During an exchange of experience visit from 30 May to 3 June, in the scope of a European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 Bilateral Relations fund initiative, representatives of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) studied the experience of Norway in strengthening integrity in the public sector, which is an important aspect in the prevention of conflict of interest, reducing corruption risks and facilitating reporting, as well financing and supervision of political parties.
The aim of the visit was to facilitate integrity, ethics and values in public administration in Latvia including by incorporating these topics in the curriculum organized by KNAB, as well as to get acquainted with the Norwegian anti-corruption education system, paying special attention to putting anti-corruption issues into practice.
Several meetings were planned during the week-long visit, in which KNAB representatives met with experts from the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernization, which is the competent institution for promoting integrity and ethics, and is responsible for the anti-corruption education system in public administration. The visit also included meetings and exchanges of good practice on the regulatory framework and its application in the financing and supervision of political parties with experts from the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernization and the Norwegian Central Statistical Office, which maintains the national database of party activity reports and compiles the information contained therein.
The exchange of experience visit is part of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 programme “International Police Cooperation and Combating Crime” Bilateral Relations fund initiatives. The purpose of the initiative is to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and EEA grant beneficiary countries.
KNAB has received EEA grant support for implementation of the “Support for the establishment of a whistle-blowing system in Latvia” project. The goal of the project is to promote public engagement, reporting corruption and other latent crimes, while simultaneously providing the public with a safe and convenient reporting channel, as well as improve the competence of KNAB in detecting corruptive criminal offences.