2026-05-22
This week, Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė, Head of the Planning and Impact Department Aurelija Brukštutė, and Head of the Communications and International Relations Department Lina Nuobarienė attended the Annual meeting between the International Board of NATO Auditors (IBAN) and the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of NATO Nations in Brussels, Belgium. One of the most important items on the agenda at this year’s event was the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation signed between the National Audit Office and IBAN, marking a new phase in strengthening international audit partnerships against the backdrop of geopolitical challenges.
In the discussion: finding a balance between confidentiality and accountability to the public
During the meeting, a discussion titled “Confidentiality in defence audits – how to maintain necessary secrecy requirements while remaining accountable to the public”, in which Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė also participated, the audit leaders discussed the complex issues facing all member countries.
Participants in the discussion sought answers on how to draw a clear line between information classified for national security purposes and the public’s interest in knowing what constitutes the optimal level of transparency and the appropriate measures to ensure that secrecy does not become a shield against democratic accountability. The session featured a sharing of best practices among countries regarding the use of differentiated reporting formats (ranging from classified documents to anonymised versions for public release) as well as discussing the role of specialised parliamentary committees in ensuring this balance.
“As geopolitical challenges grow, defence spending in Lithuania has reached historic levels, and with it, public expectations that every euro is invested transparently and effectively are also rising. Therefore, supreme audit institutions bear a dual responsibility—we must ensure strict compliance with national security requirements while also finding ways to ensure that secrecy does not become an obstacle to building trust. Dialogue with NATO auditors and the sharing of best practices on how to balance confidentiality with the public interest are more valuable to us today than ever before,” emphasised Ms Segalovičienė.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed
With the aim of developing professional ties, IBAN and the National Audit Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation during the meeting. This document commits the participants to promoting mutual cooperation, sharing professional experience, and exchanging knowledge. The signed memorandum paves the way for closer partnership in the following areas:
- exchanging professional experience and good practice aimed at improving public external audit methods and professional standards for auditors and other staff.
- supporting the external audit activities of international organisations within the scope of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), creating conditions conducive to the implementation of professional traineeships and the appointment of candidates to the post of IBAN Board member.
- subject to the specific consent of the Participants, conducting cooperative audits, peer reviews and to participate in the conduct of investigations within the scope and areas of the Participants’ competence..
National Audit Office's Focus on Defence and National Security
The signed memorandum also reflects the National Audit Office’s growing focus on national security and defence issues. In response to geopolitical challenges, the National Audit Office has in recent years been strengthening its activities in areas related to national resilience, defence funding, and the management of public resources. In 2025, the institution conducted significant assessments ranging from military personnel recruitment and defence budget management to the modernisation of public warning systems, the development of shelters, and the preparation of citizens for civil resistance.
This focus on national security issues continues in the 2026 activity plan. Given the complex geopolitical situation and the significant increase in national defence funding, the National Audit Office will pay particular attention to the lawful and efficient management of the defence budget, transparent procurement, high-quality management of infrastructure projects, and systematic financial planning. The institution aims to contribute to greater public sector resilience and ensure that resources allocated to national defence are used efficiently and responsibly.
About IBAN
Established in 1953, the IBAN is an independent, external audit body for NATO that assures the North Atlantic Council and the governments of member states that common funds are used appropriately and for their intended purposes.
The annual meetings between IBAN and the SAIs of NATO member countries serve as a forum for top-level professionals to present IBAN’s annual activity report and selected audits of significant relevance to the security and defence sector. Discussions led by senior audit executives with many years of strategic experience facilitate mutual dialogue on key audit challenges, best practices, and methods that are becoming critically important in the current geopolitical context.