The Seimas of Lithuania approved amendments to the laws that will allow large defense industry companies to start developing projects in the country faster. A corresponding change in the rules will allow large manufacturers to start developing projects without obtaining construction permits.
Lithuania has announced the creation of a plant of the German military concern Rheinmetall on its territory.
It is noted that the agreements with Rheinmetall are expected to be signed within two weeks, the Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrine Armonaite said. The Seimas took a step toward a law that would allow such companies to start working in the country faster.
Proposed changes to the law would allow the government to recognize investments by major defense companies as having direct national security implications. This will make it possible to develop projects without obtaining a permit in non-urbanized territories without procedures for planning territories with the municipality and obtaining permits before the end of construction.
When implementing such projects, it will not be mandatory to inform the public about the design or the start of construction works.
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According to the minister, the initiated legislative changes, which will facilitate the arrival of Rheinmetall, will make the country one of the most friendly for the defense industry. According to her, there is already communication with the defense companies of the USA and France.
The government asked the Seimas to urgently consider draft laws prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. According to the agency, the importance of the change in laws is due to the change in the geopolitical situation, which necessitated the urgent development of the industry in the state, which provides defense needs. The author of the initiative, Aushrine Armonaite, claims that currently there are no legal ways to speed up the launch of projects that meet the needs of defense.