The Minister of the Interior gave an overview of the improvement of crisis preparedness and the creation of a safe living environment

NordenBladet —

The Riigikogu received an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy “Estonia 2035”.

Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets who made a report said in his report that a country was only as strong as its people. “And we all have a responsibility to provide a sense of security for the people of Estonia, and to do so in a variety of ways. A big part of ensuring a sense of security is the need to ensure a strong and functioning internal security network. This is what we are striving for in the implementation of the ‘Estonia 2035’ strategy,” explained the Minister of the Interior.

According to him, we all seem to understand that the biggest factor affecting our internal security continues to be the actions of our aggressive eastern neighbour. While Ukraine is at daily direct war, we are unfortunately at daily covert war with our eastern neighbour, the Minister of the Interior explained.

“Russia has taken all the capacities of the public and private sectors into its arsenal and is using all spheres of life, be it education, economy, sport, culture or the church, for this purpose. While in the field of national defence we are preparing for a possible armed conflict, in the field of internal security we are already on the battlefield every day. We are no longer in a preparatory phase. We are already taking action,” stressed Läänemets.

He pointed out that the co-operation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence had been highly effective, and the renewed cooperation agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence demonstrated the effectiveness of that co-operation. The agreement establishes, among other things, common preconditions in the areas of internal defence crisis reserve, stockpiling, comprehensive national defence, and civil protection.

“Thanks to our joint efforts, we have reached a situation where the Estonian people have confidence in the agencies that contribute to ensuring internal security. The police are trusted by 88% of people, the Rescue Board by 97% and the Emergency Response Centre by 96%. These are still the three most trusted institutions in Estonia,” said Läänemets.

Läänemets said that 2023 had been a landmark year in the field of internal security. “For the first time, the state budget strategy has guaranteed permanent funding for the field of civil protection for several years. This will allow us to increase the crisis preparedness of institutions better and more systematically, starting with crisis stocks and sirens and ending with civil protection training. The aim is to equip the people of Estonia with the knowledge and skills to protect and help themselves and their neighbours in the event of any crisis,” said Läänemets.

He added that, among the developments in the field of public protection in 2023 with a practical impact, we could mention the introduction of the location-based threat information system EE-alarm message, the activities for the installation of a nationwide network of emergency sirens, which would continue in 2024, the call for applications for cooperatives to improve the sheltering of basements, and series of training courses for state agencies, local governments, educational institutions, and residents.  

In this context, one of the largest crisis management exercises in Estonian history, CREVEX23, took place last year. In total, it consisted of 36 exercises. They took place in Harju County and nearly 50 institutions and organisations and hundreds of volunteers participated in the conduct of the exercises. There were approximately 3,000 registered participants.

We continued to build the eastern border which is the external border of the European Union. Preparedness for the use of on-site surveillance equipment is being established. The planned construction of border facilities along the Piusa River will receive additional funding, while next year’s budget will also include funding for the Luhamaa Control Centre, which will be built by State Real Estate Ltd.

Läänemets explained that the Police and Border Guard Board and the Estonian Internal Security Service had been granted additional rights to increase their capability to deter threats and to prevent and combat offences. In today’s security situation, that really was a necessity, and our responders have better capabilities should they be needed.

Besides that, the Riigikogu had restricted the right to own weapons to Estonian residents who are not citizens of the European Union or NATO member states. It had been the right move, both in substance and morally, and by today the weapons had been handed over by aliens. What was particularly important in all of that was that the police had conducted their activities in a professional manner, and they had not had any conflicts affecting security, the Minister of the Interior explained.

“Communities and local governments have an important role to play in improving crisis preparedness and creating a safe living environment. Municipalities know their communities and their people best, and it is important that they also perceive their role and responsibility. The task of the state, however, is to lead the way and to help with its knowledge,” Läänemets stressed.

Bearing in mind the importance of local governments, a working group of the Ministry of the Interior and the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities has started to work to foster broader cooperation, regularly discussing issues of the work in the field of crisis preparedness and internal security. In addition, a Civil Society Innovation Foundation was launched with the aim of helping local governments and communities create and develop inclusive forms of cooperation and engagement, including in the preparation for crises.

From 2023 until the end of 2026, the Ministry of the Interior will have new permanent partners to increase the capacity of communities and to enhance community-centred governance. They are the Estonian Village Movement Kodukant, the NGO Association of Estonian Folk High Schools in cooperation with the NGO County Development Centres.

“Ukraine continues to be an important partner for us, and we also fulfilled an important objective of ours to enhance the coordination of assistance to Ukraine in the area of governance,” explained the Minister of the Interior.

“In terms of setting the broader and strategic direction, it is important that important documents were put in place last year: the National Security Concept of Estonia, the Action Plan for the Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence 2024–2027 and the Estonian Drug Policy White Paper 2030. We renewed the Laulasmaa agreement. In addition, for example, the vision document “Social Innovation in Estonia – Vision 2030″ was prepared, and the Action Plan for Civil Protection was also completed this year,” the Minister of the Interior said in his report.

During the debate, representatives of parliamentary groups Kalev Stoicescu (Estonia 200), Andre Hanimägi, Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa), Anti Poolamets (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Anti Haugas (Reform Party) and Lauri Laats (Centre Party) took the floor.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of a Bill

The Bill on Amendments to the Restrictions on Acquisition of Immovables Act (321 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, is intended to provide for restrictions for aliens who wish to acquire agricultural or forest land in Estonia.

According to the Bill, in order to acquire agricultural or forest land, aliens would have to meet the conditions set out in the Bill, such as be proficient in Estonian at B1 level, have lived in Estonia for at least five years and have an education in agriculture or forestry.

The Bill will not prohibit the leasing of land and earning an income, or engaging in agriculture, forestry, or business in this way, and thereby promoting Estonian life and the management of land and forests.

The Riigikogu rejected a draft Resolution at the first reading

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Development of Measures to Increase the Birth Rate”  (208 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to develop and submit to the Riigikogu Bills to create an environment that supports the increase of the birth rate in Estonia.

During the debate, Riina Solman (Isamaa), Helle-Moonika Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor

The Social Affairs Committee moved to reject the Draft Resolution at the first reading. 14 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of this and there were no votes against. The draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

During the open microphone, Rain Epler and Kalle Grünthal took the floor.

The sitting ended at 8.25 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

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

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal 
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Minister of the Interior gave an overview of the improvement of crisis preparedness and the creation of a safe living environment

Source: Parliament of Estonia