The annual meeting of the EUROSAI Urban Research Working Group and a seminar were held under the supervision of the State Research Office

The State Audit Office has organized the annual meeting of the Urban Audit Working Group (WGMA) of the European Group of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) and organized a knowledge exchange seminar in collaboration with Supreme Research Institute of Georgia, this time dedicated to studies in cities on infrastructure projects.

“The leadership of the EUROSAI Urban Research Working Group was handed over to the State Audit Office in May this year at the EUROSAI Conferencetaking over from the Higher Research Institute of Lithuania. This is an important international assessment of our work and its quality. This working group, which includes representatives from 27 Member States, it is a unique platformwhere inspectors can gain valuable experience and share their knowledge in inspection work in towns. International cooperation and exchange of knowledge with colleagues from other countries is essential for learning, exchanging knowledge, adapting innovative solutions and bringing more benefits to society from studies. This year the meeting was held in Georgia, but next year it is planned to be held in Latvia,” says Oskars Erdmanis, member of the State Research Council, director of the Fifth Research Department and head of the Urban Research Working Group.

The focus of the working group meeting held in October was a review of what was done in the previous period, as well as work on the work plan for 2025 and future activities. It was also presented the latest issue of the EUROSAI networkwhich summarizes the relevance and examples of good practice of the working group and its member states in relation to surveys in towns.

On the other hand, at the conference, experts from the highest research institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Serbia shared their knowledge of infrastructure project studies in their villages – opportunities and challenges. State Governor Edgars Korchagins led a conference session on increasing the impact of studies through cooperation with the highest research center and the decision-making power of local governments – the main advantages and challenges. Gints Puriņš, state auditor at the State Audit Office, also presented the results of local government infrastructure project audits.

The EUROSAI Urban Research Working Group is a cooperation platform for Europe’s highest research institutions in charge of municipal research. The working group promotes cooperation and the exchange of good practices between higher research institutions. The activities of this organization are essential to ensure the professional development of auditors and to promote good management practices at European and municipal level for the public good.

The working group was established in 2016 and its vision is to create significant improvements in municipal inspection systems in EUROSAI countries, and the intention is to create an open platform to share the practices and knowledge share the best in municipal studies. The State Audit Office has been a member of the working group since its inception and has been actively involved in the management and implementation of various activities.

International cooperation of the State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia:

• led by regional bodies of the international organization of major research institutes, INTOSAIEUROSAIof the local government audit working group, working in the cooperation platform of the highest audit institutions of the EU member states and the European Court of Audit –In the communications committeeand also works as an international organizationan inspector;
• ensuring membership and professional contribution to international organizations INTOSAI and EUROSAIin work groupsand in the INTOSAI Financial Auditing Standards Development Sub-Committee;
• givingdevelopment support etca professional, highly qualified and experienced consultant in the field of public sector studies for higher study institutions in other countries.