Where the purchaser decides to open the award procedure to economic operators from countries outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, it shall indicate in the call for tenders the accessibility criteria on the basis of which authorisation to take part in the procedure may be granted.
These criteria are established in particular with regard to the imperatives of security of information and supply, the preservation of defence interests and State security, the interest in developing the European defence technological and industrial base, sustainable development objectives, the obtaining of mutual benefits and reciprocity requirements.