Vilnius, October 21, 2025 — The Lithuanian Competition Council (CC) and other national oversight bodies have agreed to strengthen cooperation on key strategic sectors, with defence and digital markets identified as top priorities during a joint institutional meeting.
The meeting brought together the heads of the Competition Council, the Special Investigation Service, the Public Procurement Office, and the National Audit Office to discuss shared challenges, coordinate oversight activities, and align expert focus on areas of high public importance.
Focus on Defence Sector
Competition Council Chair Jolanta Ivanauskienė emphasised that the authority’s 2025 priority sectors include energy, defence, retail, and digital markets. She noted that increased focus on these sectors helps identify and address potential market restrictions that may affect the economy, national security, and consumer welfare.
Defence was highlighted as a key theme of the meeting, with participants stressing its importance to state security. Ivanauskienė welcomed continued cooperation with the Special Investigation Service and the Public Procurement Office in training and prevention efforts for the Ministry of National Defence and its subordinate institutions to ensure transparency and efficiency in defence procurement.
“Only through joint institutional efforts and effective risk management — including the prevention of potential collusion in public tenders — can we ensure that defence sector funding is used transparently and effectively,” Ivanauskienė said.
The authority confirmed that defence will remain a key area of focus in 2026.
Addressing Digital Market Challenges
The meeting also addressed the growing importance of digital markets, focusing on data use, digital tools, and information sharing between institutions to better identify emerging risks in the fast-evolving digital economy.
The Competition Council, Special Investigation Service, and Public Procurement Office have cooperated closely in recent years under a renewed trilateral partnership, providing mutual expertise and exchanging experience. For the first time, the National Audit Office joined the group, contributing additional insights and perspectives.
