Representatives of the Lithuanian Intelligence Ombudspersons’ Office, led by Head of Office Nortautas Statkus, attended the Nordic+ meeting of intelligence oversight bodies held in Helsinki, Finland, on 7–8 September 2026.
Hosted by the Finnish Parliament’s Intelligence Oversight Committee and the Office of the Intelligence Ombudsman of Finland, the meeting brought together Nordic and Baltic parliamentarians, representatives of intelligence oversight bodies, the heads of the Finnish, Estonian and Swedish intelligence services, legal experts, and other members of the security and intelligence oversight community from the Nordic and Baltic countries and Ukraine.
At the initiative of Finland, this year’s host, representatives of the Baltic States and Ukraine were invited to join the Nordic+ format for the first time. Their participation broadened the scope of the discussions and created new opportunities for closer dialogue and the exchange of expertise among Nordic and Baltic oversight bodies and their Ukrainian counterparts.
The participants were welcomed by Sauli Niinistö, former President of the Republic of Finland and Mats Löfström, Chair of the Finnish Parliament’s Intelligence Oversight Committee.
Over the course of the two-day meeting, participants discussed a range of issues central to effective intelligence oversight. These included legal and parliamentary scrutiny of intelligence activities, the protection of personal data in intelligence operations, internal mechanisms for ensuring compliance with the law, and the role of independent oversight in democratic societies governed by the rule of law.
In his presentation, Nortautas Statkus outlined Lithuania’s intelligence oversight framework, the role of the Intelligence Ombudspersons’ Office within it, and the core principles underpinning independent oversight of intelligence activities.
The programme also included a bilateral meeting between the Lithuanian Intelligence Ombudspersons’ Office and the Danish Intelligence Oversight Board, Tilsynet med Efterretningstjenesterne (TET). The Danish delegation shared practical insights relevant to the Office’s audits of personal data processed for national security and defence purposes. The discussions focused on how such audits are planned and conducted, drawing on the Danish institution’s experience in this area.
The Nordic+ meeting provided a valuable opportunity for the Lithuanian Intelligence Ombudspersons’ Office to exchange views with international partners on oversight practices, emerging challenges and prospects for closer institutional cooperation.
Regular engagement with intelligence oversight bodies in other democratic countries is essential to strengthening effective and independent oversight, promoting the exchange of good practices, and safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms in the field of intelligence.