Estonia, Law and Regulations, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Security

The plan is to grant businesses the right to transport, store, repair, alter and manufacture military weapons, ammunition, ordnance and other goods associated with military weapons, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

According to Minister of Defense Luik, the amendment will offer the defense forces and Kaitseliit (Defense League) a possibility to begin ordering maintenance and repair works from Estonian businesses.

The minister said that the purpose of the draft legislation is to make the process of ensuring national defense more efficient while also supporting the development of business in Estonia.

"Receiving the right to handle military weapons and munitions would allow the Estonian defense industry to create new branches of activity and jobs," said Luik.

The Estonian Defense Industry Association has estimated that the changes could result in possible future sales of approximately 60 million euros per year for Estonian businesses and the creation of 150 new jobs.

Businesses would also have the opportunity to participate in invitations to tender for military goods in Estonia as well as abroad.

The draft legislation also calls for the creation of an efficient monitoring system for the activities of legal and natural persons which handle military weapons or other military goods.

It would also allow for the establishment of technical requirements for demilitarization and a procedure for the acquisition and import to Estonia of demilitarized military goods.

The plan is to use state fees to compensate for the procedural expenses accompanying the increase in administrative load. To do so, the draft legislation calls for corresponding amendments to be made to the State Fees Act.