Lithuania to launch audit of national science council in April

The Lithuanian Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will begin an audit of the Lithuanian Research Council (LMT) this month, public broadcaster LRT reports.

Deputy Minister Regina Valutytė told the Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission last week that the audit is scheduled to start in April and conclude in October. The audit programme, which will define the scope and key evaluation criteria, will be finalised this month.

Following the review, the ministry will issue recommendations to the LMT on reducing risk factors in its operations, improving internal controls, and preventing recurring deficiencies. The council will then be required to submit an action plan for implementing the proposed measures.

The ministry’s Central Internal Audit Service will monitor compliance with the recommendations, track progress in addressing identified shortcomings, and assess whether conditions improve over time.

The decision to audit the LMT follows a 2025 recommendation by the Seimas Anti-Corruption Commission, which received complaints regarding the council’s governance, resource management, and transparency in public procurement procedures.

Last week, the government moved to dismiss LMT Chairman Gintaras Valinčius after the council’s board unanimously rejected approval of its previous annual report. Valinčius has attributed the conflicts within the board to legal disputes. The ministry stated that the audit is a routine procedure unrelated to the dismissal proposal.

The LMT is a state agency advising the Seimas and government on science, studies, and experimental development policy, as well as managing competitive funding programmes for research projects.