The Riigikogu received an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy in social protection

At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo made a report and gave an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy “Estonia 2035” in her field.

The minister said that the Ministry of Social Affairs was working to ensure a socially secured and happy living environment. Riisalo added that, according to the strategy “Estonia 2035”, the main tasks for 2021 for the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Minister of Social Protection were to address three big issues in depth: to comprehensively develop a system supporting mental health and to reduce mental and physical violence, to develop integrated provision of human-centered health care and social services, and to design social protection, and to update cost models, taking into account societal changes and the negative turn of the demographic situation.

“The population of Estonia is decreasing and, according to projections, it will be about 1.2 million by 2035,” Riisalo said. She noted that a population policy committee had been formed to map the points of concern in population and migration issues and to find potential solutions regarding the viability of our people. “Migration has an important place in Estonia’s population processes, and in tense security situations often new migration routes also open up which means that it is important to know the needs of the state and to be aware of the risks involved,” Riisalo said.

The minister admitted that, while the strategy document “Estonia 2035” had been drafted, it had been impossible to foresee the current situation but we as a flexible country needed to adjust our decisions. “At present, refugees from Ukraine need our help and attention,” Riisalo underlined. She pointed out that it was also important to keep contact with the Estonian community abroad who numbered nearly 200,000. The minister noted that recently the government committee had obtained an overview of the measures intended to integrate new immigrants into our society as well as to help returners adapt.

Riisalo stated that we must not forget the most vulnerable groups, people with special needs. “I am glad that, in recent years, we have been extremely successful in engaging people with special needs in society for example by providing them various opportunities in the labour market,” the minister said. She also said that mental health was becoming increasingly important by the day. “Mental health help must be available and of high quality, and it must be based on the person’s needs and support both the person who needs help and his or her close ones,” Riisalo said.

“The central principle of Estonian social welfare is to support the independent and dignified life of people at home for as long as possible,” the minister said. She added that services should be available as close to home as possible and the provision of assistance should start from local government and be as free of bureaucracy as possible and the path of the provision of assistance should be easily understandable. “Unfortunately the estimated need for domestic services remains higher than the capacity of local governments and the state to provide them,” the minister said and emphasised that a long-term care reform was needed urgently.

The minister also underlined in her report that it was necessary to reduce gender inequality and poverty and to take action to increase gender equality and social inclusion. In addition, she pointed out that it was also important to raise people’s awareness of collecting finances and planning financial resources.

During the debate, Priit Sibul took the floor on behalf of Faction Isamaa, Õnne Pillak on behalf of the Reform Party Faction, Siret Kotka on behalf of the Centre Party Faction, Jaak Valge on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and Helmen Kütt on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Riigikogu passed a Resolution

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Removal of a Member and Appointment of a New Member of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre” (563 OE), submitted by the Environment Committee, provides for the removal of Martin Repinski from the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre and the appointment of Tõnis Mölder as a member of the board.

72 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia