Committees of the Baltic Assembly (BA) are meeting in Tallinn today and tomorrow to focus on economic and digital challenges in the Baltic region and to discuss ways to use the COVID-19 crisis to promote regional economic growth.
Member of the BA Economics, Energy and Innovation Committee Kalvi Kõva identified the COVID-19 crisis as the focal point of the Committee. “Although the crisis had serious impact on the Baltic economies, our economic growth never fully stopped. We have done better than many other regions in the euro area,” he said.
Head of the Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly Aadu Must said that another topic of the meeting would be the possible joint initiatives in the Baltic states to ensure rapid economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis. “We will also be discussing whether the Baltic states should develop a common strategy for boosting our economy. Our goal is to use the lessons that we have learned or will learn from the crisis to enhance our economy and improve the wellbeing of our people,” Must explained.
Other topics include Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 in the Baltic states as well as joint activities in promoting digital and green transitions in the region, and developing joint energy infrastructure projects. The developments in the Rail Baltica project are also on the agenda of the meeting.
The BA Budget and Audit Committee is meeting today at 5 p.m. in Nordic Hotel Forum, and the Economics, Energy and Innovation Committee is meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu.
Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee held a video meeting with the members of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine), confirming Estonia’s continuous support to Ukraine’s independence, democracy, and territorial integrity in the fight against Russia’s aggression.
The Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson reaffirmed Estonia’s support to Ukraine, which would include pro-active efforts in diplomacy as well as tangible help in defending the country. Estonia’s planned weapons assistance to Ukraine was discussed more specifically.
The focus of the meeting was on geopolitical and security challenges and the validity of the international law. The participants emphasised that the strongest long-term guarantee for Ukraine’s freedom and independence would be accession to NATO and the EU. To this end, Ukraine needs the guidance of the specific road map that would lead them there.
The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Merezhko thanked Estonia for its support.
The parties highlighted the importance of cooperation among likeminded countries, and the need for awareness raising among the other allies. The parties also agreed on the importance of direct regular contacts between parliamentarians.
At its sitting today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed Estonia’s sanctions policy towards Belarus with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets and found that the sanctions policy has to be reviewed.
According to Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, the confusion surrounding Belarusian transit does not reflect well on Estonia and raises the question of whether the European Union has overlooked something in shaping of its sanctions policy.
Mihkelson said that this was not an issue that only concerned Estonia, as the European Union’s goal should be to formulate a sanctions policy that would really influence the Belarusian regime to release political prisoners, to implement the will of the Belarusian people by allowing free elections and to stop the constant threatening of neighbouring countries.
“This whole issue also has a much wider dimension, which relates to the overall security situation,” Mihkelson noted. “If we cannot even impose workable sanctions against Belarus, then what message does it send Russia?”
Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Mihhail Lotman admitted that the Belarusian transit was not something mysterious, and it had been spoken about for months. “It presents us as hypocrites. Belarusian transit is not something we have to coordinate with, for example, with Portugal; this transit goes through Estonia, and it is our right and our duty to stop it. We are arguing with the Germans that Nord Stream 2 must not be allowed to go ahead, but we ourselves are letting both Belarusian and Russian goods through Estonia,” Lotman said.
Minister Liimets explained the Foreign Affairs Committee that the Government took the criticism seriously. According to the Minister, a complete discontinuation of economic relations with Belarus has not been declared, but measures have been sought to influence the regime and support civil society.
Newspaper Eesti Päevaleht reported that, despite the sanctions, the volume of Belarusian oil products that have entered Estonia has tripled in monetary value.
At its today’s sitting, the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed two initiatives of the Fit for 55 climate package and approved Estonia’s positions. With this, the Riigikogu has formed a position on all 13 initiatives proposed by the European Commission last summer.
Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Siim Kallas said that the two initiatives discussed today were the last of the 13 initiatives set as interim targets for 2030, but the green transition did not end there and new initiatives were to be expected in the future. At its today’s sitting, the Committee gave its opinion on the European Commission’s proposals for Energy Efficiency Directive and Renewable Energy Directive, and admitted that the proposals were very ambitious.
According to one proposal of the Energy Efficiency Directive, all Member States have to reduce energy consumption at least 9% by 2030, compared to the 2020 reference scenario, and in 2024–2030 save energy at a rate of 1.5% every year instead of 0.8%. “We support the target of reducing energy consumption, but increasing of energy saving obligation by nearly two times from 2024 cannot realistically be met,” Kallas commented the positions approved by the European Union Affairs Committee. “The directive in itself is noble, and the direction taken with it is right,” the Chairman added.
According to another proposal, 3% of the total floor area of the buildings owned by public bodies has to be renovated annually, which means that 81% of buildings have to be renovated by 2030. Estonia agrees with the target, but wishes that the obligation would apply to the government sector instead of the public sector. The energy efficiency requirements of historical buildings were also spoken about at the sitting, and a question of whether they contradict the Heritage Conservation Act was raised. It was agreed that the heritage protection would have the last word, and it was underlined that Estonia would go to the negotiations with a wish that flexibility would be preserved in setting requirements.
Commenting the amendments to the Energy Efficiency Directive, Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Raimond Kaljulaid said that it was a step in the right direction. He also agrees with the wish that Member States retain flexibility in meeting the targets.
According to the proposal of the Renewable Energy Directive, the EU-level target for renewable energy will be 40% instead of 32% by 2030. “The Committee discussed if Estonia could support an even more ambitious target, because we could have the potential of using much more green energy in 2030,” Kaljulaid said. “In my opinion, we could have underlined in our positions that instead of the 40% target, Estonia supports the ambition of 60–65%.”
However, it was pointed out at the sitting that as our potential might not be realised, and that in spite of smaller target, we could still increase the share of renewable energy in Estonia to 60%, there was no need to ask for a larger target at the negotiations. The European Commission recommends Estonia to increase the national renewable energy target to 46% by 2030, and Estonia agrees to it. Currently, the general share of renewable energy in Estonia is 30% of energy.
In Kaljulaid’s opinion, the provision on biomass could also have been amended. Estonia supports strengthening of sustainability criteria for biomass and also the proposal that from 2026, support for plants producing only electricity from biomass will be phased out. “It could have been clarified in the positions, which kind of biomass and in which plants can be used after 2026, or, for example, waste wood in cogeneration plants,” Kaljulaid said.
As a result of discussion, the Committee remained on the opinion that it was not practical to include non-exhaustive lists in the positions, as the notion of biomass is wider that waste wood and biomass is used also elsewhere than cogeneration plants. Besides that, the term “waste wood” is not defined. It was found that such amendments might therefore rise more questions than answers.
As regards the Renewable Energy Directive proposal, it was also pointed out that it would encourage cooperation between states, which suited Estonia in every way. That would concern the wind farm planned to be constructed in cooperation with Latvia, or the Baltic Sea electricity grid development plan. There is also a proposal to establish a 2.6% target for the use of hydrogen and hydrogen-based synthetic fuels by 2030. Estonia does not support that because technologies are not advanced enough to make meeting this target realistic.
The European Union Affairs Committee decided to support the positions presented by the Government on the proposals on the Energy Efficiency Directive in accordance with the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee. The Committee decided to support the positions presented by the Government on the proposals on the Renewable Energy Directive in accordance with the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee, partially taking into account the opinion of the Environment Committee. Based on the opinion of the Environment Committee, the European Union Affairs Committee decided to underline the importance of preparing impact analyses.
The positions of the Government regarding the two initiatives were presented to the European Union Affairs Committee by Tauno Hilimon, Expert of the Energy Department and Liisa Mällo, Head of Renewable Energy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
This week, the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Major General Robert Glavaš, visited Estonia for the first time, where he met with the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Martin Herem.
“As small countries, we are united by similar challenges, so we had a good opportunity to share our experience in building up the Defence Forces and the Reserve Army,” said Lieutenant General Martin Herem, Commander of the Defence Forces.
During the visit, which began on Wednesday, the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces received an overview of the structure, structures, training, international operations and upcoming capability developments of the Estonian Defence Forces.
In addition, the general received a presentation on regional security, met with Chancellor Kusti Salmi at the Ministry of Defence and Brigadier General Riho Ühteg at the General Staff of the Defence League. Major General Glavaš laid a wreath on the Victory Column of the War of Independence in Tallinn.
“Estonia and Slovenia share many milestones. Both countries gained their independence in 1991 and therefore have a very good understanding of the each other’s security challenges,” said Major General Robert Glavaš, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
In addition, the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces visited the NATO Cyber Defence Cooperation Center in Tallinn and the 1st Infantry Brigade in Tapa, where he met with the Commander of the Brigade Colonel Andrus Merilo and the Commander of the NATO Battle Group, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Worth.
Major General Glavaš also visited the Estonian Defence industry company Milrem Robotics and got acquainted with the company’s management and production.
Like Estonia, Slovenia became a member of the European Union and NATO in 2004. Slovenia is a country half the size of Estonia, but almost twice as large in population.
At their meeting today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet Lamaña discussed how societies were overcoming the pandemic, and spoke about the challenges facing the European Union in combating the effects of climate change, and the joint response of the European Union and NATO to Russia’s growing aggression.
“At this moment, the whole Europe, and not only Eastern Europe or Ukraine, is facing a real threat,” Ratas underlined. “The threat is coming from Russia’s attempts to dismantle the European security architecture.” Ratas said that Europe had to stand firm, and for this it needed full coherence with its transatlantic partners, as well as unity and resolve among themselves. “We need to focus on Ukraine and double our efforts to support the country,” Ratas pointed out. “Ukraine is under a military and political pressure and is experiencing severe economic coercion. It is precisely here that the EU can bring concrete deliverables to the table.”
The President of the Riigikogu thanked Spain for their contribution to the security of the Baltic region and invited his Spanish counterpart to visit Estonia.
The Speaker of the Spanish Congress of Deputies said that the parliaments could cooperate more in promoting digital solutions.
Raivo Tamm, Chair of the Estonia-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group, who accompanies the President of the Riigikogu on the visit, gave an overview of the plans of the group. Member of the Riigikogu Sven Sester emphasised the importance of direct international contacts generally and in particular in the wider spreading of digital solutions.
The discussions at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera focused on digitalisation and potential cooperation between the two countries, as well as using of Estonia’s experience. The ways to achieve climate neutrality and reach the results that would contribute to the economic development of countries were also discussed.
At the meeting with Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies Pau Marí Klose and other MPs from different political groups, the security situation in Europe and the possibilities to help Ukraine and the Eastern partners politically, economically and in the field of defence were spoken about. The speakers emphasised the importance of the unanimity of the European Union in responding to the aggressor.
The Spanish colleagues expressed interest in Estonia’s experience regarding social integration. Both sides acknowledged the excellent cooperation in the missions in Mali and Mozambique as well as within the framework of Frontex.
In the afternoon, the President of the Riigikogu delivered a speech about the digital transition at the IE University in Madrid. He gave an overview of the e-governance services and Estonia’s experience in developing electronic services.
President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas is on a visit to Madrid, Spain. Today he will meet with President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet Lamaña. Besides bilateral relations, the issues relating to security of Europe will be discussed at the meeting.
During the visit, Ratas will also meet with Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera, with whom he will speak of green transition and digital transition. They will discuss energy prices and energy security as well. The meeting with Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies Pau Marí Klose will focus on the European security architecture and relations with Russia.
In the afternoon, the President of the Riigikogu will deliver a speech about digital transition at the Private University of Madrid.
The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by members of the Riigikogu Raivo Tamm and Sven Sester.
At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu discussed the Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act and Other Acts, and decided to suspend the second reading of the Bill on the motion of the Social Affairs Committee so that the factions could submit motions to amend.
The Social Affairs Committee has proposed to continue the proceedings of the Bill on 7 February and to submit it for passing on 9 February. The deadline for of motions to amend is 31 January. The Committee will convene for an extraordinary sitting on 1 February.
The Riigikogu supported the motions to amend made in the Social Affairs Committee between two readings, which ensure that the support paid as a temporary measure to mitigate the rise in energy prices cannot be attached to cover debts and that the support is not regarded as income in the payment of the unemployment insurance benefit.
The Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act and Other Acts (475 SE), initiated by the Government, has been submitted to solve the problems that arose during the implementation of the State Pension Insurance Act and to ensure legal clarity. The Funded Pensions Act will also be amended. The amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act will ensure continuation of the payment of survivor’s pension to 18–24-year-old students in the month of September regardless of whether the information on their studies has been entered in the Estonian Education Information System or not. Under the current rules, the survivor’s pension for the previous month is paid in arrears in October, but this results in a one-month period of no income for the pension recipients.
In the future, the pensioners living in foreign countries can prove that they are alive also through an electronic channel. Under the current rules, they have to submit a written document approved by an administrative agency of their country of residence or an Estonian foreign mission. The Bill also provides that the time of being a member of a management or controlling body of a legal person will be included in the pensionable service if the social tax has been paid for this period. According to the amendments to the Funded Pensions Act, the persons with incapacity for work who have retired from the 2nd pillar can start collecting money in the 2nd pillar again or suspend receiving the pension if they have not yet attained the old age pension age but their capacity for work has been restored. Currently they do not have such a right.
The amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act are planned to enter into force in 1 June 2022 and the amendments to the Funded Pensions Act on 1 January 2023.
During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) and Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
Close to 1400 soldiers will take part in the annual Winter Camp exercise on the Central Training Area near Tapa, testing their infantry and armour capabilities against the harsh winter conditions in Estonia.
Demonstrating winter interoperability under the command of the 1st Infantry Brigade, British, French and Estonian soldiers will work alongside one another across a range of armour, infantry, planning, engineering and artillery scenarios.
Members of the UK-led Battlegroup will this year also be joined by soldiers from the British Army’s Parachute and Yorkshire Regiments, who will learn to train alongside armour in a winter environment.
“Since our arrival in September, we have placed great emphasis on increasing the Battlegroup’s capability and developing integration and interoperability with our allies,” said Lt Col Simon Worth, Commanding Officer of the eFP Estonia Battlegroup. “The Battlegroup has completed a series of exercises to prepare us for operating in the cold weather environment, which allows us to deploy on Winter Camp alongside the Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade and demonstrate the significant progress we have made.”
During the exercise NATO soldiers will be conducting live firing, anti-tank exercises, infantry patrols and engineering tasks, before culminating in a ‘force on force’ attack and defend training serial, with Estonian colleagues from the Scouts Battalion and the Estonian Defence League posing as the adversary.
This year, exercise Winter Camp will also include co-ordination between ground and air forces each day. F-16 fighter jets from the Belgian Air Force, currently stationed at Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of the NATO Air Policing mission, will provide the air support, enhancing the training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, whose role is to direct actions of the aircraft and call in airstrikes.
“Fighting force on force with soldiers from Scouts Battalion and Defence League while at the same time being tested by Estonian winter and difficult terrain will provide a unique learning opportunity for the battlegroup,” said commander of 1st Infantry Brigade colonel Andrus Merilo. “Winter Camp will definitely develop United Kingdom, French and Estonian soldiers´ and their commanders’ skills. They will practice how to maintain combat capabilities of personnel and fighting vehicles and learn how to conduct offensive and defensive actions in winter conditions in the most effective way.”
“After several joint exercises, Winter Camp is the culmination of the French Combat Team’s participation to the eFP mission in Estonia,” said Lt Col Nicolas, Deputy Commanding Officer of the eFP Estonia Battlegroup. “It is a real opportunity for our soldiers to perfect their tactical skills in a demanding winter environment, as well as to strengthen their interoperability work with our NATO allies.”
As the largest winter exercise for the Battlegroup, it will begin on 29th January and is scheduled to run until the 6th of February.
NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Estonia is currently led by the Royal Tank Regiment from the United Kingdom, with France and Denmark providing forces on a rotational basis. Iceland also contributes to the eFP. The eFP Battlegroups in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are led by Canada, Germany and the US respectively and all NATO Battlegroups have been integrated into their host nations’ brigades to ensure maximum cohesion between Allied forces.
NordenBladet – Estonian identity verification startup Veriff has just raised a $100m Series C, making it the Baltic country’s sixth unicorn.
The round was co-led by Tiger Global and Alkeon, with participation from existing investors IVP and Accel. The round values the company at $1.5bn.
Despite having a population of just 1.3m, Estonia has given birth to five other unicorns — Skype, Wise (or TransferWise, as it used to be called), Pipedrive, Bolt and Playtech.
Veriff says that the company will use the fresh funding for R&D and hiring. The company currently has 360 employees from 46 nationalities.
CEO and founder Kaarel Kotkas said he would be spending more time in the US going forward: “Me being in the US lets me build up the team there, [while] keeping the same culture and being there personally for our bigger customers.
“The biggest challenge will be to keep on scaling at the same speed without losing the great culture of delivering fast, and not being a big enough company to allow ourselves to get slow.”
