After the debate, 108 voted in favour, 0 abstained, and 1 MP voted against.
The proposed amendments would allow the Government to recognise investments by large defence companies as urgently crucial for national security. This would allow such projects to be developed in non-urbanised areas without spatial planning procedures with the municipality and permits to be obtained before construction.
Such projects would not require the public to be informed about the design or the start of construction work. However, according to the initiative's author, Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė, the environmental impact process and public participation are not being changed.
„The environmental impact assessment will remain the same. It will be carried out according to all existing procedures in Lithuania. The public must also be informed and participate in the process,“ Ms Armonaitė said during the Seimas session.
Armonaitė also said earlier that there is currently no legal way to speed up the start of defence projects, and the necessary processes before the construction of facilities take up to 2.5 years.
According to the Minister, while this initiative will help speed up the entry of the German manufacturer Rheinmetall, these support measures will also be available to sizeable Lithuanian capital companies.
„Lithuanian business and capital will benefit from these legislative changes if they are willing to develop such projects and the Government recognises them as important for national security,“ she said.
Armonaitė also assured that facilities such as the Rheinmetall artillery plant should not increase the danger to nearby residents.
„Atypical buildings and objects such as security industrial plants are often much more protected. (...) Those objects that will be built in Lithuania may be much safer,“ she said.
Last week, the Minister said that talks are underway with French and US defence industry companies, which will also benefit from the changes.
On Tuesday, German defence giant Rheinmetall signed a letter of intent to construct a ammunitions plant in Lithuania.
Rheinmetall announced in mid-March its intention to build a factory in Lithuania. Germany plans to permanently deploy a brigade-sized military unit to protect NATO's eastern flank.
Rheinmetall had previously announced that it intended to build a 155 mm artillery ammunition plant in Lithuania.
