Minister of Finance T. Valys: “Rūdininkai military campus is a result of consistent financial diplomacy”
President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Nadia Calviño together with the EIB Group Board members, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania and Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany, during her visit to Rūdininkai military campus, assessed the progress of the project and Lithuania’s ambitious plan to complete the project by the end of 2027.
“A few years ago, we talked about the German Brigade in Lithuania as an ambition. Today in Rūdninkai we already see where the Brigade will live, train and prepare for Lithuania's defence. The most important thing now is to keep up the momentum and do what we promised – to complete the campus by the end of 2027. The Rūdninkai military campus project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when national institutions and international partners consistently work together to achieve a common goal”, Minister of Finance Taurimas Valys said in Rūdininkai.
According to the Minister, the Rūdninkai project goes beyond the borders of Lithuania. This military campus, which will host around 5,000 German Brigade troops and civilian personnel, will strengthen resilience in the eastern flank of NATO, increase military mobility and directly contribute to collective defence of the whole Europe. “This is an investment in a safer Lithuania, a stronger NATO and a more resilient Europe”, Minister of Finance emphasised.
“We see in Rūdninkai a very concrete result of what European solidarity looks like in terms of security. The infrastructure being built here will be critical to Lithuania's and our allies' ability to deter potential aggressor and, if necessary, defend the eastern flank of NATO. Therefore, the EIB’s decision to finance this project is important not only for the investment itself. This is a clear signal that investment in European security is becoming a common European priority – and that we can mobilise not only political will, but also financial instruments”, Vice-Minister of National Defence Karolis Aleksa said.
The Minister thanked the EIB not only for financial support for the project which may amount up to EUR 540 million, but also for the consultancy and technical assistance to the Lithuanian institutions. According to the Minister, just having money is not enough for a project of this size. " It is necessary to agree with international partners, to structure the funding model and to attain that the financiers compete for the project. The greater the competition, the better the conditions for Lithuania. This is what we aimed to achieve working together with the EIB – not just get funding, but to get it on the best possible terms”, Mr T. Valys said.
The Minister of Finance recalled Lithuania's commitment to continue investing in its security, resilience and preparedness. “5.38% of GDP for defence is a huge amount for Lithuania, so every euro must work with maximum efficiency. Our goal is not just to spend more on defence. The aim is for that money to get more security. The Rūdninkai project demonstrates how, by adding funding from reliable international partners to national funds, it is possible to speed up the implementation of projects that are important not only for Lithuania”, Mr T. Valys underlined.
The Minister thanked the EIB, international partners, specialists from national institutions whose dedication, experience and hard work contribute to the successful implementation of a project important for the security of Europe as a whole.
In a bilateral meeting with EIB President Nadia Calviño, the Minister of Finance discussed possibilities for further cooperation, priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and continuity of support to Ukraine.
The Rūdninkai project covers an area of 170 hectares and the construction and modernisation of more than 150 infrastructure facilities, including residential, administrative, training and logistics facilities. The project is in line with EU and national policies and contributes to the implementation of the EU Security and Defence Strategy, a White Paper on the future of European defence and the Lithuanian National Defence System and the implementation of its development programme (of 2024). It also contributes to the EU’s strategic autonomy, strengthening NATO’s interoperability and regional stability, while generating indirect social benefits, improving local infrastructure such as electricity, water, sewage systems and road networks.
The EIB contributes to stage II of the project, which will include the installation of a helicopter pad, construction of barracks, canteen, medical buildings and other infrastructure. The total value of stage II contracts is EUR 1.33 billion, including VAT. This amount will be paid by the State to companies within 12.5 years - settlements will start after completion of the construction and transfer of the military campus to the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Last updated: 11-09-2026
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