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Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
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Sester and Šorin are observing parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The Head of the Delegation explained that there was wide international interest in Kazakh elections and democratic development. The country suffered violent unrest in January last year, a referendum to change the Constitution was held in June, and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was re-elected as the President at the early elections in November. “Kazakhstan has launched into political and economic reforms. We want to see how the introduced changes are being applied during these elections and what impact these have,” Sester said.

Member of the Delegation Marko Šorin is also interested in observing whether Tokayev’s Kazakhstan would be able to distance itself from Russia. “Although Tokayev does not recognise the Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia and values the territorial integrity of countries, it is not so easy to break free from Russia’s influence. Considering the influence of Kazakhstan on the region, we need to keep an eye on developments there,” Šorin said.

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dissolved the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan on 19 January this year and set the early parliamentary elections for 19 March. President Tokayev expressed his hope that the elections would give an extra push to modernising the country. The last parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan were held on 20 March 2019, and were also early.

More than 60 members of 24 national parliaments will observe the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan within the framework of the mission organised by the OSCE PA. The observers follow the voting procedure, fairness and freedom of the campaign, access to media, and correct and accurate proclamation of the election results.

Election observation missions have been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The missions monitor whether the elections are conducted legitimately and respect the democratic standards.

For more information, please contact:
Sven Sester +372 504 9222
Marko Šorin +372 5647 6950

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
e-post merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Sester and Šorin are observing parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan

Source: Parliament of Estonia

National parliaments focus on peaceful coexistence and fighting intolerance

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Head of the delegation of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Toomas Kivimägi said in his speech at the IPU Assembly today that protecting peace and democratic values as well as the sovereignty of countries was the greatest challenge to the world. Speaking of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, he pointed out that the countries of the world had to show more resolve because an aggressor’s victory in a war would inspire other authoritarian regimes to use the same means as well. In his speech, Kivimägi also addressed China. “Once Russia understands that it can no longer count on China’s tacit support together with its implications, this may indeed become the factor that will bring Russia back to earth,” he said. Kivimägi emphasised that the values underpinning the rules-based world order – freedom, democracy, human rights, and equality – were at stake.

Today, the Estonian delegation to the IPU met with Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain, and Abdulnabi Salman Ahmed, First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives. Launching of the parliamentary cooperation between Estonia and Bahrain, forming of mutual parliamentary friendship groups and the visit of an Estonian business delegation to Bahrain during the second half of the year were discussed at the meeting. Kivimägi underlined that in order for the war to end, Ukraine needed the support of all countries, including Bahrain. Al Musallam fully supported achieving peace in Ukraine, recalling the suffering when Bahrain itself was at war.

On Tuesday, the Estonian delegation together with the representatives of Latvia and Lithuania will meet with the Swedish delegation to discuss at the initiative of Sweden the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and issues relating to NATO.

The Assembly plans to adopt resolutions on cyberattacks and cybercrimes as the new risks to global security, and on parliamentary efforts in achieving negative carbon balances of forests. Extraordinary debate will focus on humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine. The proposal for resolution was presented with the support of the 12+ group, which also includes Estonia.

The Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is held in Manama, Bahrain, on 11–15 March. Estonia is represented by the President of the Estonian IPU Group Toomas Kivimägi, and Vice-Presidents Helle-Moonika Helme, Helmen Kütt, and Marika Tuus-Laul. Hundreds of MPs from around 110 parliaments are meeting at the Assembly. The Ambassador of Estonia Jaan Reinhold will also attend the Assembly.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest and largest global organisation of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 and has 178 member states from the entire world. Liberia, whose membership was interrupted in 2011, is re-joining the IPU as its 179th member. Estonia was a member of the Union between 1921–1940 and restored its membership after regaining independence in 1991.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: National parliaments focus on peaceful coexistence and fighting intolerance

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Skeleton receives 51 million euros from the Germans to build a factory in Leipzig

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Skeleton Technologies, an Estonian company that specializes in the production of supercapacitors, is building a new factory in Leipzig, Germany. The factory is set to be larger than the company’s current production facility in Dresden and will significantly increase production capacity.

The German government and the state of Saxony are providing over 50 million euros to support the construction of the new factory. The investment is part of Germany’s efforts to achieve its green revolution goals and reduce dependence on Asia and America. The new factory will enable Skeleton Technologies to produce up to 12 million supercapacitors and superbatteries per year and reduce production costs.

The company has recently signed agreements with major companies such as Shell, Honda, Siemens, and CAF, which has increased its demand for production. Skeleton Technologies’ development unit is located in Tallinn, Estonia.

Source: NordenBladet.ee
Featured image: Taavi Madiberk (Skeleton Technologies)

The Reform Party emerged as the clear winner in Estonia’s Riigikogu elections

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – The Reform Party emerged as the clear winner in Estonia’s Riigikogu elections, securing 31.2% of the total votes or 37 mandates. This allows the party to form a coalition of its own choosing.

A total of 615,009 people cast their votes, with 301,495 opting for paper ballots and 313,514 using e-votes. The Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) obtained 16.1% of the votes, resulting in 17 mandates in the Riigikogu. The Center Party secured 15.3% of the votes and 16 mandates, while Eesti 200, a new entrant, secured 13.3% of the votes and 14 mandates. The Social Democratic Party received 9.3% of the votes, giving them nine mandates in the Riigikogu. Isamaa received 8.2% of the votes or eight mandates.

Parties that did not meet the threshold were the Right Party with a 2.4% vote share, the United Left Party of Estonia with 2.3%, and the Greens with one percent.

Top vote getters:
1. KAJA KALLAS 31821
2. MIHHAIL KÕLVART 14598
3. KRISTEN MICHAL 9207
4. URMAS PAET 9152
5. URMAS KLAAS 8067
6. JÜRI RATAS 7675
7. SIIM KALLAS 7397
8. HANNO PEVKUR 6567
9. URMAS KRUUSE 6235
10. MART HELME 6122
11. LAURI LAATS 5982
12. JÜRGEN LIGI 5799
13. HENN PÕLLUAAS 5780
14. JOHANNA-MARIA LEHTME 5260
15. JAAK MADISON 5218
16. MARTIN HELME 4599
17. MIHHAIL STALNUHHIN 4578
18. SIGNE RIISALO 4524
19. URMAS REINSALU 4509
20. ANNELY AKKERMANN 4384

Source: NordenBladet.ee

Featured image: Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia and Chairman of the Estonian Reform Party (RE) Kaja Kallas

HOW TO stay positive when you have a mentally disabled child?

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – It can be very challenging to stay positive when you have a mentally disabled child who will remain a child forever. Disabled children grow into disabled adults. You will face additional challenges, and you may be worried about your child’s future.

However, there are some things you can do to help maintain a positive outlook:

Focus on the present: Instead of worrying about the future, focus on the present moment and the positive things that you and your child can do together.

Celebrate small victories: Instead of focusing on the things that your child can’t do, celebrate the small victories and achievements that he/she makes.

Practice self-care: Make sure you take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. This can help you stay positive and be there for your child.

Build a support network: Reach out to friends and family members who can offer help and support. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Educate yourself: Learn as much as you can about your child’s condition and how to manage it. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.

Seek support: Find a support group or therapist who can help you cope with the challenges of raising a child with special needs. Talking to others who are in a similar situation can be very helpful.

If you feel so stressed, tired, or sad that you don’t know if you can ever be happy, then this could be a sign that you need help. Talk to a doctor about these feelings and ask to be screened for mental health issues like anxiety and depression. These are treatable and it can get better if you take action.

There´s nothing wrong to have bad days and feel overwhelmed. But by focusing on the positives and taking care of yourself, you can help maintain a positive outlook and provide the best care for your child. Recognize that disabled people can live wonderful lives!

Featured image: Unsplash

Sutt discusses further support to Ukraine with EU counterparts in Stockholm

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Sutt explained that the Conference would bring together the representatives of the foreign affairs and defence committees of the Parliaments of the EU countries and the European Parliament to jointly declare their support to Ukraine. “At the moment, Ukraine needs rapid military, economic and political aid from the countries of the West to win the war started by Russia. We have to continue with strict enforcing of the existing sanctions and imposing of new sanctions to weaken Russia. It is also necessary to continue with setting up an international special tribunal,” Sutt said, and added that in order to achieve this, it was vital to keep the unity of the West.

Sutt plans to underline the importance of comprehensive and urgent assistance to Ukraine today at the first session of the Conference, where the passing of a year from the start of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine will be marked. On Friday, the Conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities of the EU’s Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the issues relating to the Arctic, as well as the priorities of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy.

The Inter-parliamentary Conference held in Stockholm is s part of the parliamentary dimension of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2023.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Sutt discusses further support to Ukraine with EU counterparts in Stockholm

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Estonians’ Ambitious Plan to enter the World’s Largest Market: Replacing mineral fertilizers with bacteria and fishmeal with insect flour

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Trigon Capital’s owner Joakim Helenius and project management department head Rando Tomingas came up with an idea to replace mineral fertilizers in the field with bacteria and fishmeal in animal feed with insect flour, so they marched into Tartu University’s scientists’ door with the proposal, Delfi reports.

Sille Holm, a young doctoral student, was tasked with working on the idea, and her table is now at Trigon Capital as the Chief Scientific Officer, working on developing new biotechnological agricultural products. Trigon Capital is developing five or six start-ups, with two already on their way to a finished product. The company is aiming to become Estonia’s biggest by revolutionizing the global market with their products that can be used for both animal and human consumption. The company’s focus is on insects, specifically flies, as they can produce high-quality protein and fat for animal feed at a low cost.

The global market potential for these products is expected to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars, with the world population projected to reach almost ten billion by 2050, which will require more sustainable farming methods. The EU has given permission to use insect flour in animal feed, increasing its market potential, with the global market for animal feed projected to grow to $500 billion. However, the challenge is to produce these products on an industrial scale and to find cost-effective and sustainable ways to produce food for insects.

Featured image: Joakim Helenius (NordenBladet)

 

 

Finland started building a fence on the Russian border

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Finland has a land border with Russia that is about 1,300 kilometers long. The total length of the planned border fence will be about 200 kilometers. The work started with the removal of trees on both sides of the Imatra border post. First, a three-kilometer test fence section will be erected. The government is testing whether the fence can withstand the load of snow and winter cold, reports Yle.

In March, the construction of the road and the construction of the fence will begin, then the technical monitoring system will be installed. The Imatra fence should be ready by the end of June, the three-kilometer section will cost about six million euros.

A road will be built next to the fence to be built, along which the border guards can move. The road will also be used for maintenance work. In addition, the authorities are building special gates so that wild animals can continue to cross the border.

Featured image: Unsplash

Estonia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group expresses concern about blockade of Lachin corridor

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Members of the Estonia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) are deeply concerned about the continuing blockade of the Lachin corridor. “The Lachin corridor is an important supply line for the local population in the region. The humanitarian crisis in the area is worsening day by day due to frequent energy cuts, lack of electricity and gas. The people are also lacking vital supplies: medicine and medical aid, food, and fuel,” the parliamentary group says in its Statement.

“The blockade continues to have damaging impact on the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are deeply convinced that in order to achieve progress, it is very important to resolve humanitarian issues and ensure freedom and security of movement along the corridor.

We call on parties involved to return to the negotiation table, to contribute to the stability and development in the region,” the members of the Estonia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group write in the Statement.

The statement has been signed by Chairman of the Group Raivo Tamm and members of the Group Mati Raidma, Mihhail Lotman, Tarmo Kruusimäe and Leo Kunnas.

Parliamentary friendship groups help the Members of the Riigikogu communicate with other national parliaments, carry out Estonia’s foreign policy, and promote our country around the world.

For more information, please contact:

Raivo Tamm
Chairman of Estonia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu
Phone: +372 631 6556
raivo.tamm@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Estonia-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group expresses concern about blockade of Lachin corridor

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Negative review results in 2499 NOK “punishment” from Moderneliv.no

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – A 20-year-old customer, referred to as “Emilie” to protect her identity, purchased a blow dryer hairbrush from the online store Moderneliv.no. She returned the brush for being of poor quality and overpriced at 2499 NOK. When Emilie wrote a negative review of the store on Trustpilot, the company demanded that she pay for the product as a “punishment” for her review, despite already having refunded her, NRK.no reports.

According to Nora Wennberg Gløersen, a consumer lawyer from the Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet), a consumer is entitled to a refund if they have returned the product properly, and companies cannot impose unreasonable conditions on the refund. Consumers are free to share positive and negative experiences on platforms such as Trustpilot without jeopardizing their rights under the sales agreement and consumer protection laws.

Moderneliv demanded that Emilie delete her negative review before it would process her refund, which she agreed to do. However, she later published a new, longer review warning other potential customers about Moderneliv’s unscrupulous behavior. In response, the company emailed Emilie that they had placed a new order on her behalf without her consent, and would bill her for the product since she had violated their agreement by writing a new review.

Emilie felt helpless and frustrated by the situation, and eventually acquiesced to Moderneliv’s demand to delete her second review to cancel the invoice. According to Gløersen, Moderneliv had no right to order products in Emilie’s name without her permission.

This case highlights the importance of consumer rights and the need for companies to act in good faith towards their customers. While companies may not like negative reviews, they cannot use them as a basis for punishing customers. Consumers should feel free to express their opinions and experiences without fear of retribution.

Featured image: Excerpt from the Norwegian online store Moderneliv (NordenBladet)

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