Lithuania to review defence procurements over €20 million with anti-corruption agencies

Defence procurements exceeding €20 million will be reviewed by an inter-agency working group involving Lithuania’s Public Procurement Office (VPT) and Special Investigation Service (STT), Deputy Defence Minister Vitalija Zumerienė announced on Tuesday, according to public broadcaster LRT.

Speaking before the Seimas Audit Committee, Zumerienė described the new oversight mechanism as one of the largest preventive measures to improve transparency and efficiency in defence procurement. All purchases above the €20 million threshold—regardless of procurement method—will undergo scrutiny by the working group.

“This means those involved will assess the procurement object, its selection as a defence capability, and the entire procurement strategy—including methods, qualification requirements, essential contract terms, deadlines, and all other aspects,” Zumerienė said. “By reviewing the documentation in advance, they will be able to obtain all the necessary answers.”

The deputy minister added that the Procurement Policy Group will also conduct random or signal-based audits of procurement documents before they are published, with oversight possible at any stage if needed.

Elonas Jablonskas, deputy director of the STT, confirmed the agency’s participation in the inter-agency working group alongside the VPT, established on 2 April. While he acknowledged that short-term results may be limited, he stressed that long-term oversight would help mitigate risks similar to those seen in past cases, such as the controversial procurement involving the company Taiklu.

The Military Police are currently conducting a pre-trial investigation into a procurement by the Defence Ministry from Taiklu for land-clearing services in the Rūdninkai military town. According to the VPT, the winning company raised its prices by 50% just one month after signing the contract—a violation of procurement rules.