Lithuanian companies have easier access to NATO tenders
The government has changed the procedure for issuing declarations of assurance to legal entities wishing to participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) tenders. This will change the process of issuing declarations of confidence and ensure the security of personal data.
According to the Minister of the Economy and Innovation, Aušrinė Armonaitė, EIMIN is systematically reviewing the regulation of the Lithuanian defence industry. Initiatives implemented in just a few years have created more favourable conditions for the activities of companies in this sector: defence companies can now be established in FEZs, financing tools have been created for both start-ups and operating companies, and tools have been opened in Invega. The next step is to facilitate access to NATO tenders.
"We are working consistently. Our goal is the same - Lithuania must ensure the growth of its defence industry. To do this, these companies need to get funding, develop products and sell them. Changing the procedure for issuing declarations of reliability is one of these steps," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
The list of public entities that provide data and information to the authorised institution has been clarified. Now, information on legal entities that have violated international sanctions and persons related to a legal entity will be provided by one institution, the Ministry of Informatics and Communications, instead of 13.
"This change will speed up the issuance of declarations. This will allow us to speed up processes and enable companies to participate in NATO tenders more quickly," said Erika Kuročkina, Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
It has been decided to delete the redundant provision on the transmission of information on NATO tenders to the Innovation Agency. The Innovation Agency is obliged to publish a link on the website of the Public Procurement Service, which issues the declarations of confidence. This will ensure that only information on relevant tenders is published on the website of the Innovation Agency.
The Procedural Regulation also introduces an obligation for the legal entity to provide data and information on the supervisory bodies, if any, established within the legal entity. If the activities of a legal entity involve natural persons born outside Lithuania, the date of birth of the natural person must also be indicated in order to identify the natural person in the registers of other countries.
Earlier this year, the Seimas approved a draft law submitted by the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation on the framework for issuing statements of assurance to legal entities wishing to participate in NATO tenders. The draft law aims to clearly and unambiguously clarify the criteria for issuing declarations of assurance, as well as to establish binding provisions on the protection of personal data.
There are currently almost 100 defence and security companies operating in Lithuania, with a combined turnover of almost one billion euros per year.