning infrastructure, and the development of shelters.
The audits show that decisions to strengthen national resilience are still insufficiently coordinated, implemented inconsistently, and responsibilities are not always clearly divided among institutions. It has also been found that the state is not yet adequately prepared to ensure the protection of the entire population in the event of a crisis or war, and some measures are being implemented too slowly.
EU investments audits show highest error rate in the entire period
revealed the highest error rate for the entire 2014–2020 period—14.15 percent. Due to the identified irregularities, Lithuania had to cover more than EUR 216 million in ineligible expenditures from the state budget. This highlights the need to strengthen project control, accountability, and oversight in the management of public funds in the future.
A new strategic phase
In 2025, the National Audit Office completed the implementation of its 2021–2025 strategy and launched a new strategic phase running until 2030. It is focused on greater public sector resilience, higher-quality government decisions, more sustainable public finances, and greater value created by the state for the people.
“The National Audit Office’s goal is not merely to identify problems. Our goal is to help the government make decisions that are implemented in a timely manner and have a real impact on people,” says Auditor General Segalovičienė.