Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali pointed out that the purpose of the initiative was to strengthen passenger protection, encourage the use of public transport and thus contribute to the Green Deal goals by reducing CO2 emissions.
“Within Estonia, nothing will change for the time being for Auntie Maali and Uncle Fyodor, as well as for the Estonian transporters whose journeys within Estonia are shorter than 250 kilometres. At the same time, on international journeys and, in the future, on combined journeys by different transport modes in connection with Rail Baltic, passengers’ rights must be guaranteed in a uniform manner across Europe,” Tali said.
“Our aim is to ensure that the final text of the regulation would correspond to Estonia’s interests, with an emphasis on avoiding an increase in administrative burden and expenses for Estonian businesses,” Tali underlined. “We do not want fundamental changes in the passenger data collection, but we consider it necessary to set a clear term for the storage of personal data,” the Chairman added.
The amendments to the European Union Regulations are primarily meant for the protection of the rights of passengers, for example when buying air and rail travel as a single package. In the future, when buying such a multimodal ticket, the same rights will apply to customers as currently apply in the case of air travel. In the event a journey is cancelled, the passengers must be offered the possibility of re-routing or reimbursement of the cost of the ticket, and a compensation may also be paid by the carrier. Besides that, it is important to inform passengers of delay or cancellation as early as possible, so that they could respond to changes in travel times when necessary and make new arrangements.
Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Piret Hartman and Head of the Public Transport Department of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Andres Ruubas gave an overview of the proposals for regulations on the rights of passengers and the common European mobility data space, and the positions of the Government.
The European Union Affairs Committee decided by consensus to support the positions presented by the Government, considering the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu.
Latvia is represented on the visit by Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) Daiga Mieriņa, and Lithuania by Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) Žygimantas Pavilionis. The leaders of the Baltic parliaments are hosted on Gotland by Speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden Andreas Norlén.
On Friday, the leaders of the parliaments of the four countries will meet with Governor of Gotland County Anders Flanking and visit the Gotland Regiment that consists of around 400 soldiers. In the evening, Hussar, Mieriņa and Pavilionis will participate in the wreath laying ceremony in Slite and the memorial service at Visby Cathedral.
On Saturday, they will visit the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators that promotes literature and cultural exchange with the Baltic Sea countries. At the end of the visit, the leaders of the Baltic parliaments will meet with the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities in Gotland.
At the turning point of the Second World War, 75,000–80,000 people fled from Estonia to the West to escape the invading Red Army. Altogether, nearly 300,000 people escaped from the Baltic States. Many of the refugees headed for Sweden, either via Finland or directly, and for many refugee ships Gotland was the first port of call. The escape reached its peak in the second half of September 1944.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
NordenBladet – In all the Nordic countries, people with a reduced workability due to physical and/or mental disability may be entitled to a disability benefit. The rules for entitlement in the disability pension schemes differ across the Nordic countries as do the size and type of pension available.
Disability pension in the Nordic countries
The disability pension schemes in the Nordic countries makes it possible for people with reduced workability to have a permanent income. This part of the social protection policies in the Nordic countries typically target the adult population from 18 years of age. People who receive disability pension in the Nordic countries will often continue to do so until they reach the age for receiving old age pension.
There are various reasons for applying for a disability pension, and the disability schemes in the Nordic countries demonstrate differences in how people with disabilities are supported. In most cases, the workability is assessed as part of the application process. In some of the Nordic countries, the amount of disability pension receivable is set according to the residual workability.
Additionally, the length of residence, activity in the labour market, and citizenship are considered relevant when determining entitlement to disability pension in the Nordic countries.
Overview of national disability pension structures
All Nordic countries have different structures on the disability pension schemes. In the document below you will find a table with a list of comparisons of key features on this part of the social protection policies in the Nordic countries.
The table cover rules from the year 2022 on the foundations for granting disability pension and supplementary pensions.
Overview of national rules applying to disability pension in Nordic countries
The Nordic countries have different names applying to this type of social protection. The names indicate how the country help and support recipients. Following this the rules and regulations are different across the Nordic countries. In the document below you will find a table with a list of comparisons of key features on this part of the social protection policies in the Nordic countries.
The table cover rules from the year 2022 on i.e., relevant age group, level of workability, size of pensions and pension indexation. Variations within each country is listed in footnotes.
Denmark
The disability pension (Førtidspension) may be granted to any person aged whose age is above 18 and below the retirement age, whose workability is permanently reduced to the extent that they are unable to support themselves.
However, people under the age of 40 have restricted access to the disability pension system. Instead, they are required to participate in a resource clarification process, which consists of holistically oriented activities intended to develop their workability. In cases where it is evident that the individual in question cannot return to work, the local authorities may still award a disability pension.
Faroe Islands
The disability pension (Fyritíðarpensjón) is divided into three different levels according to the pensioner’s ability to work. Highest level is awarded pensioners with no work ability. The pension consists of a basic amount, a supplement, and a disability benefit. The basic amount and disability benefit is tax-free. Furthermore, disability pensioners are subject to tax-reduction.
The disability pension is adjusted in relation to pensioner’s own income from work and pension funds.
Finland
The disability pension (Työkyvyttömyyseläke) in earning-related pension system consists of the pension accrued during the work history and a projected pension component that is calculated from the beginning of the year of the pension contingency to the age group’s retirement age. As a rule, the projected pension component is determined based the average earnings for five years before disability pension. Disability pension grated to a person for a limited period is called rehabilitation benefit. Disability pension may be granted in full or partial depending on the remaining workability.
If a person has no working history or it is short, he receives disability pension from the national pension system.
Iceland
The disability pension (örorkulífeyrir and tekjutrygging) consists of a basic amount and an age-dependent benefit addition. The age-dependent benefit is an addition to the disability benefit and is gradually reduced the older the pensioners are when they are granted disability benefit. People aged 24 or younger when they are granted a disability pension receive 100 per cent of the amount of the basic pension, and people who are aged 61 to 66 when they are granted disability benefit receive 2.5 per cent of the amount of basic pension. Disability pensioners who live alone in a flat may also be granted special benefit called “heimilisuppbót”. A special benefit can be made available to those with little or none other income.
Norway
Disability benefit (Arbeidsavklaringspenger, AAP) can be granted to persons whose income is permanently reduced by at least 50 per cent due to permanent illness, injury, or deformity. The medical condition must be the main cause of the inability or reduction of the workability. The disability benefit is calculated based on the average pensionable income of the best three of the previous five years before the onset of disability. Income exceeding 6 times the basic amount (Grunnbeløpet) is not considered. The disability benefit rate per year is 66 per cent of the calculation basis. Persons with low or no previous income are given a yearly minimum.
The recipient of a full disability benefit may have an annual income from work of up to 40 per cent of the basic amount without any reduction of the benefit. A recipient of a graded disability benefit may have an income from work up to 40 per cent of the basic amount in addition to the income corresponding to her/his remaining capacity, without any reduction of the benefit. With higher income, the benefit will be reduced by a portion of the exceeding income. The degree of disability is not recalculated. Disability benefit is subject to taxation.
Sweden
The sickness compensation and activity compensation (Sjukersättning and Aktivitetsersättning) provide financial security in the event of a long-term reduction in workability. People aged 19–65 may receive the sickness compensation if their workability is permanently reduced due to chronic illness or disability. Activity compensation is awarded to people aged 19–29 whose workability has been reduced, due to illness or disability, by at least one quarter for at least one year. This benefit is always temporary.
Activity compensation and sickness compensation can be paid as full, three-quarter, half or one-quarter benefits. Activity compensation due to extended schooling is always paid as a full benefit. There is an income-related benefit and a guaranteed benefit. The income related benefit is linked to income from work. Guarantee benefit is available to people with little or no previous work income.
The Act on Amendments to the Foreign Service Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (353 SE), initiated by the Government, reduces the burden upon the assignment of specialised diplomats and non-staff administrative officials to foreign missions as the decision-making competence relating to their assignment is left to the sending ministry. In the recruitment to foreign service, a derogation is made that enables former diplomats to be recruited for a specified period without a public competition.
The payment of the allowance for spouse and registered partner is also continued to the extent of 50 percent in the case when the accompanying spouse works. An official who goes on a long-term assignment abroad alone with a child of under 13 years of age, a disabled child, or an adult child with no capacity for work will also have the possibility to take a support person with them to the long-term assignment abroad.
Under the Act, the employer does not have to pay the social tax paid for the spouse or registered partner accompanying an official on a long-term assignment. The aim of the amendment is to encourage employers to allow their employees to take unpaid leave and to allow employees to return to their current job.
The provision delegating authority regulating the issues relating to the residence of the head of foreign mission is transferred from the Foreign Relations Act to the Foreign Service Act.
67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and two voted against.
A Bill passed the second reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Accounting Act (428 SE), initiated by the Government, will standardise and simplify the requirements for the circulation and preparation of machine-processable source documents, in particular e-invoices.
According to the explanatory memorandum, e-invoicing for the public sector has been mandatory in Estonia since 2019, but the wider uptake of e-invoicing in the private sector has stalled. The Bill is intended to remove the obstacles that have emerged with the widespread use of electronic invoices and to facilitate the implementation of a single European standard for e-invoices.
Under the Bill, electronic invoices will have to comply with the European standard and the Estonian standard will be abolished. The Bill will also abolish the obligation to issue only e-invoices to public sector entities in all cases and will provide for the right of accounting entities that have registered as e-invoice recipients in the commercial register to require sellers to issue electronic invoices.
Two Bills were dropped from legislative proceedings
The Bill on Amendments to § 2 of the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act (402 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Group, was dropped from the proceedings of the Riigikogu. It was intended to make Easter Monday a public holiday. According to initiators, it is a public holiday and a day of rest in the majority of European Union countries and in many other countries. With the amendment, the number of public holidays in Estonia would increase to twelve.
The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 48 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 12 voted against. There were two abstentions.
The Bill on Amendments to the Riigikogu Election Act (obtaining a compensation mandate according to the number of votes cast for a candidate) (412 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Group, was also dropped from the proceedings of the Riigikogu. It provides for a change to the system of compensation mandates in Riigikogu elections.
The Bill was intended to amend the Act so that the candidate who receives more votes would obtain a compensation mandate. For this, the Bill provided that, in the national list of a political party, candidates would be ranked on the basis of the number of votes received and the compensation mandates of the political party would go to candidates who were higher on the re-ranked national list of the party.
The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and ten voted against.
Hussar sees the Act on shaping next year’s state budget as a key piece of legislation for the whole Estonia. “The government’s proposals this year are aimed at steering the budget towards better balance. The people also expect steps to boost the economy; many of these steps will be based on decisions made in this hall, and we, as MPs, will critically assess the goals”. He added that no one wanted the parliament to blankly block all the procedures; instead, what were expected were results, meaningful debates, and considered decisions.
On the topic of the state budget, the President asked the MPs to consider what kind of role models they planned to be and could they tighten their own belts even more. “The imperative need to balance the revenues and expenses of the Republic of Estonia leads us to the question: what is our own contribution to dramatically cutting the costs? And one of the very few options left to us by the law is deciding about the expense allowance. Every sergeant or schoolteacher knows that teaching is successful only when you can lead by example,” he said.
Legal acts that govern our daily lives must be clear
Hussar pointed out that one of the many tasks of the parliament was to ensure that the legal acts governing the life in Estonia were effective and clear. “Several legal acts are in definite need of unbiased review and further elaboration today. Times have simply moved on and legal texts can also fall behind,” he said.
The President of the Riigikogu referred to the President of the Republic Election Act, which needed to be updated to streamline and refine the election process and make it more inclusive for the public. “Another one waiting for its turn is the Political Parties Act, which has remained on the back burner for years; we need to answer the question whether a political party that has been repeatedly convicted of a criminal offence should lose its allocation from the state budget.” Hussar added that we also needed to solve the issue of the citizens of the aggressor state in the war against Ukraine having the right to vote at local elections.
Hussar invited the MPs to discuss amendments to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, including clarifications on the work of the committees but also the breaks for debate taken before voting. “We should consider giving the chair of the sitting a certain disciplinary power. Not necessarily as extensive as in the European Parliament where the chair can remove a member from the sitting for repeated disruptions, but definitely something stronger than today. No voter has given to any MP the mandate to bring a noise machine to the Riigikogu plenary hall,” he declared.
Everyone must contribute to security
Hussar’s opening speech also touched on Estonia’s security as the corner stone of our independence. Hussar described how the Ukrainian nation was fighting a war of liberation against Russia for the third year running, not fighting for their own freedom alone but standing on the frontline of the democratic free world. He evoked how the parliaments of the free world have played a critical role in this fight. “The same goes for the Riigikogu, which has made nine statements in support of Ukraine and its people during this war, as well as the pioneering decision to hand over Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine as compensation for war damages,” he remarked.
It goes without saying that Ukraine’s war for freedom compels us to focus on our own national defence. “We are facing the task of ensuring Estonia’s primary defence and victory-oriented strategy. All of us, every member of the Riigikogu, must explain to our allies that the war against Russia cannot be won without turning the fire power against Russia. And it is clear that every one of us must accept that burden and allocate funding to the national defence,“ said the President of the Riigikogu.
The Conference will discuss issues relating to illegal migration and protection of the external borders of the EU, as well as further support for Ukraine, including the implications of Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian economy and infrastructure.
Priorities of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy of the EU, and the future Europe and the countries wishing to join the EU will also be spoken about at the Conference. Geopolitical and strategic shifts in the world that have been brought about by the war Russia has launched in Ukraine will be discussed at the Conference as a wider topic.
The interparliamentary conference is held within the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which lasts from 1 July until the end of December. The conference is co-organised by the European Parliament.
The Board of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) decided that after the resignation of Member of the Riigikogu Siim Kallas, and the resignation of his substitute member Irina Talviste, substitute member Jüri Jaanson would assume the membership of the Riigikogu on 8 September.
At the meeting, Hussar said that Estonia and Albania were like-minded countries and had excellent cooperation, but it could be tightened even more. President of the Riigikogu confirmed that Estonia was one of the major supporters of the enlargement of the European Union because Estonia could see how much its accession to the EU and NATO had helped it. “We are happy to offer our support and to share our 20-year experience. We know how much work it took to accede to the European Union and to be a member in the first years.”
Security and support to Ukraine was also in focus at the meeting. The parties admitted that countries needed to cooperate and to support Ukraine unwaveringly so that Russia’s war would end in Ukraine’s victory. “We must convince our partners and do everything in our power to support Ukraine. This is necessary not just for Ukraine but for us as well,” Hussar said. The President of Albania pointed out that supporting Ukraine was not alms but an investment in Europe’s security.
The situation in the Western Balkans was also discussed at the meeting. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson also participated in the meeting, besides Hussar.
This morning, the President of Albania also met with the President of Estonia Alar Karis and laid flowers at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe in Tallinn. During his visit, he will also meet with Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and Mayor of Tallinn Jevgeni Ossinovski. The President will also visit the Estonian e-Governance Academy and the cyber security training centre CR14.
Tomorrow, the Albanian head of state and his wife Armanda Begaj will be in Tartu where they will meet with Mayor Urmas Klaas and visit Tartu University Hospital, the Baltic Defence College, and Tartu Art Museum.
Photos (Author: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
NordenBladet —Last week, Estonian, Finnish and US Artillerymen met at the Satakunta Artillery Regiment in Niinisalo, Finland, to discuss near future and long term cooperation possibilities. “As our firing ranges increase, we may find ourselves in a situation where we have to share targets with our northern neighbours if necessary. Therefore, …
The Forum will last from Friday to Sunday, including discussions on the security situation in Europe, results of NATO Summit and European Parliament elections, support for Ukraine, US presidential elections, situation in the Middle East, EU enlargement, energy security, and innovation. The 19th Forum emphasises the increasing importance of Central and Eastern Europe in ensuring global stability.
Tonight, Hussar will take part in a panel discussion on the main stage about the state of democracy in Europe. Hussar will be joined in the panel by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Szymon Hołownia, and the Speaker of the Romanian Senate Nicolae Ciucă. Hussar will also have a meeting with the Czech Speaker to discuss cooperation between the two countries as well as continued support to Ukraine.
GLOBSEC is a think tank based in Bratislava, Slovakia; its 2024 Forum will bring together around 1,500 participants from 70 countries. These include major public opinion leaders in European foreign and security policy: heads of state, entrepreneurs, as well as representatives of international organisations, think tanks, and academia.
