The Ministry of National Defence has proposed amendments to the Laws on Public Procurement of the Republic of Lithuania seeking to manage the risks that untrusted information technology, equipment and services pose to national security.
The amendments would put in place criteria and conditions who commit public sector entities to eliminate technology, equipment or service tenders from untrusted suppliers. The amendments would also add to the list more institutions to verify trustworthiness of equipment and service tenders. The regulation would apply to contractors that are managers of critical infrastructure, have functions in mobilization tasks, operates in the area of defence or another sector of importance to national security. There are nearly 400 entities in Lithuania that match the description.
“The law that is currently in force provides for supplier verification against national security interests, however, there are no clear-cut criteria for contractors to follow. The proposed amendments would oblige to eliminate unreliable tenders at once. The sitting Government has begun practically addressing the issues with Chinese-manufactured equipment – and the Ministry of National Defence shall not stand aside. We are familiar with the subject-matter and we start working towards solutions at once,” says Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius.
The amendments would prevent Lithuania from buying technologies made by China, Russia and Belarus. The y bind the contractor to at once eliminate the tenders that come from suppliers, sub-suppliers, manufacturers or supervisors from countries whose suppliers, sub-suppliers, manufacturers or provides of equipment support are deemed to be untrusted. Tenders of equipment maintenance and support services would also have to be eliminated if coming from the untrusted countries.
The Government will draw up the list of countries that pose risks to national security in accordance with the threats defined in the currently updated version of the National Security Strategy.
“Our purpose is to ensure that hardware and software is bought from the countries whose suppliers are assessed to be trustworthy, which is NATO, European Union, European Free Trade Association and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development members. The other countries will have to be assessed by the Government,” says Vice Minister M. Abukevičius.
The amendments to the Laws on Public Procurement could become effective as of July 2022, while procuring support to the already bought equipment would be permitted until January 2025.
Photo credit: MoD/Alfredas Pliadis.
