Estonia: Members of the Riigikogu discuss the problem of Russia at PACE Plenary Session

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June 24, 2019

NordenBladet — Members of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Eerik-Niiles Kross, Indrek Saar and Raivo Tamm participate in the Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg this week. Key items on the agenda include strengthening the decision-making processes, and the issue of Russia’s credentials and voting right.

Member of the Estonian delegation Eerik-Niiles Kross said that, at its Summer Session, PACE focused on a possible amendment of the decision-making processes of the Assembly relating to the credentials and votings of the delegations of member states. “The key item on the agenda is essentially the restoration of the voting right of Russia. Developments that would totally eliminate the possibility to restrict the voting rights of delegations would significantly weaken the authority of PACE, would give an extremely negative signal to the defenders of human rights around the globe and would absurdly be a real prize for Russia,” Kross added.

The topics on the agenda of the PACE Summer Session also include Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the rule of law in Malta, combating of violence against women and achieving gender equality, ending of violence against children, and the statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children.

The Assembly will also discuss the situation in Syria, post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria, the murder of Boris Nemtsov, and the budget of PACE.

PACE will also elect a new Secretary General.

Pace is the oldest international parliamentary assembly in Europe that held its opening session on 10 August 1949. The task of the Council of Europe is to protect the fundamental values of its member states: human rights, the principle of the rule of law, and democracy.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Estonia: EUAC is in Romania to discuss foreign trade and innovation with their counterparts

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 24, 2019

NordenBladet — Members of the European Union Affairs Committee (EUAC) are taking part in the Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

The Chairman of the EUAC Anneli Ott said that it was important for Estonia that the trade relations between the European Union and the USA remained free of stress and that strong trade partners would cooperate in reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO). “For a small country like Estonia, clear global trade rules are very important. The e-trade rules of the Organization are in dire need of updating and our digital state does everything in its power to support smoother internet trade, so that small businesses would also be able to break into the global market with their products,” Ott said.

The Deputy Chairman of the EUAC Riina Sikkut highlighted the European Commission proposal to increase the scientific research and innovation framework programme Horizon Europe to 100 billion euros during the new budgetary period. She pointed out that Estonian researchers have so far been highly successful in participating in the Horizon framework programme. “Our researchers have found that lively international scientific cooperation is one of the guarantors of viability. This improves the quality and visibility of our research institutions, while transnational cooperation generates new ideas and improves information exchange in different fields of research,” Sikkut added.

The COSAC agenda includes the perspectives on international trade relations within the Community and future relations with the United Kingdom, the European Education Area as a driver for common market, innovation based economy, and the role of the national parliaments in supporting the “new economy”. The Prime Minister of Romania will report on the results of the European presidency.

The Plenary Meeting of the COSAC is taking place in Vienna on 24–25 June. Other participants from Estonia are Tarmo Kruusimäe, Anti Poolamets and Urve Tiidus.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

King Harald of Norway has confirmed to Norwegian media that the Royal Court is in dialogue about the commercial use of Princess Märtha Louise’s title

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 23, 2019

NordenBladet – King Harald of Norway has confirmed to Norwegian media that the Royal Court is in dialogue about the commercial use of Princess Märtha Louise’s title. Confirming the dialogue is underway to NRK, His Majesty said, “At the present time, we cannot say how far we have come in the dialogue. But we are trying to get an arrangement.”

The King was questioned on if the commercial use of the title has burdened the Royal Family to which he replied, “No, not really.”

Princess Märtha Louise has come under fire in Norway since she used her title in the marketing of the tour she undertook in Norway and Denmark with her boyfriend, Shaman Durek Verrett, 44, which was called “The Princess and the Shaman”. Mr Verrett is half Norwegian and half African-American and describes himself as a “spiritual guide and gifted healer.”

The Princess, 47, was asked in May if she had plans to give up her title by Norway’s TV2. “That’s not something I am considering,” she responded.

Norwegian editorial newspaper Dagsavisen wrote earlier that month that Princess Märtha Louise was causing “a catastrophe” for the Norwegian Royal Family as well as credibility problems due to her new relationship and her supposed ability to heal and communicate with angels.

Märtha Louise held the style of ‘Royal Highness’ until 2002 when it was removed by her father, after discussions with her, to allow her work with more freedom while owning her own business without the constraints of the ‘HRH’.

Märtha Louise was born on 22 September 1971 as the only daughter and elder child of then-Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja (current King Harald and Queen Sonja). She has a younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon.

In 1990, the Norwegian Constitution was altered to allow for female ascension to the throne beginning for those born after 1990. This means that Märtha Louise did not jump over her brother in the line of succession, but her niece, Princess Ingrid Alexandra was guaranteed a right to ascend the throne ahead of her younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus.

Featured image: Princess Märtha Louise (Instagram/@princessmarthalouise)

Norway: King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the people at Askøy: Water pollution is one of the most serious things we can experience

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 21, 2019

NordenBladet – Last time the small town of Askøy was visited by royals was in 1611. On Thursday, King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the people at Askøy for a very special reason. To conclude the county tour of Hordaland the royals visited Askøy and the people here who have faced serious problems over the past month.

Two weeks ago, Askøy municipality was hit by water pollution that has affected more than 2,000 people. In total, 16 children and 60 adults from Askøy have been hospitalized. So far, two people are believed to have died as a result of the pollution, a one-year-old child and a 72 year old woman.

“The Queen and I visit you under very special circumstances. Not having clean drinking water is one of the most serious issues we as individuals and as a community can experience. The crisis you have been through and experiencing now puts a whole society to the test”, King Harald told the people of Askøy.

The King and Queen wanted to know more about the water scandal, and had a 20-minute long and closed meeting with a person who was infected, as well as key people who have worked on the case for the past two weeks. Several local residents had come up to welcome the royal couple.

King Harald addressed the situation in his speech, saying: “We have followed what has happened on Askøy, and we feel with you. We can only imagine your insecurity and frustration. We understand your concerns and pain. We realize you hardly have time for our visit. We know how much work and worries lie behind. And that you have other very important things to do. Therefore, we thank you for being her at Askøy, together with you.”

Following the speech by the King, he and the queen travel on to more cheerful events. They went on to visit Herdla museum and Herdla fortress. Herdla is an island north of the municipality, known for its rich birdlife and a nature reserve that includes Herdlevalen and long pebble beaches. This was also something the royals had the opportunity to learn more about. The royal couple saw several exciting cultural features by local children and to conclude the visit the royals took time to become better acquainted with people and organizations on Askøy.

Featured image: The King and Queen speak to the local inhabitants of Askøy. (Sven Gjeruldsen / The Royal Court)

Estonia: Laneman is taking part in a security forum on fight against terrorism

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 20, 2019

NordenBladet — The Chairman of the Security Authorities Surveillance Committee Alar Laneman is taking part in the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum, which focuses on the fight against terrorism.

The Chairman of the Select Committee expects the forum to examine the situation in anti-terrorist activities. “We will discuss the current situation in the fight against terrorism around the world, and ways to support countries in combating terrorism,” the Chairman said.

Laneman said that the parliamentarians would also discuss anti-terrorist strategy. “It is important for countries to exchange experiences and engage in closer cooperation both in preventing and combating terrorism,” he said.

The Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum will take place for the 14^th time. The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness on the fight against terrorism. The forum gives parliamentarians across the world an opportunity to learn from the experiences of countries in combating terrorism and funding for terrorism, as well as a place to discuss important security topics more broadly.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Three-year-old Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne, visits Skäralid + VIDEO

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 19, 2019

NordenBladet – Three-year-old Prince Oscar of Sweden, Duke of Skåne, visited Skäralid on Monday, 17 June in Skåne’s Söderåsen’s National Park alongside his parents, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.

The little royal was able to visit the playground named after him on the occasion of his christening in May 2016. The playground, “Prince Oscar’s NaturePlay (Prins Oscars Naturlek)” has been open to the public since Easter.

It was built by County Administrative Board in Skåne County with the assistance of private individuals, companies and some of the municipalities in the county.

The park has tools, stations and obstacles that include a tunnel, rope balance, swing, stumps and a large slide. Additionally, it includes facilities for educators at Naturum Söderåsen with new educational elements continuing to be added.

The Prince was able to try out some of the amenities as he was seen hopping on the stumps and walking on the rope balance. His mother even took a turn on the rope in her maxi dress and white sneakers.

Prince Oscar and his parents also took a walk on the trail around Skärdammen where they watched ducks and looked at wildlife. Oscar and Crown Princess Victoria were seen running along the path at one point with Prince Daniel trailing behind.

The Royal Court later released a video and photos from the Crown Princess Family’s visit to Skåne.

His Royal Highness Prince Oscar Carl Olof of Sweden was born on 2 March 2016 Karolinska University Hospital as the younger child and only son of the Crown Princess Couple. His names and title, Duke of Skåne, were announced the following day during a cabinet meeting by his grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

He has an older sister, Princess Estelle (b. 2012).

Photos: Sara Friberg / Kungl. Royal Court
Source: Kungahuset.se

Estonia: European Union Affairs Committee expects explanations from the Minister of Finance on contravening the Riigikogu mandate

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 19, 2019

NordenBladet — The European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) decided to invite Minister of Finance Mart Helme to give explanations to the Committee about the meeting of the Eurogroup in inclusive format, where the positions of the Minister on reforming the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) did not correspond to the mandate received from the European Union Affairs Committee.

“So far, the European Union Affairs Committee has proceeded from the position approved by the Government that the decisions regarding the ESM are made as it is written down in the existing treaty – unanimously, as a general principle. Only in emergency, when the stability of the whole euro area is threatened and the decision is time-critical, qualified majority voting is used,” Chair of the Committee Anneli Ott said. She added that the assessment of crisis situation was based on the analyses of the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Riina Sikkut pointed out that abandoning of the unanimity requirement had not been discussed at the meeting of finance ministers last week. “The protective measure of the Single Resolution Fund of the Banking Union, which will be established and the limits of which will be decided unanimously, was discussed. Payments from it are made by a majority vote only in emergency, when the speed of decision-making is decisive. Such decisions can be made only within the framework that has been unanimously established earlier,” Sikkut said.

At its sitting on 10 June, the European Union Affairs Committee supported the positions regarding the ESM reform that had been agreed upon at the sitting of the Government on 22 November 2018. Pursuant to § 152⁴ of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the European Union Affairs Committee, acting in the name of the Riigikogu, has the right to take a position, and the Government is obligated to adhere to it. If the Government fails to do so, it must at the earliest opportunity explain its reasons to the European Union Affairs Committee.

Today, the European Union Affairs Committee again discussed the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) reform in connection with Estonia’s positions at the coming Euro Summit. Prime Minister Jüri Ratas gave the Committee an overview of Estonia’s positions, and said that Estonia has supported finding a balanced solution in the decision process of ESM loans. In the opinion of the Prime Minister, it should be possible to make the decisions regarding the granting of loans to the Single Resolution Fund in cases of emergency, in a big crisis, sufficiently fast, but taking into account the competences arising from the constitutions of Member States. The European Union Affairs Committee supported the positions of the Government.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

King Harald of Norway celebrated the Norwegian-American Association’s 100th anniversary

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 18, 2019

NordenBladet – On Monday afternoon, His Majesty King Harald of Norway celebrated his patronage, the Norwegian-American Association’s 100th anniversary. His Majesty the King was present at the celebration of the Norway-America Association’s 100th anniversary at Akershus Fortress.

Philosopher Henrik Syse held the welcome speech at Akershus Fortress, while Charge d’Affaires from the US, Ann Barrows McConnell spoke on behalf of the US Embassy in Oslo. PhD candidate Camilla Lingjærde briefed on the Norwegian-American Association’s history, while violinist Sarah Chen performed a musical feature.

During the anniversary celebration, this year’s scholarships were awarded, and in September, the association will launch its anniversary book. The book is written by Kjetil Flatin and deals with 100 years of student exchanges between Norway and the United States. The Norwegian-American Association has, over the years, helped thousands of students finance their education. The scholarships that are awarded each year come from different funds and grants that the Norway-America Association administers.

Since 1919, NORAM has awarded more than 5,000 scholarships for studies in the United States and Canada. The Norwegian-American Association is a voluntary organisation that was founded in 1919 by the American-Scandinavian Foundation and Norwegians Worldwide. The organisations wanted to establish a fund that would support and encourage student exchange between Norway and the United States.

King Harald has a very special bond to the USA. He lived in exile there for many years during the Second World War together with his mother and two sisters. One of the notable events he remembers from that time was standing behind President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was sworn in for his fourth term on the South Portico of the White House in 1945.

King Harald has visited the US many times since the end of the war. The states in the Midwest, especially North Dakota and Minnesota, have a significant number of Norwegian-American residents.

Featured image: His Majesty King Harald of Norway arrives at the celebration. (Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen / The Royal Court)

Estonia: President of the Riigikogu and President of Croatia acknowledged common values

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 18, 2019

NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas and President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović acknowledged at their meeting today that Estonia and Croatia were close by their common values and world view, and stood for the rules-based world order.

“The relations between our two countries are excellent,” Põlluaas said. “Although we are not neighbours, our histories have a lot in common, and we have common values that we share.”

Future of the European Union, the work of the European Parliament, which was elected in spring, and the formation of the new European Commission were spoken about at the meeting. The relations between the Balkan countries were also discussed.

Põlluaas pointed out at the meeting that tourism played an important role in the relations between Estonia and Croatia. “Already now, Croatia is a well-known destination country for the Estonian tourists, and we would be very happy to welcome more Croatian tourists in Estonia,” Põlluaas said.

Põlluaas thanked Croatia for their support at the UN Security Council voting, and praised the excellent cooperation of the two countries in the European Union and NATO. He expressed hope that Croatia would join the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence located in Estonia before the end of this year.

The President of Croatia gave an overview of the plans of her country for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will take place in the first half of 2020, and said that Croatia would like to learn from Estonia’s experience. Croatia’s priorities include the development of economy and the challenges to education, and also the security of the European Union.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa also participated in the meeting. He pointed out that Estonia supported further enlargement of the European Union and the open doors policy. In his opinion, the European Union will not be ready before all Balkan countries that wish to accede are members of the Union.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Estonia: Põlluaas and Haavisto value the cooperation between Estonia and Finland

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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June 18, 2019

NordenBladet — At the meeting of President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto, the internal political situation in both countries after parliamentary elections, and the issues relating to the formation of coalitions and the government starting its work were spoken about.

Põlluaas gave an overview of the work of the Estonian Parliament during its first months, and highlighted some decisions that had been adopted, including the Act on the reduction of alcohol excise duty, which would have an impact on the Estonian economy both from the north and from the south.

Haavisto welcomed the election of Estonia as the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and considered it an achievement. Põlluaas and Haavisto agreed that it would provide Estonia an opportunity to make itself known around the world. “It will give us a possibility to take part in solving important international problems,” Põlluaas emphasised.

Current problems of the European Union that relate to Brexit and the disagreements of some countries in several key issues were also touched upon at the meeting. It was also admitted that in spite of the differences of opinion, the EU continued to function and tried to solve its problems through negotiations. The new composition of the recently elected European Parliament and the new nominees for the European Commission both from Estonia and Finland were also spoken about at the meeting. Discussion of the topics relating to the European Union was relevant for Finland’s coming Presidency of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa, who participated in the meeting, underlined the excellent relations between the two countries. This is attested by the regular meetings of parliamentary committees and parliamentary groups.

Source: Parliament of Estonia