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On 23-25 March at the expert seminar “Anti-Corruption Policy and Integrity Training” in Vilnius, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas stressed that the fight against corruption played an important role in ensuring energy security.

According to the Vice-Minister, efforts aimed at strengthening security in the energy sector are strongly influenced by the transparency and fight against corruption in the Eastern European region. Therefore, the OSCE countries should pay special attention to the formation and implementation of the anti-corruption policy. “Good governance and transparency are key factors in defining the OSCE’s role in the energy security dialogue when promoting the development of a sound, safe, efficient and sustainable energy sector in the OSCE countries and throughout the entire OSCE region,” Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas said at the opening of the event.

According to the Vice-Minister, experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Lithuanian specialists should formulate international standards and norms for the engagement in anti-corruption activities and propose proper means of implementation.

The OSCE and its missions in individual participating States focus on anti-corruption strategies and the implementation of effective anti-corruption policy, relevant training and education programmes.

Increasing the efficiency of public administration and fight against corruption are important not only in the context of Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship, but are also included into the priority work programme of the Seimas (Parliament) and the Government of Lithuania.

On the first day of the seminar, experts examined good results of the anti-corruption policy in Turkey, Romania and Montenegro. Representatives from these countries presented the experience of their countries in this field, paying attention to the quality of the newly drafted laws, coordination of various institutions and evaluation of results of anti-corruption activities.

Participants of the three-day seminar share experiences of anti-corruption activities in their own countries, submit examples of the best practice, examine country-specific achievements, prepare recommendations and suggestions on how to improve the implementation of the anti-corruption policy, prompt the necessary reforms, enhance the education of civil servants, entrepreneurs and other layers of society.

This seminar is co-organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Lithuanian Chairmanship of this organization, Lithuanian Special Investigation Service and Chief Official Ethics Commission of Lithuania.

Among the participants of the event there are representatives from respective institutions of the OECD anti-corruption network for 18 Eastern European and Central Asian countries, anti-corruption policy makers and experts. Speeches are delivered by representatives from the OECD, OSCE, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Turkey and the U.S.A.