According to Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the main goal of the visit is to strengthen security cooperation between Estonia and the United States and to confirm the importance of the United States’ permanent presence on NATO’s eastern flank. “A victory for Ukraine is of crucial importance in terms of the security of both Estonia and the West as a whole. A unified and strong allied space, where the US continues to be a solid pillar, is our surest guarantee for repelling further Russian aggression. This is a clear message to the adversary: we stand united and steadfast for our values and freedom,” Mihkelson emphasised.
The Commission delegation will meet with members of the US Congress, including Brian Mast, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during the visit that will last until Thursday. The members of the Riigikogu will also have meetings with the heads of the US Department of State’s division for Europe, representatives of think tanks, and the Estonian community in the United States.
In addition, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee will participate in a round table hosted by the Estonian Embassy, where the increase in defence spending by NATO countries and their contribution to cybersecurity, as well as lessons learned from Ukraine, and transatlantic cooperation will be discussed. Former and current US government officials, as well as representatives from think tanks and the private sector, will also take part in the round table.
In addition to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, committee members Luisa Rõivas and Henn Põlluaas are participating in the visit.
The Chairman of the EUAC Peeter Tali has witnessed the relations between Estonia and Montenegro become closer over the years, especially thanks to the ambition to join the EU, cooperation in the digital industry, and shared commitment to support Ukraine.
“Estonia supports Montenegro’s accession to the European Union,” Tali said. “The fact that Montenegro has arrived closer to joining to EU during the talks than any other candidate country speaks volumes. Montenegro’s accession in the near future is completely feasible. I believe that in 2028, Montenegro will be the 28th Member State of the EU.”
Today, the delegation has meetings in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. They will meet with members of the European Integration Committee, Montenegro-Estonia parliamentary group, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Defence Committee of the Montenegro parliament, as well as the Honorary Consul of Estonia Tomislav Čelebić. Tomorrow, the delegation will meet the European Union’s Ambassador to Montenegro Johann Sattler and the Chief Negotiator of Montenegro with the European Union Predrag Zenović.
On the agenda are EU enlargement, accession process, accession readiness and the necessary reforms, development of the legal system, and the role of parliaments in the accession process. Other key topics include support to Ukraine and bilateral relations, including cyber and digital cooperation.
The delegation of the EUAC is made up of the Chairman of the Committee Peeter Tali, Deputy Chairman Vladimir Arhipov, and members Arvo Aller, Kadri Tali, and Tarmo Tamm.
Head of the Estonian delegation to the OSCE PA Mati Raidma said that this year’s Annual Session would focus on Ukraine, but there would also be debates on critical infrastructure and nuclear safety, water scarcity and migration, artificial intelligence and misuse of technology, youth radicalisation and violent extremism, energy security, child trafficking and sexual exploitation, and OSCE institutional co-operation.
The Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is represented at the OSCE PA Annual Session by Head of the Estonian delegation Mati Raidma and member of the delegation Heljo Pikhof. At the Session, Raidma will give an overview of his activities as the Special Rapporteur of the OSCE PA Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, focusing on veterans’ policy and youth. All three committees of the OSCE PA will also meet during the Annual Session. Raidma is a member of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security, and Pikhof belongs to the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.
The Annual Session will be opened with speeches by OSCE PA President Pia Kauma, President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal José Pedro Aguiar-Branco and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Rangel. President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres will address the delegates by remote intervention. Hundreds of parliamentarians from North America, Europe and Central Asia are taking part in the Assembly.
This Annual Session will be held under the theme “Commemorating 50 Years of the Helsinki Final Act: Responding to a New Reality in the OSCE”. The Helsinki Final Act was adopted in 1975 and established the predecessor of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. It is planned to adopt the Porto Declaration containing recommendations to national governments, parliaments and the international community in the fields of security, human rights, and economic and environmental concerns. The Assembly will also elect its leadership for the coming year, including a new President.
The aim of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is to increase the involvement of its participating states in resolving European political and security issues, to enhance civilian control over military affairs, and to strengthen the responsibility and influence of members of parliament.
The Annual Session will livestream at the web page of the OSCE PA www.oscepa.org.
Hussar’s welcome address will be carried by the awareness that Estonianism will not end. “The Estonian Centre is being built in Toronto, and in Estonia, ESTO will also be held in Tallinn and Narva. We will sing and dance, we will do it here today, and in a week’s time, we will do it in Tallinn at a big festival, because this is our language, our way and our strength,” Hussar pointed out. He added that the ship of Estonia was sailing across a stormy sea, but its home port – Estonia – was always waiting for it. Forever. The Estonian spirit is alive. ESTO is alive. Estonia is alive.
“For decades, ESTO has brought Estonians from all over the world together. ESTO demonstrates our people’s strong sense of togetherness and their will to preserve our national identity and rich cultural heritage,” Hussar said.
ESTO 2025 will be opened with an opening concert, which this time is entitled “Windows of Time”. In addition to folk dancers and choirs, professional musicians and gymnasts will also be taking part. In total, there will be around 400 choir singers, 200 folk dancers and gymnasts on stage. Estonian choirs from Australia, Canada and the USA, who are on their way to the Song Festival, are also expected to participate.
The Global Estonian Cultural Days “As One – Üheskoos” will take place in Stockholm, Narva and Tallinn from 25 June to 3 July. ESTO 2025 will begin with a song and dance festival in Stockholm on 26 June, will then continue with the concert “ESTO Song Festival” in Narva culminate in Tallinn with the 28th Song and 21st Dance Celebration “Iseoma” (“Kinship”).
The Global Estonian Cultural Days or ESTO is a festival where Estonians from around the world come together to celebrate. The first ESTO was held in 1972. In the beginning, the main purpose of ESTO was the fight for freedom, but since Estonia regained its independence, the focus has been on reunion.
Photos (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Please note that photos will be uploaded with a delay during the event.
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.
Hussar said in his speech to his colleagues that Russia’s actions were not a threat to only the Eastern flank but also elsewhere. “Russia’s militant groups are being formed in Sahel, it strives for strategic goals in the Arctic and its shadow fleet navigates through our waters untouched. Therefore, we are counting on the NATO Summit to make bold decisions that will ensure the long-term security of our transatlantic unity,” Hussar said.
The President of the Riigikogu highlighted Estonia’s commitment to raise its defence spending to 5.4% between 2026 and 2029. “We support the proposed NATO 5% target, and we think it should be reached by 2030.”
Hussar also stressed the need for NATO to continue its long-term political and military support for Ukraine and its open door policy. “Ukraine’s accession to NATO is the most reliable security guarantee for both Ukraine and the entire alliance,” Hussar declared.
The main topic at the NATO Parliamentary Summit is the rapid increase of defence spending of the Allies, as well as the strengthening of defence industries, and the organisation of large-scale joint procurements to meet NATO’s defence plans and capability goals.
This meeting of the Speakers is convened by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly ahead of the NATO Summit, which will take place on 24 and 25 June in The Hague, the Netherlands. Prime Minister Kristen Michal will represent Estonia at the NATO Summit.
During the spring session, the Riigikogu held 71 regular sittings and adopted 60 legal acts. Together with 18 Question Times, the working time of the plenary totalled 324 hours and 37 minutes. At the sittings, the Riigikogu passed 54 Acts and five Resolutions, and adopted one Statement.
The Finance Committee of the Riigikogu, which was the lead committee for ten Bills, had the biggest workload among the Riigikogu committees. Both the Economic Affairs Committee and the Social Affairs Committee were lead committees of nine Bills, and the Constitutional Committee was the lead committee of six Bills.
Altogether, the 15th Riigikogu, which was elected in March 2023, has adopted 260 legal acts.
During the spring session, 70 interpellations of the members of the Riigikogu got a reply, and ten collective proposals with at least one thousand signatures of support were submitted for parliamentary proceedings.
According to the law, regular sessions of the Riigikogu are held from the second Monday in January to the third Thursday in June, and from the second Monday in September to the third Thursday in December. The Riigikogu will convene again for regular sittings on 8 September.
In the meantime, the committees of the Riigikogu will continue their work and the members of the Riigikogu perform their other functions. If necessary, extraordinary sessions may be held between the regular sessions. Extraordinary sessions can be convened by the President of the Riigikogu on the proposal of the President of the Republic, the Government of the Republic or at least 21 members of the Riigikogu.
Hussar said that the main topic of the meeting of the Speakers of NATO countries would be rapid increasing of the defence spending of the Allies, as well as the strengthening of defence industries and the organisation of large-scale joint procurements to meet NATO’s defence plans and capability goals. He noted that Estonia supported the setting of a common five per cent target for defence spending in the Alliance, and would proceed from this in its plans for the coming years.
“It is also very important to keep the need to support Ukraine in focus, and to highlight the threat posed to the security of the entire Alliance by Russia, which continues a war of aggression in Ukraine,” Hussar said, and added that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would be the best security guarantee both for Ukraine and for all Allies.
The meeting of the Speakers is convened by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly ahead of the NATO Summit, which will take place on 24 and 25 June in The Hague, the Netherlands. Prime Minister Kristen Michal will represent Estonia at the NATO Summit.
100 years ago today, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) passed an Act that established the emblem and the visual name of the Republic of Estonia – the national coat of arms. The national coat of arms is a symbol of the state, the use of which is a sign of the functioning of the state and indicates the validity of the constitutional order.
Vice-President of the Riigikogu Arvo Aller said at the presentation of the stamp block that unfortunately the displaying of our national flag and our coat of arms adorned with three lions had been discontinued during the soviet occupation. “However, the symbols of the state were in our hearts and the coat of arms continued to be used in exile. Since 1990, the national coat of arms, which appears on every law passed in the Riigikogu, once again ensures the credibility of the Republic of Estonia in its relations with citizens,” said Arvo Aller.
Aller thanked the post company Omniva for creating the beautiful stamp block, which reminds us all of the importance of the national coat of arms and commemorates its anniversary with dignity.
At the presentation, Gert Uiboaed, Adviser on Insignia at the Government Office, spoke about the choosing of the national coat of arms in the early years of the Republic of Estonia. Artist Jaan Saar, who is the author of both the jubilee stamp presented today and the standard stamp of the national coat of arms of Estonia, gave an overview of the process of designing the stamp depicting the coat of arms.
One of the stamps in the stamp block shows a historical design that was submitted to the competition for the coat of arms, and was not chosen. The second stamp is the new stamp with the coat of arms, designed by Jaan Saar. The third stamp in the block is a larger stamp that depicts all the previously issued stamps with the national coat of arms from 1928, 1991 and 1999.
“Today is a good day to remind ourselves that there are thousands of nations in the world that do not have their own state and therefore do not have the opportunity to present their culture, symbols and story to the world through postage stamps. We are among the few who have this honour,” Omniva’s Philately Manager Hannes Nagel said at the presentation of the stamp block at Toompea. According Nagel, this year Omniva will issue 30 different postage stamps that are dedicated to important topics and significant events for the country and society.
In the course of renewed deliberation, the Riigikogu made amendments to the Act on Amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act (570 UA), initiated by the Government, which the President refused to promulgate. The Riigikogu removed the prohibition on being guided by a person of significant influence located in a foreign country from the text of the Act, as that wording could be interpreted too widely in the President’s opinion. The transitional period was also extended from two months to six months to allow for the necessary changes to be made.
On the basis of a proposal of the lead committee, the Parliament amended the wording of the Act to the effect that a church, congregation, association of congregations or monastery may not be linked on the basis of its statute or any other document that is the basis for its activities, or economically, to a spiritual centre, governing body, religious association or spiritual leader located in a foreign country who poses a threat to the security or the constitutional or public order of the Estonian state.
The Riigikogu also specified what a potential threat meant. According to the amended wording, a threat to the security or the constitutional or public order of the Estonian state may occur, among other things, when a spiritual centre, governing body, religious association or spiritual leader incites, supports or finances activities aimed at violently changing the independence, territorial integrity or constitutional order of Estonia, supports or has supported military aggression or has called for war, a terrorist crime or otherwise unlawful use of armed force or violence. The phrase “incites, supports or finances activities aimed at violently changing the independence, territorial integrity or constitutional order of the Republic of Estonia” was added.
The Riigikogu adopted the Act on 9 April. The aim of the Act is to ensure, among other things, that under the guise of freedom of religion and freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution, the religious organisations operating in Estonia cannot be used for spreading hostile influence, the dissemination of extremist ideologies or incitement to violence. According to the explanatory memorandum, Estonia stands for freedom of religion and everyone has the freedom to choose whether to follow a religion and which religion to follow. However, in addition to respecting freedom of religion, belief, and association, the state must also take into account the challenges that threaten national security and the security of society.
The Act also specifies who can serve as a minister of religion or be a member of the management board of a religious association in Estonia. A person who is not allowed to reside or stay in Estonia cannot be a minister of religion or a member of the management board of a religious association. In addition, the requirements for the statutes of a religious association are specified and the possibility is created to leave a church whose activities, statutes, or membership of the management board do not meet the requirements established. For this, the religious associations will have to adopt new statutes and after that it will be possible to enter the amendments complying with the requirements into the register without the approval of the governing body of the church, insofar as obtaining such an approval may not be realistic.
The President did not promulgate the Act on 24 April, considering that the restriction on religious freedom and freedom of association it created was not proportionate. In his opinion, it was necessary that the Riigikogu discussed the Act again and to brought it into conformity with the Constitution. On 14 May, the plenary of the Riigikogu decided that it would not pass the Act again without amendments but would begin to amend it.
In the course of renewed deliberation, the Riigikogu made amendments to the Act and passed the amended Act at today’s sitting. 68 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 17 were against it.
