Lithuania’s Economy Ministry is proposing that large investors be allowed to start constructing production facilities without waiting for permits, an exemption that currently applies only to defence industry.
The rule would apply to big projects in urban areas to companies operating in Free Economic Zones, which would also benefit from simplified procedures for land acquisition, environmental impact assessment and territorial planning.
The ministry said on Wednesday it had submitted related amendments for further coordination.
Economy Minister Lukas Savickas says that the changes are meant to strengthen Lithuania’s competitiveness and improve conditions for local and foreign investors.
“Large projects must be able to start within a few months, not a year. That is why we are initiating very important amendments that will reduce bureaucracy, allow for faster preparation of sites, a clearer process and effective cooperation between institutions,” Savickas said in a statement.
The ministry’s proposal would allow all large investors to start building production facilities without a permit, but they would have to obtain one before the construction is completed.
The parliament, Seimas, last year adopted such a simplified procedure for defence industry companies, an amendment that was important for the German military company Rheinmetall that is planning an ammo plant in Lithuania’s Baisogala.
“In practice, this would speed up the procedures needed to start construction by up to ten times and the process that currently potentially takes up to three years would be reduced to less than three months,” the ministry explained.
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