Lithuania’s parliament national security and defence approved plans on April 8 to establish a new military training ground in Kapciamiestis.
The proposal passed with 11 votes in favour, while Dainius Gaizauskas of the Farmers and Greens Union and Aidas Gedvilas of the Nemunas Dawn party abstained. The Seimas took the initial step toward establishing the site in late March, and the bill was expected to return to the plenary session for further debate next week.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told the committee that the Kapciamiestis site was critical for strengthening national defence.
“We must have territories where the military can train on land, as well as use those same areas for air defence, small-scale air defence, and anti-drone exercises. This is a complex site necessary for our state to increase our defensibility,” Kaunas said.
Under the draft law, the establishment of the Kapciamiestis training ground is recognised as a project of special national importance for national defence.
The project defines the boundaries of the site, which will cover approximately 14,600 hectares. The area currently includes nearly 2,000 private plots, the majority of which are forestland.
The law will transfer state-owned land to the Defence Ministry.
Existing land lease agreements will be terminated, and the land use designation will be changed to “territories for national defence purposes”. State-owned forests within the site will be removed from the register of forests of national importance, while local roads and other state or municipal property will be handed over to the military.
The plan also includes the acquisition of land and other property for public needs. Once the law is passed, owners of land and buildings will no longer be able to transfer, mortgage, divide or change the purpose of their property.
Real estate owners whose property is seized will be compensated in cash at market value. Additional compensation will be provided for losses related to the possibility of acquiring property elsewhere and for non-material losses.
Owners of residential buildings are expected to receive compensation of more than 51,000 euros, while owners of agricultural or forestry plots and commercial buildings will receive payments exceeding 5,000 euros.
Linas Urmanavicius, a member of the Democrats “For Lithuania” parliamentary group, proposed removing the time limit for residents to exercise their right to voluntarily transfer property to the state under preferential terms.
The committee decided to partially support this proposal by setting a 10-year deadline. (LRT)