The Riigikogu committees support raising defence spending to five per cent

During the meetings of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, it was pointed out that according to the proposal of the United States, the new baseline for defence spending should be five percent of GDP, and that one of the main objectives of the NATO Summit would be to agree on a new target level.

Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu said that rapid increasing of defence expenditure in the allied countries was important for Estonia and we could ourselves set an example here. “At the NATO summit, it will be discussed by which year the higher level of spending should be achieved, and we can say that we will do it already next year. It is vital that all Allies should consider national defence important.”

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson underlined that it was critical to achieve a significant leap in defence spending. He noted that if NATO decided to increase defence spending, this would also encourage the European Union to invest more in defence. “Attention must also be paid to Ukraine’s accession to NATO, and the long-term support of the Allies to Ukraine must continue.”

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Peeter Tali pointed out that it was important to increase pressure on Russia and expressed hope that it would be possible to approve the 18th package of sanctions at the European Council. “It is also important to extend previous sanctions and the freezing of Russia’s assets, to continue to support Ukraine, and to discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy what is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine from Ukraine’s perspective.”

It was pointed out at the joint sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee that the discussions in the European Council would also cover the enlargement of the EU, the increase of Europe’s defence readiness and defence spending, hybrid threats, stopping the import of Russian gas, and the shadow fleet.

Prime Minister Kristen Michal gave the committees an overview of Estonia’s main positions for the European Council and the NATO Summit.

The Foreign Affairs Committee and the National Defence Committee approved Estonia’s positions for the NATO Summit, which will take place on 24–25 June in The Hague, and the European Union Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee approved the positions for the European Council, which will be held in Brussels on 26–27 June.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu committees support raising defence spending to five per cent

Source: Parliament of Estonia