ESTONIA

The Riigikogu deliberated the Bill on the ratification of the prison lease agreement

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

The first reading of the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden on the Enforcement in Estonia of Swedish Sentences of Imprisonment (682 SE), initiated by the Government, was adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the sitting and will continue tomorrow.

 The bill will ratify an agreement according to which Estonia is ready to accept Swedish prisoners and to enable the enforcement of their sentences in Estonia. The agreement was signed in Stockholm in June this year.

The Agreement sets out rights and obligations and regulates the enforcement of sentences, prison conditions, as well as the distribution of costs, and supervision. According to the explanatory memorandum of the Bill, the number of prisoners in Estonia is steadily decreasing, while the costs of maintaining prisons remain high. Leasing out prison places will enable Tartu Prison to remain in operation, to ensure that jobs are preserved in the region and to create new jobs and to bring at least EUR 30 million in additional revenue to the state budget. According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement offers Sweden a solution to the temporary overload of its prison system.

According to the agreement, Estonia will only accept prisoners who meet certain conditions, which means that security risks, along with possible prevention and mitigation measures, have been identified in cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board, the Estonian Internal Security Service and the Ministry of the Interior. Under the agreement, foreign prisoners will be sent back to Sweden no later than one month before the end of their sentences.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the first foreign prisoners are planned to be placed in Tartu Prison in the second half of 2026. The arrival of prisoners is planned to be organized gradually so that Tartu Prison has time to make the necessary preparations. In total, the agreement will allow up to 600 prisoners to be transferred from Sweden to Estonia.

According to the Bill, the Agreement will enter into force on the thirtieth day after both Estonia and Sweden will have completed the necessary national legal procedures and will have notified each other thereof in writing.

The first reading of a Bill was deferred

The first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Enforcement Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Enforcement Procedure Implementation Act (726 SE), initiated by the Government, was deferred to tomorrow’s sitting due to the end of the working hours of the sitting. The amendments proposed by the bill will increase the transparency of the queries made through the enforcement register, allowing individuals to obtain a better overview of the queries made about them than before.

Currently, people do not have the opportunity to see which public authorities or other persons specified in the law have made inquiries about them to banks and payment institutions through the enforcement register. The enforcement register functions solely as an information channel and does not store the content of queries. Although the law gives people the right to know how their personal data is being used, there is currently no technical solution that would allow this information to be easily displayed.  To this end, the Bill will provide for an obligation that, before joining the register, users joining the enforcement register will have to also interface with a technical solution (the so-called data tracker) whereby it will be possible to display to a person the information about the queries made about them. Users will also have to make available the information about the queries made. Exceptions will be made in cases where the requester may, in cases provided for by law, transmit information about the processing of the data to the data subject later, restrict the provision thereof or refuse to issue it.  The relevant obligation will also apply to institutions and persons that have joined earlier, including the Chamber of Bailiffs and Trustees in Bankruptcy. The Bill will also update the regulation of databases in the Code of Enforcement Procedure in the interests of legal clarity, providing at the level of law the categories of personal data processed in databases and the maximum period for storing the data, and providing more clearly in a provision delegating authority the framework for enacting constitutive regulations.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

 

 

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu deliberated the Bill on the ratification of the prison lease agreement

Source: Parliament of Estonia

A bill related to the organization of population procedures passed its second reading in the Riigikogu

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

A Bill passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Vital Statistics Registration Act, the Population Register Act and the State Fees Act (687 SE), initiated by the Government, will make amendments to streamline population procedures and to resolve bottlenecks. The Bill will reduce the number of places where births can be registered and allow healthcare providers to register births without a birth certificate, based on other sufficient evidence, without having to go to court. In the residence registration procedure, the possibility will be created to register a child’s residence at the initiative of the local government without the consent of the other parent with legal custody and to form a personal identification code for a citizen of the European Union or Switzerland upon registration of their residence. The registration of the residence of a citizen of the European Union from Estonia to a foreign country will also be simplified. The Bill will expand the administrative procedural capacity of 15-17-year-olds, allowing them to see their population register data and to restrict its availability, as well as to provide contact details, additional addresses, and statement-based data.

Kalle Grünthal took the floor during the debate.

Two drafts were rejected at the first reading

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to develop a procedure for paying an additional annual one-off pension supplement to pensioners” (678 OE), submitted by the Estonian Centre Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to develop a procedure for paying an additional annual one-off pension supplement to pensioners and to set the amount of the annual one-off pension supplement at EUR 100.

During the debate, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Group, Mart Helme on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Andre Hanimägi on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group.

The Resolution was not passed because 22 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour. The support of at least 51 members of the Riigikogu was needed to pass the Resolution.

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic” (713 OE), submitted by the Social Democratic Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to raise the subsistence level to at least EUR 300 per month. Currently, according to the current law, the subsistence level for a person living alone or the first member of a family is EUR 200. The subsistence level is EUR 160 for each subsequent adult family member and EUR 240 for each minor child.

During the debate, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Group, Helmen Kütt on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group and Rain Epler on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group.

The Resolution was not passed because 28 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour and there was one abstention. The support of at least 51 members of the Riigikogu was needed to pass the Resolution.

Four interpellations were replied

Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis replied to the interpellation concerning the safe use of mini mopeds (No. 828), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller replied to the interpellations concerning the healthcare funding crisis (No. 811), the supporting of an increase in the birth rate (No. 812) and the underfunding of special care services (No. 826).

Lauri Läänemets took the floor during the open microphone.

The sitting ended at 9.05 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

 

Link uudisele: A bill related to the organization of population procedures passed its second reading in the Riigikogu

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Foreign Affairs Committee in Australia: Democratic forces must stick together

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Meetings in Australia confirmed that, despite the distance between the countries, security challenges are similar, and learning from each other provides an opportunity to deal with them more effectively. According to Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, the Committee’s visit showed that there is more potential for development in the relations between Estonia and Australia than has been realised so far. “Hopefully, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Australia, towards which significant efforts have been made recently, will help to realise this” he said.

Mihkelson underlined that the meetings had provided an opportunity to present Estonia’s positions and discuss security issues important to Estonia more broadly. “Australia’s main security focus is on the Pacific Ocean and the balancing of relations with China. We highlighted during the meetings that in order to restore peace in Europe and maintain stability in the Indian and Pacific regions, it is necessary to help Ukraine defeat its aggressor,” he said, and added that Australia was a country with a very similar mentality to Estonia and the majority of its population supported providing greater military assistance to Ukraine.

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which consisted of the Chairman Marko Mihkelson, and members of the Committee Henn Põlluaas and Juku-Kalle Raid, had meetings with the representatives of the Parliament, the Government and the think tanks. In the capital Canberra, they met with the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee of the Parliament of Australia, Chair of the Australia-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group and several deputies, as well as with the representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and with Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. Mihkelson also had a separate meeting with Andrew Shearer, Director General of the Office of National Intelligence.

The representatives of the Riigikogu participated in several roundtable discussions, including debates at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Centre for European Studies of the Australian National University. The Chairman of the Committee spoke at the security conference organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and gave a guest lecture at the Australian Institute of International Affairs. The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee also met with members of the Ukrainian community of New South Wales, and visited the Estonian House in Sydney, where they met with local Estonians.

Before travelling to Australia, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee visited New Zealand. Delegations of the committees of the Riigikogu have not visited these countries before. The visit of the Foreign Affairs Committee took place from 21 October to 3 November.

For more information and comments, please contact:
Marko Mihkelson, +372 514 1442

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

Link uudisele: The Foreign Affairs Committee in Australia: Democratic forces must stick together

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Chiefs of Defence of the Baltic countries met in Tallinn

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Source: Estonian Defence Forces

The Foreign Affairs Committee in New Zealand: Common values and worldview bring us together

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

This was the first time that a delegation of a Committee of the Estonian Parliament visited New Zealand. The visit took place at the same time as the European Union–New Zealand Business Summit, which was dedicated to the first anniversary of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the Free Trade Agreement was not only economically important at present, but also had a greater geopolitical dimension that united the partners.

In Auckland, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee met with Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand David Seymour, Minister of Trade Todd McClay, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Shane Reti, and Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select Committee of the Parliament of New Zealand Tim van de Molen. The delegation also participated in the roundtable discussion at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, which focused on the foreign and security policy challenges in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Honorary Consul of Estonia David Raudkivi organised a meeting with local Estonians for the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

All meetings and presentations focused on the development of bilateral relations, the geopolitical situation in the world, and opportunities for cooperation between like-minded countries in issues relating to hybrid threats, shadow fleets, and cybersecurity. It was underlined that Russia’s war of aggression must end with Ukraine’s victory, otherwise it would send a signal that borders can be shifted by force. “We also learnt about New Zealand’s views on security in the Pacific region and recognised how much our two countries have in common in terms of defending our values,” Mihkelson said.

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which consists of the Chairman Marko Mihkelson, and members of the Committee Henn Põlluaas and Juku-Kalle Raid, continues its visit in Australia during this week. In Sydney, the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee met with members of the Ukrainian community of New South Wales. They then travelled on to the capital, Canberra, where they will have meetings with representatives of the Parliament, the Government, and think tanks.

The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee will meet with Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Jamie Isbister, First Assistant Secretary of Europe Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Christian Hirst, and First Assistant Secretary of East Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michael Growder. They also plan to participate in several conferences and roundtables organised by think tanks. In addition, the Estonian delegation will visit the Estonian House and meet with the Estonian community.

The visit of the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu to New Zealand and Australia takes place from 21 October to 3 November.

For more information and comments, please contact:
Marko Mihkelson, +372 514 1442

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

Link uudisele: The Foreign Affairs Committee in New Zealand: Common values and worldview bring us together

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Bill on the transposition of the EU Cybersecurity Directive passed the first reading

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

The Bill on Amendments to the Cybersecurity Act and Other Acts (Transposition of the Second Cybersecurity Directive) (739 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, will transpose into Estonian law the NIS2 Directive of the European Union. The directive is aimed at harmonising the rules for managing cyberthreats and to raise the level of cybersecurity within the EU.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the transposition of the directive will increase the number of entities subject to cybersecurity requirements in Estonia by about 3,000 – bringing the total to around 6,500. The new rules will apply in such areas as the energy, transport, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and public administration sectors – that is, to the institutions providing essential or critical services. The enterprises subject to the requirements will have to implement security measures and to notify the supervisory authority of any cyber incidents with a significant impact. According to the Bill, the authority in question will be the Information System Authority, whose tasks will be expanded to include supervision of cybersecurity of power grids in accordance with the European Commission Regulation.

According to the Bill, the newly covered enterprises will have three years from the Act’s entry into force to comply with the cybersecurity requirements. To facilitate this, the state is preparing support measures and various instruction materials.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the harmonisation of the requirements will raise the cybersecurity level of the organisations crucial to society and the economy, and will improve the competitiveness of the enterprises.

An Act was passed

At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed the Act on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Sultanate of Oman for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and its Protocol (692 SE), initiated by the Government. The aim of the Act is to ratify the corresponding Agreement between Estonia and Oman, and its Protocol.

The agreement for the elimination of double taxation is broadly in line with the Model Convention of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The agreement prohibits the source state from taxing certain types of income, imposes a lower-than-usual tax rate or requires the residence state to introduce tax exemptions or deductions. The agreement also establishes rules for resolving dual residency, which cannot be addressed through national legislation.

As of the end of 2024, Estonia had agreements for avoidance of double taxation in force with 63 countries. The purpose of the agreements is to facilitate investments between countries.

51 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Act.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Bill on the transposition of the EU Cybersecurity Directive passed the first reading

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The National Defence Committee discussed cooperation and changes related to airspace violations with Finnish colleagues

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

At the meeting, Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu highlighted the importance of close defence cooperation between Estonia and Finland. Recalling Russia’s drone attack in Poland and airspace violations in Estonia and other European countries, he specifically pointed out the need to strengthen cooperation between the air forces, following the example of the navies of the two countries.

Stoicescu expressed his hope that the Eduskunta would soon begin discussing amendments that would allow Finland to enter the airspace of other allies if necessary in response to airspace violations. “Decisive strengthening of cooperation in NATO’s joint airspace will send a strong message to Russia that such violations will not go unpunished,” said Stoicescu, and added that more had to be done to deter the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea.

At the working meeting, the committees discussed Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, support for Ukraine, and the increasing of pressure on Russia. They also spoke about the upcoming withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, and the future production and use of anti-personnel landmines, as well as about relations with the United States and the security situation more broadly.

The Defence Committee of the Eduskunta is on a two-day visit to Estonia. Yesterday, the 10-member delegation met with Undersecretary for Defence Capability at the Ministry of Defence Kadri Peeters and Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo, and visited NATO Force Integration Unit in Tallinn. Today the members of the Eduskunta Defence Committee will visit the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) training centre in Nurmsi and get an overview of the activities of the Estonian Defence League.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu and the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta have been cooperating closely and holding annual working meetings since 1993.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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

Link uudisele: The National Defence Committee discussed cooperation and changes related to airspace violations with Finnish colleagues

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu amended the agenda for the working week

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

They are the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to lower the VAT on food to 9 per cent” (672 OE), submitted by the Centre Party Group.

The interpellation concerning the availability of education and the ministry’s plans to improve it (No. 798) submitted to Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras, and the interpellations concerning the Prime Minister’s confusing statements regarding the 800 million euro (No. 813) and the tax structure in Estonia (No. 817) submitted to Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi were excluded from the agenda on the motion of interpellators.

Aivar Kokk and Lauri Laats took the floor during the open microphone.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu amended the agenda for the working week

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Legal Affairs Committee sent the Bill on the Estonian-Swedish prison rental agreement to the first reading

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Madis Timpson, the agreement to be ratified by the Bill will enable the reasonable use of empty prison space and create nearly 400 jobs in South Estonia. “Currently we keep unused prison space empty and pay for its maintenance from the taxpayers’ money, but the prison lease agreement will allow us to put idle space to work to make money. The additional jobs will also bring additional tax revenue to the state,” he said, adding that the Committee had unanimously supported the conclusion of the first reading of the Bill.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden on the Enforcement in Estonia of Swedish Sentences of Imprisonment (682 SE), initiated by the Government, will ratify the agreement under which Estonia is prepared to accept Swedish prisoners and enable the enforcement of their sentences in Estonia. The Agreement was signed in June in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Agreement sets out rights and obligations and regulates the enforcement of sentences, prison conditions, as well as the distribution of costs, and supervision. According to the explanatory memorandum of the Bill, the number of prisoners in Estonia is steadily decreasing, while the costs of maintaining prisons remain high. Leasing out prison places will enable Tartu Prison to remain in operation, ensure that jobs in the region are preserved and create new jobs, and bring at least 30 million euros in additional revenue to the state budget. According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement offers Sweden a solution to the temporary overcrowding of its prison system.

According to the Agreement, Estonia will only accept prisoners who meet certain criteria, which means that security risks as well as possible preventive and mitigation measures have been determined in cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board, the Security Police Board, and the Ministry of the Interior. The Agreement provides that foreign prisoners will be sent back to Sweden not later than one month before the end of their sentence.

According to the explanatory memorandum, it is planned to bring the first foreign prisoners to Tartu Prison in the second half of 2026. The arrival of prisoners is planned to take place in stages, so that Tartu Prison will have time to make the necessary preparations. In total, the agreement allows to bring up to 600 prisoners from Sweden to Estonia.

According to the Bill, the Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after both Estonia and Sweden have fulfilled the necessary national requirements and notified each other in writing.

Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta, Deputy Secretary General on Prison Service at the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Rait Kuuse and Adviser of the Penal Law and Procedure Division of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Martin Ziehr gave an overview of the Bill at the sitting of the Legal Affairs Committee.

The Committee decided to make a proposal to the Board of the Riigikogu to include the Bill on the agenda for the sitting of 4 November and conclude the first reading of the Bill. To ratify the Agreement , the Bill also has to pass the second reading.

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

Link uudisele: The Legal Affairs Committee sent the Bill on the Estonian-Swedish prison rental agreement to the first reading

Source: Parliament of Estonia

European Union Affairs Committee: Europe has to give up Russian natural gas as soon as possible

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that at its sitting, the Committee confirmed that Estonia supported increasing the European Union’s energy independence from Russia and therefore considered it important that negotiations to end natural gas imports from Russia should be concluded as quickly as possible and that natural gas should be abandoned at the earliest opportunity.

“Buyers of Russian gas and other fossil fuels are directly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine and its war machine. Another threat is that not only Russian influence but also corruption, which undermines our rule of law, is inevitably spreading through the pipelines into the heart of Europe,” Tali underlined. “It is also appropriate to discuss the ending of natural gas imports from Russia at next week’s European Council and General Affairs Council meetings. The sooner we stop buying Russian natural gas, the happier we will be living in a free Europe in the longer perspective.”

The approved positions state that Estonia supports the goal of ending imports of Russian natural gas and liquefied natural gas into the European Union and the implementation of the prohibition as soon as possible. In Estonia’s opinion, long-term gas supply contracts should be terminated as soon as possible, but not later than 1 January 2028. On that date, the transition provisions arising from the types of contracts and the transition periods for countries without sea borders must expire.

Estonia also supports ending oil imports from Russia by 2028 at the latest. In addition, Estonia considers it necessary that the European Commission submitted a proposal to end imports of Russian nuclear fuel and technology as soon as possible.

Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt gave an overview of the positions of the Government on the proposal for a Regulation at today’s sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee. The European Union Affairs Committee decided to specify the positions presented by the Government, taking into account the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, and to emphasise that the gas supply contracts should be terminated as soon as possible.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: European Union Affairs Committee: Europe has to give up Russian natural gas as soon as possible

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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