In the speech delivered at Suurupi Lighthouse, Hussar said that the strength of a small nation lay in its belief in itself, and in its values. “We know how to protect our country, and we have the skills needed to navigate through stormy waters. The crises of recent years have put this knowledge to a serious test,” he said, and pointed out that precisely during those years, Estonia had been a beacon for the free world in its support for Ukraine. “We have stood by the principle that lasting peace can be achieved only on the terms set by Ukraine. And we will continue this work – firmly and consistently – for as long as necessary, even if there are some lights in Europe and around the world that are misleading and try to divert us from our course.“
The President of the Riigikogu underlined that Estonia’s security was solid, our defence spending this year would be the highest in our history, and the presence of our allies here in Estonia gave us the confidence that we would never be alone again. “We have had stable governments, and this stability is like a solid keel under a ship, helping us navigate even through dangerous waters. This year, people’s livelihoods will be supported by the lowering of taxes, wage rises in several critical sectors, and increases in benefits and pensions. Estonia will hold on despite the stormy winds,” he added.
Hussar said that in the new year, work would continue at full speed on the construction of Rail Baltic – a project that would connect us to the European rail network, but also had a much deeper meaning. “This project will anchor us firmly to where we belong and will help us finally break free from the shadows of the Russian empire,” he emphasised, and added that a new President of Estonia would also be elected this year. “The President of Estonia has no executive power, but all the more important is their role as the moral compass of society – a lighthouse that helps us stay on course even in the darkest and stormiest of nights.“
Hussar also noted that Estonia would be a better place if there was less bullying and hostility among us. “Last summer, under the Song Festival Arch, we could all feel how strong we are when we stand together. Let us make a New Year’s resolution to reduce the noise level in our lives – to shut off those channels and accounts where verbal abuse and insults prevail,” he said and called on trying to tame our own anger and sharp tongues and treating people who are different with respect. “May our discussions be meaningful and our criticism honest, and may we leave the noise and insults behind. We can do better than that.”
According to Hussar, it is sometimes useful to recall a simple but important piece of advice: look on the bright side of life. “There are many things in Estonia that simply are very good or work very well. Let’s each of us take a moment to think of a few – maybe three, or maybe six – things that you can be really proud of. They may be family relationships, cultural life, entrepreneurship, our digital solutions, free and reliable media, or simply a safe everyday life. Estonia is certainly not one of the unhappiest countries in the world. Far from it, in fact. If we could be a little more caring and friendly towards each other, we would reach even higher,” The President of the Riigikogu said in his New Year’s Address that was broadcast on the ETV, ETV2 and ETV+ channels.
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that the European Union’s next seven-year budget will be EUR 740 billion larger than the current one. In addition, the European Commission has proposed creating a EUR 30 billion European Peace Facility and a EUR 100 billion Ukraine Reserve outside the budget.
“The proposal allocates EUR 6.5 billion to Estonia, which is EUR 1 billion more than at present. The increase in funding is vital for Europe, mainly due to the deteriorating security situation. The EU budget could be even larger if it would help to better protect the EU’s eastern border, increase our military defence capability, protect the European market, and increase Europe’s competitiveness. The close proximity of Putin’s aggressive regime has a significant impact on border countries,” Tali pointed out.
According to Tali, the European Union Affairs Committee cannot support an increase in administrative costs and the number of permanent positions in EU institutions. “The Government’s initial position was that Estonia would not support a significant increase in administrative costs and in the number of positions, but after a lively debate, the commission decided to change the wording so that Estonia would not support an increase in administrative costs or the number of positions at all. In the opinion of the European Union Affairs Committee, the phrase ‘significant increase’ is not measurable and therefore means nothing.”
“The European Commission wants to create 2500 new jobs and increase administrative costs by 38 percent. This is partying during wartime. Estonia, which is drastically cutting its public sector, cannot agree to such peacetime spending, because an increase in the number of officials will inevitably lead to more bureaucracy. Our aim is to reduce bureaucracy and direct new money into our defence,” Tali said.
According to the approved positions, Estonia’s priorities in the budget negotiations are to ensure sufficient and consistent funding for increasing defence readiness and developing cross-border transport and energy connections, to ensure support for Ukraine in accordance with their needs, to protect the amount of resources allocated to Estonia under the national plan presented in the proposal, and obtain additional funding for the countries on the eastern border of the European Union to mitigate the negative socio-economic impacts caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi presented the European Union Affairs Committee the Government’s positions on the long-term budget of the EU for 2028–2034. The European Union Affairs Committee decided to approve the positions of the Government with amendments, taking also into account the opinion of the Finance Committee. The Committee also supported other initiatives on the agenda relating to the long-term budget.
The aim of the Human Genes Research Bill (749 SE), initiated by the Government, is to make the organization of the biobank and genetic research clearer, more up-to-date, and more transparent.
It will update an Act that has been in force for 25 years so that the genetic data contained in the Estonian Biobank can be widely used in research and healthcare. There are 212,000 gene donors in Estonia – the highest proportion per capita in the world.
At present, it is not sufficiently clear to gene donors and data requesters what data is processed by the Estonian Biobank, how it is processed, and how it can be used. In the future, gene donors will be able to make declarations of intent in the health information system regarding whether and how they allow their data to be used in both personalized medicine and research.
Researchers and doctors will be able to supplement health data from state information systems with the permission of the gene donor and thereby it will be possible to eliminate the obligation to store health data twice. As a result, better personalized medical services can be provided, which may lead to earlier detection and prevention of diseases, increased health awareness and reduced risk behaviour, as well as precision treatment and fewer adverse reactions to medicines.
The amendment will place the ethical procedures for data releases from all health databases under the jurisdiction of a single research ethics committee.
During the debate, Irja Lutsar from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Margit Sutrop from the Reform Party Parliamentary Group took the floor. Tanel Kiik presented a comment on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group.
Three other Bills passed the first reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Copyright Act (preparation of a distribution plan for private copying remuneration) (754 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading . It will amend the system for distributing the “private copying remuneration” provided for in the Copyright Act. Its purpose is to ensure fair compensation for rightholders for the loss of revenue resulting from copying for personal use.
The aim of the bill is to make the private copying system more flexible and efficient. To this end, the provisions on the distribution of remuneration will be amended to give the parties concerned greater discretion in deciding for themselves on the distribution of private copying remuneration.
The amendments proposed in the bill will assign the primary role in the process of distributing private copying remuneration to collective management organisations that exercise the rights of persons entitled to receive remuneration.
Stig Rästa from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group presented a comment during the debate.
The Bill on Amendments to the Public Information Act and the Language Act (759 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the first reading. It will specify the legal basis for e-government personal services in the Public Information Act. When the Act enters into force, a clearer legal basis will be created for the data consent service and the provision of personalized digital services on the state portal ‘eesti.ee’, as well as for the authorization management system, which will simplify the interaction of both people and companies with the state.
Estonia is the first country in the world to create a solution that brings together public and private sector authorizations and data consents in one environment so that individuals and companies can manage them conveniently and securely.
The use of the data consent system will be made mandatory for institutions belonging to the state information system at both the state and local government levels, provided that this is done through the relevant X-Road service. Large databases (such as the population register) will be able to decide for themselves whether, in what respect, and when to interface with the data consent service.
The amendment to the Act will create a data consent system where people will be able to give, manage and withdraw their consents, and an authorization management system where businesses will be able to manage their authorizations (e.g. authorize an accountant to submit an annual report); this will be voluntary for users.
The Estonian open data portal ‘eesti.ee’ will become a central point of contact for providing proactive government service which will be developed to be technology-neutral. The portal will display the entire service process in a personalized form as specific steps – which necessary steps have already been taken and what still needs to be done to receive the service.
A Translation Gateway will be created, where government agencies can manage translation projects they commission in a single environment. This will help to improve the quality of translations and support the vitality of the Estonian language in the digital society, as anonymised translation memories, which will not be subject to access restrictions, will also be shared as open data with the private sector. Starting in 2027, the Translation Gateway would be open to everyone (so-called Estonian Google Translate), allowing both machine translation and the use of anonymized translation memories. The developments will entail development costs of approximately EUR 20.7 million, including approximately EUR 19.2 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility and EUR 1.5 million from the state budget.
Toomas Uibo from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Centre Party Group and Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Principality of Andorra for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance and its Protocol (765 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the first reading. According to the Bill, the convention broadly follows the model convention drawn up by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which aims to promote investment between the contracting states.
The convention provides investors with greater legal certainty regarding the tax system and eliminates possible double taxation.
The obligation to exchange information creates additional opportunities to prevent tax fraud.
According to the tax convention between Estonia and Andorra, both countries may withhold income tax of up to 7% of the gross amount of the dividend from dividend income paid to natural persons. However, the source country does not have the right to withhold income tax in the case of dividends paid to companies. The same principle applies to interest income: a maximum of 7% may be withheld from interest paid to natural persons; interest paid to companies is not taxed in the source country. In the case of royalties, the source country is allowed to withhold a maximum of 5% of the gross amount of the royalties.
Estonia uses an exemption or offset method, depending on the type of income, to eliminate double taxation,
As of November, Estonia has conventions for the avoidance of double taxation in force with 63 countries or jurisdictions. The convention concluded with Andorra will enter into force once both countries have ratified it and notified each other that the procedures have been completed. It will apply from 1 January of the year following its entry into force.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal replied to the interpellation concerning economic growth (No. 831), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu, Mart Maastik, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Aivar Kokk, Riina Solman and Tõnis Lukas.
The interpellators pointed to the fact that the Government had predicted that economic growth this year would be 3.3% but, according to Statistics Estonia, the third quarter data told us that economic growth had been 0.9% based on third quarter data, and half of that was accounted for by tax increases, i.e. the increase in the price of production inputs. The interpellators wanted to know what the Government had done wrong that had failed to materialize that expectation of economic growth.
Michal noted that economic forecasts were prepared by specialists from the European Commission, the Bank of Estonia, commercial banks, and the Ministry of Finance based on the best knowledge. “The forecasts for the Estonian economy prepared by all institutions have been consistent. These are forecasts prepared on the basis of assumptions, and it is difficult to accurately predict whether they will come true,” the Prime Minister stated.
Michal said that, despite the difficult economic situation and an unpredictable future, the Estonian state and people had been resilient. “Expenditures have been lower than planned and the budget deficit has been smaller than expected,” Prime Minister explained. He recalled the preparation of the 2024 state budget when it had been forecast that the nominal budget deficit would be 2.9% of GDP. In fact, the deficit had amounted to 1.7% of GDP, which had been almost half the European Union average of 3.2%. A year ago, the Government drew up a budget for 2025, according to which the deficit would amount to 3% of GDP. As of the end of October this year, preliminary data indicate a deficit of 0.8% of annual GDP. It is highly likely that the deficit for 2025 will be significantly lower than planned.
Michal pointed out that the economy was very volatile worldwide. The level of the Global Economic and Political Uncertainty Index in April 2025 was the highest in the last 30 years.
“Despite this high volatility and uncertainty, the Estonian economy has returned to growth. GDP reading is positive for the third quarter in a row. This, in turn, is reflected in Estonians’ confidence indices this November. For example, the construction sector confidence index is the best indicator in the last 37 months, the service sector confidence index is the best indicator in the last 47 months, the consumer confidence index is the best indicator in the last 31 months, and the general economic confidence index is the best indicator in the last 41 months,” explained Michal.
According to the Prime Minister, the government is paying close attention to the economic environment. “Every two weeks, we hold an economic cabinet meeting where we discuss and make decisions that create an environment for long-term economic growth. In addition, we have established a business advisory council which helps reduce the bureaucracy and administrative burden that hinders economic development,” Michal said.
He noted that, specifically, they had taken the following steps to stimulate the Estonian economy. The first practical economic growth plan was completed in cooperation with entrepreneurs in 2025. In the previous cabinet meeting – on 11 December 2025 – the government already discussed the 2026 economic growth plan which brought together 23 different activities supporting the economy. The acceleration of plans has gained momentum; extensive reduction of bureaucracy is under way; we have launched a large-scale investment measure; we are promoting research and development which has been invested in very carefully in previous years; and we are improving the availability of labour. The long-term growth of the small Estonian economy depends on exports – they account for nearly 80% of our GDP. Therefore, an export action plan has been drawn up to help increase companies’ export capacity and reach new markets.
Prime Minister also replied to the interpellations concerning government spending (No. 832), Estonian citizens’ business ties with the Russian military industry and sanctioned individuals (No. 851) and the Government’s activities in protecting children and women against intimate partner violence (No. 856).
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellation concerning the state budget strategy (No. 833).
Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller replied to the interpellation concerning the expansion of the rights of hospital pharmacies (No. 830).
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro replied to the interpellation concerning speed cameras (No. 846).
The interpellation concerning the state of dentistry in Estonia (No. 849), submitted to Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller, was removed from the agenda for the day at the request of the interpellators.
Vladimir Arhipov took the floor during the open microphone.
Hussar said at the meeting that close Baltic cooperation in enhancing regional security and supporting Ukraine has played an important role in ensuring stability in the region.
“Our cooperation has achieved results that we can develop further through bilateral relations as well as through work in the Baltic Assembly and Nordic-Baltic cooperation (NB8),” Hussar said.
The state of regional infrastructure projects was also discussed. “We need close cooperation to complete Rail Baltic as soon as possible for quick railway connections between the Baltic states and Europe,” Hussar emphasised.
Hussar and Olekas stressed the need to involve representatives of European countries in the peace negotiation process in Ukraine. They highlighted the need to ensure European unity both in supporting Ukraine and in relations with the USA.
“We are facing a range of new hybrid threats in security and defence, which we need to counter through efficient cooperation,” Hussar said.
Olekas referred to the major problems linked to the balloons flown from Belarus to Lithuanian air space, which pose a threat to aviation.
Hussar and Olekas underlined the urgent need to find efficient measure to combat hybrid attacks against civilian aviation both in the Lithuanian air space as well as the region in general.
Also present at the meeting of the speakers was the Chairman of the Estonia-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group Enn Eesmaa who acknowledged the fruitful cooperation with the Lithuanian colleagues in the framework of the Baltic Assembly.
The Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament is meeting with President Alar Karis and Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Tallinn today. He will also visit the Rail Baltic construction site with Lauri Hussar, Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis, and CEO of Rail Baltic Estonia Anvar Salomets. Olekas will also visit the defence industry company DefSecIntel and meet with the Lithuanian community.
Photos(Author: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that the development of crisis preparedness and civil protection in the European Union was based on the recommendations of the report on civil and military preparedness by former President of Finland Sauli Niinistö. According to Niinistö, the EU’s security situation has steadily deteriorated in recent years, and the world is becoming increasingly dangerous and vulnerable to crises.
Tali underlined that Estonia strongly supported the actions of the European Union and its Member States that strengthen Europe’s civil and military preparedness. “The implementation of this initiative is inevitable, because we must protect Europeans and prepare ourselves for various crises. Updating the mechanism will help us to be ready for crises and to survive. International cooperation is of key importance in building defence readiness and crisis resilience. That is why the European Union Affairs Committee decided by consensus to support the proposal for a regulation as a whole.”
“If a Member State can no longer cope with an emergency related to civil protection or health on its own, we can draw on the solidarity capabilities and resources of the European Union. This requires excellent coordination,” Tali said. “Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is the core of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Estonia has a vital interest in strengthening the ERCC so that, in any threat scenario, it would be possible to provide timely assistance in a centralised manner, especially when dealing with cluster crises.”
The regulation will update the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism in the light of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the unstable geopolitical situation. The draft regulation supports the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and preparedness for and response to health emergencies and their financing for the period 2028–2034.
It was pointed out at the sitting that the total volume of the package was around ten billion euros. Estonia’s position is that the budget allocations should primarily take into account risk assessments and real threats, and that flexibility must be maintained in order to redistribute budgetary resources between areas as needed. Estonia emphasises that the needs of vulnerable target groups must be taken into account. Estonia also believes that the European Union’s activities in the field of crisis resilience must take into account NATO’s collective defence capabilities, activities, and planning process without competing with them.
Estonia’s positions also highlight that the European Union’s civil-military preparedness and cooperation should be strengthened by organising joint exercises and further developing information exchange mechanisms. We consider it important that the civil protection mechanism will enable to improve early warning systems, and to promote the cross-border use of space services and data as part of situational awareness and resilience.
The Government’s positions on the Proposal for a Regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response were presented to the Committee by Minister of the Interior Igor Taro. The European Union Affairs Committee decided to support the positions presented by the Government by consensus, in line with the opinions of the National Defence Committee and the Social Affairs Committee.
Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Ando Kiviberg explained that Russia’s influence activities were becoming an increasingly serious problem in the current security situation, and today the Committee had unanimously decided to support a thorough investigation of this issue. “We want to move forward with the forming of the committee of investigation as quickly as possible: to have the first reading of the Draft Resolution next week and to pass it in January,” he said.
The Draft Resolution on forming a committee of investigation was submitted last week by members of the Riigikogu Eerik-Niiles Kross, Toomas Uibo, Riina Sikkut, Ants Frosch and Peeter Tali. According to the Draft, a committee of investigation consisting of representatives from all parliamentary groups will be established in the Riigikogu to systematically analyse the influence activities of the Russian Federation, ways of funding them, connections with Estonia’s public sector, propaganda projects, and the risks associated with them.
The initiators of the Draft Resolution pointed out that Russia’s influence activities in Estonia were part of a broader strategy that aimed to weaken Estonia’s national security and resilience, was targeted at Estonia’s Russian-speaking population and social cohesion, and spread narratives that were damaging to Estonia and its allies. “The committee is necessary in order to assess funding chains, identify the possible role of public sector support, analyse the involvement of NGOs, individuals, and networks, assess the damage to internal security and social cohesion, and make proposals to mitigate the risks,” they noted in the explanatory memorandum.
According to the Draft Resolution, the committee of investigation will focus on four main topics: the financing of Russia’s influence activities in Estonia, the possible role of Estonia’s public sector, the impact of propaganda on Estonia’s population, and the framework of hybrid warfare. Among other things, the committee must find out to what extent the projects, associations, or activities promoting the interests of the Russian Federation have received direct or indirect funding from Estonia’s state agencies, local governments, local government agencies, or companies controlled by them. The committee must also determine to what extent the organisations, associations, or individuals operating in Estonia have participated in or been involved in Russia’s influence and divisive activities.
According to the Draft Resolution, the committee’s task is to provide the Riigikogu with a comprehensive overview of the extent of influence activities and to make proposals for legislative, organisational, and security measures. In cooperation with independent experts, the committee must draw up proposals on how to prevent and reduce the risks associated with influence and divisive activities and improve the capacity of public authorities to identify threats, as well as make proposals for legal, organisational, or financial changes.
The explanatory memorandum states that the establishment of the committee of investigation will be based on the same principle that was agreed upon when establishing the select committees of the Riigikogu, namely that the coalition and the opposition are equally represented in the committee. The committee must submit its final report to the Riigikogu and the public by 1 February 2027 at the latest.
According to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the Riigikogu may form committees of investigation in order to investigate the circumstances of events of public interest. A committee of investigation has the right to summon persons to appear before the committee, and the summoned person is obligated to appear, provide explanations, and reply to questions. The committee also has the right to require the presentation of data and documents necessary for the performance of its duties. The Riigikogu last formed such a committee in 2015, when a committee of investigation was established to identify possible corruption risks in Port of Tallinn Ltd.
The Constitutional Committee decided to make a proposal to the Board of the Riigikogu to include the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Riigikogu committee of investigation to investigate the influence activities of the Russian Federation, ways of funding them, and related risks” (770 OE) on the agenda for the sitting on 17 December, and to conclude its first reading. In order to be passed, the Draft Resolution will also have to pass a second reading in the Riigikogu.
The Bill on Amendments to the Maritime Safety Act (756 SE), initiated by the Economic Affairs Committee, will reduce the rate of fairway dues in 2026 in order to maintain the international carriage of goods and passengers by sea.
Under the Bill, the fairway dues for ships entering Estonian ports and the roadstead of Estonian ports will be reduced by 15 per cent from 1 January to 31 December next year. The purpose of the amendment is to continue supporting international maritime transport and to motivate consignors to direct their trade flows through Estonian ports. Fairway dues have been reduced by 14 per cent this year.
According to the explanatory memorandum to the Bill, the maritime and logistics sector has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused a significant drop in passenger and freight traffic on waterways and in Estonian ports since the beginning of 2020. In addition, the freight volumes of Estonian maritime transport and ports decreased in 2023, primarily in connection with the war against Ukraine and, as a result, the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the transport of goods from Russia. The decline in freight volumes has continued in 2024 and 2025 as well.
Eight interpellations were replied
Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras replied to the interpellations concerning the availability of education and the ministry’s plans to improve it (No. 798), ferry ticket prices (No. 824) and the reorganizations of the revenue base of local governments and analyses of subsidies (No. 844).
The Minister of Culture Heidy Purga replied to the interpellation concerning the performance “ÖÖ25” in the Estonian National Museum (No. 840).
Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis replied to the interpellation concerning the pollution of roads during the construction of Rail Baltic (No. 860).
Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt replied to the interpellations concerning the determination of environmental charges and the supervision of the use of the environment (No. 818), cuts in the field of nature education (No. 852) and the future of nature and environmental education (No. 854).
The interpellation concerning wind energy plans (No. 862), submitted to Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt, was excluded from the agenda for the day on the motion of the interpellators.
Tali’s report will highlight that the most important thing in European Union policy right now is to focus on ensuring security, which requires investing in the development of the European Union’s defence industry and connections, promoting competitiveness, continuing to support Ukraine, imposing sanctions on Russia, and using Russia’s frozen assets.
In his speech, the Prime Minister will focus on ensuring the security of the European Union, supporting Ukraine, imposing sanctions on Russia, and the enlargement of the European Union. He will also underline the importance of promoting the competitiveness of the EU and establishing energy and transport connections.
The plenary sitting begins at 10 a.m., and can be followed online on the Riigikogu home page in Estonian and in English, and on Facebook. Video recording will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali noted that Denmark, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, wished to reach a political agreement on the Annual Solidarity Pool for 2026. “We support the creation of a Solidarity Pool for next year to help Member States under migratory pressure,” Tali said. “However, since Estonia has received tens of thousands of Ukrainian war refugees in recent years, we will not participate in the relocation of refugees during the next two years.”
“In Estonia, we have been very successful in receiving Ukrainian war refugees, and we are therefore prepared to contribute to the solidarity mechanism, both financially and by sending equipment and, where possible, experts to regions that need assistance,” Tali pointed out. “We are a border country of the European Union, and it is important for us that if we should come under migratory pressure, other member states will also be ready to help us out of solidarity,” he added.
The Annual Solidarity Pool is based on the principle that Member States should help countries that are under high migratory pressure. Member States can choose whether to contribute to the Solidarity Pool by accepting asylum seekers or by providing financial or other assistance. Contributions are calculated for all countries according to a single formula that takes into account population and GDP, but also whether the country has already accepted a large number of war refugees or is itself under significant migratory pressure. Estonia has requested its solidarity contribution to be reduced, and according to a preliminary agreement, it will be reduced by half.
The implementation of the Annual Solidarity Pool will be on the agenda of Monday’s meeting of the Ministers of the Interior of the European Union in Brussels, which will take place within the framework of the European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting. Minister of the Interior Igor Taro gave the European Union Affairs Committee an overview of the positions of the Government. The European Union Affairs Committee decided by consensus to support the positions presented by the Government.
