On September 14-15, more than 60 participants from Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, and Polish institutions took part in the international workshop "Multidisciplinary approach and regional cooperation in tackling corruption and fraud risks affecting EU financial interests" organized by the Special Investigation Service (STT) of the Republic of Lithuania. During the event, the latest developments and activities were presented, experience and best practices of the law enforcement and other institutions of the Baltic region were shared. Participant addressed the benefits and importance of the prevention, data analysis, proactive and retroactive investigations of corruption, fraud and other illegal activities, as well as discussed what measures should be used to fight effectively against fraud and corruption, affecting EU financial interests.
"One of the main goals of this project is to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation between the anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. The sharing of experience and challenges in the fields of prevention, data analysis and criminal/administrative investigations allows learning from each other and creates prerequisites for even better cooperation in the future. In order to achieve the best results, a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to combating corruption and fraud, including affecting EU financial interests, is needed," said STT director Žydrūnas Bartkus.
The workshop was organized as a part of the project financed by the EU Hercule III program. The seminar was attended by representatives of the region's anti-corruption and anti-fraud institutions, prosecutor's office, tax authorities, financial intelligence units (FIU), anti-fraud coordination services (AFCOs) - both experts and heads of institutions and departments. In order to successfully combat the risks of corruption and fraud, opportunities and challenges were discussed, including combining preventive, analytical and crime investigation tools. Best practices in detecting, investigating and preventing cases of corruption and fraud, including affecting the EU financial interests, were presented.
Project participants not only presented overview of the activities and latest achievements of their respective institutions, but also participated in round table discussions in different sessions dedicated to data analysis, criminal investigations and prevention. In a separate session of leaders, the heads of the anti-corruption and anti-fraud institutions of the Baltic region discussed the main challenges faced during the ongoing war in Ukraine and the role of anti-corruption institutions in such a context. Also reviewed the main challenges and priorities of their work, shared best practices and the importance of a strategic approach, examined further prospects in strengthening cooperation and interaction in the areas of combating fraud and corruption, in particular, in the area of protection of the EU financial interests. Representatives of the European Delegated Prosecutor's Office and the Austrian Federal Anti-Corruption Bureau (BAK) also shared their experience at the seminar.
The project is financed under the EU Hercule III program for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the areas of identification and management of corruption and fraud risks that affect EU financial interests. Objectives of this project:
- Learning on the latest advancements in tackling fraud and, in particular, corruption affecting EU financial interests;
- Providing a forum for joint thematic discussions and exchange of information on strategic and tactical level on a continuous basis;
- Strengthening professional ties and mutual understanding between representatives of different national authorities, their branches and/or different authorities of neighbouring countries;
- Linking up themes of fraud and corruption, administrative and criminal proceedings, preventive and repressive approaches, proactive and retrospective investigations, etc. into holistic perspective.
- Better understanding of Union and national mechanisms, in particular, involved into combating fraud and corruption affecting EU financial interests.
The project foresees implementation of another international seminar, which will be organized before the end of this project in 2023. The total value of the project is EUR 58,464.80.
