Riigikogu committees gave input to drafting of national security concept

Today, the National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the draft National Security Concept of Estonia and submitted their proposals for amending the new concept.

According to Chairman of the National Defence Committee Raimond Kaljulaid, the document sets the direction for Estonia’s security policy in the coming years. “From the point of view of the National Defence Committee, it is important that the National Security Concept of Estonia reflects the times in which we live. Russia’s war against Ukraine is an aggression against the whole existing rules-based world order. Russia emphasises that it is at war with NATO and the West, and it must be taken seriously,” he said. “For us, it is essential to set out in the national security concept that in the long term we will continue to spend at least three per cent of GDP on national defence, and also that the importance of non-military defence and civil protection is recognised.”

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Andres Sutt noted that Russia’s full-scale war of aggression had significantly changed the global security landscape. “The growing confrontation between democratic countries and authoritarian regimes is also reflected in international economic relations. To restore rules-based world trade, the European Union needs to increase its technological capacity and support innovation,” he said.

The members of the National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee also considered it necessary to amend the draft national security concept by raising the level of defence spending to at least three per cent of GDP and setting a minimum target for the financing of non-military defence, including civil protection. Besides that, the members of Committees gave recommendations on formulating security threats, on the role of the Estonian Defence League and supporting Estonian defence industry. The MPs also made proposals about the structure of the concept, its objectives and terminology.

The draft national security concept will be completed at the beginning of new year and then submitted for legislative proceedings in the Riigikogu. The new document will be based on the updated strategic threat assessment and builds on the National Security Concept adopted in 2017. The aim of the document is to describe the security environment as of the end of 2022, to clarify Estonia’s objectives in the changing security environment and to describe the activities necessary for achieving them. The document covers Estonia’s activities in five areas: social cohesion and national resilience, internal security and public order, military defence, international activities, as well as economic security and vital services.

The National Security Concept is prepared by the Government and adopted by the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia