On 6 October 2022, Auditor General Rolands Irklis participated in the Annual Conference of the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal auditors (ECIIA) and, as a representative of the Governing Board of the European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI), will join a panel discussion “Internal and external audit in the public sector. Two roles one destiny”.

In the panel discussion, the Auditor General presented the results of the survey of EUROSAI supreme audit institutions conducted in the summer of 2022. The scope of the study was about SAIs’ experience with internal auditors. The analysis was carried out by gathering opinions on risks and benefits from the existing experience of cooperation received from 28 supreme audit institutions in Europe and the European Court of Auditors.

The panel discussion of the conference covered the following issues:

• How to better engage in the public sector;
• How to be more effective and avoid compromises;
• How to deliver a stronger assurance and have more impact on the organisations;
• What are the best practices to apply.

At the end of the discussion, EUROSAI Governing Board Member, Auditor General Rolands Irklis and the representatives of ECIIA discussed further steps in achieving effective forms of cooperation and further activities for 2023. After participating in the ECIIA Conference, the conclusions are expected to be further presented and discussed in the EUROSAI working group for cooperation with ECIIA, which is led by the State Audit Office of Latvia as the holder of the portfolio on relations with non-SAI stakeholders.

Participation in the conference panel discussion is part of the obligations that the State Audit Office of Latvia has assumed by representing the Governing Board of EUROSAI and fulfilling the tasks set within the portfolio - to strengthen the professional development and capacity of supreme audit institutions in cooperation with international organisations.

General information:

Since 2021, the State Audit Office of Latvia has been responsible for EUROSAI’s relations with non-SAI stakeholders. One of the main tasks of the Governing Board’s portfolio is the improvement of the EUROSAI organisation’s cooperation network with organisations of external or non-SAI stakeholders and the identification and participation in potential joint cooperation and strategic topics and events. This portfolio activity is implemented in collaboration with ECIIA, the largest regional organisation of internal auditors.

Participation in the conference and cooperation with ECIIA ensures the visibility of EUROSAI, emphasises the organisation’s importance on an international scale, and provides wider opportunities to implement the set goals for the more effective performance of auditors in the public sector.

The ECIIA Conference is organised annually to gather internal auditors from all over the world to discuss current affairs and find solutions to new challenges. The theme of ECIIA Conference 2022 is “Internal audit in a world of transition”, looking at topics such as sustainability, innovation, digital challenges and new regulations.