Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Villu Kõve gave an overview of courts administration

Kõve assured that the judicial system was functioning, and that independent and impartial administration of justice, as well as generally the resolution of court cases within a reasonable period of time were ensured. “At the same time, we are facing worrying tendencies and problems that are continuing remain unsolved,” he added.

In his report, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said that, on the European Union Justice Scoreboard, the Estonian judicial system was continuing to rank high among European Union countries in terms of the efficiency and speed of proceedings. Estonia is continuing to rank second among European Union Member States, after Denmark, in the comparison of the total time spent on the resolution of civil and administrative cases at first instance. In summary, the speed of court proceedings at three instances in Estonia is ranking sixth in Europe in civil and commercial cases, and fourth in administrative cases. “At the same time, the financial contribution of our state into the judicial system, and the number of judges and lawyers per 1,000 inhabitants remain in the last third of the table. We must also admit that the courts’ workload is on the rise and performance is in decline, and the time limits for proceedings are getting longer. This is a fact that cannot be denied,” Kõve pointed out.

When speaking of the reliability and independence of courts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said that reliability continued to be at a high level. A study of the reliability of institutions was conducted in 2022, and according to it, 67% of respondents trusted Estonian courts. The reliability of the judicial system is also confirmed by the fact that the number of disciplinary offences of judges is small, and the system is able to work out its problems itself.

According to Kõve, the main concern in the judicial system is a generational shift of judges. Over the next five years, 65 judges may retire. “Last year I announced five competitions. The Ministry of Justice announced five competitions to find judges of the courts of first instance and the courts of appeal. However, as few as 27 people applied for the 20 positions of judges in district courts,” he gave an example. Therefore, it is hard to speak of a great interest in the office of judge.

From what the Chief Justice said, it became clear that we had reached a situation where our primary concern was no longer so much a shortage of material resources as a shortage of people, and not only in terms of judges, but in the prosecutor’s office and the bar association as well. “We simply no longer have candidates with sufficient qualifications and suitable personal qualities to fill the gap caused by the generational shift,” he added.

Kõve’s report revealed that, in addition to judges, they were also no longer able to find law clerks. Competitions for the posts of law clerks are failing consistently without a candidate being found. “All this despite the fact that, every year, hundreds of young people graduate from university with a diploma in law, and the salary of a judge or law clerk is not that bad in itself, and efforts are also made to search for suitable candidates,” the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said. According to Kõve, it is clear that the judicial system and the rule of law need prosecutor’s offices and a bar association that are manned with high-quality professionals.

During the debate, Jaanus Karilaid took the floor, as well as Hendrik Johannes Terras on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on behalf of the Centre Party Group, Anti Allas on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group, and Mart Helme on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group.

A draft Resolution passed the first reading

At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, a draft Resolution passed the first reading.

With the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “The Covering of the Interest Costs of the Loan to Ukraine” (258 OE), submitted by the Government, in 2024–2027, Estonia undertakes to pay to the European Union budget the interest payments of the loan grated to Ukraine by the European Union to a maximum extent of 5,890,628 euro.

Under a relevant EU Regulation, an instrument for providing support to Ukraine for 2023 (MFA+) has been established. In order to make loans more favourable for Ukraine, EU Member States have decided to cover the interest costs of loans until 2027 by paying them as external revenue to the EU budget. For that, an agreement is entered into with every Member State in which the Member States participate according to their share of EU GNI. The payment of interest payments by Member States will enable Ukraine to reduce the burden on their state budget in the complicated time by giving an opportunity to support their national economy. The Commission has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Ukraine that sets out the conditions for the disbursement of the loan, and a loan agreement that lays down the detailed financial terms of the support in the form of loans.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu will involve an impact on Estonia’s state budget in 2024–2027. If distributed evenly over four years, the maximum annual amount paid in interest support would be 1.47 million euro. This will be added to Estonia’s contribution to the EU budget and has been planned in the state budget strategy.

During the debate, Martin Helme took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Igor Taro on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group. The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the draft Resolution at the first reading. The result of voting: 14 in favour, 63 against. The motion was not supported, and the first reading was concluded.

The first reading of a draft Resolution was adjourned

The first reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Increasing the Holding of the Republic of Estonia in the Council of Europe Development Bank” (259 OE), initiated by the Government, will continue at the plenary sitting beginning at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The Riigikogu will grant its consent to increasing Estonia’s holding in the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) by 9,872,000 euro.

The first reading of five Bill was deferred to the agenda for the next sitting

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the first reading of five Bills was also deferred to tomorrow’s plenary sitting. They are the Bill on Amendments to the Atmospheric Air Protection Act (27 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler and Martin Helme, the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (71 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Arvo Aller, the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (75 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Evelin Poolamets, Helle-Moonika Helme and Rain Epler, the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (82 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Rain Epler, and the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (88 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo, Arvo Aller and Siim Pohlak.

The sitting ended at 2 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Photos (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Eleen Lindmaa
+372 631 6456, +372 5551 4433
eleen.lindmaa@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Villu Kõve gave an overview of courts administration

Source: Parliament of Estonia