NordenBladet —

President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas held a video meeting with Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Elżbieta Witek today. Ratas expressed support for Poland in countering the hybrid attacks organised by the Belarusian regime on the external border of the European Union and NATO.

“We stand in solidarity with Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, we will continue to support them in the crisis situation and we will use all diplomatic tools to stop the attack,” Ratas said. 

Ratas assured that if Poland needed help or support, Estonia was ready to assist in every way. “Estonia is observing very closely the hybrid attack instigated by the Belarusian regime on the external border of the European Union and NATO,” Ratas noted.

“Unity and solidarity are the most important values today,” the President of the Riigikogu underlined. In his opinion, the Member States of the European Union have to find ways and means for protecting their external borders more effectively and for financing this better.

At the meeting, Marshal Witek gave an overview of the current situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and thanked the EU and NATO member states for their support. She said that many countries had offered every possible assistance to Poland. Witek considered it important that all countries of the region used the same language.

Yesterday, a Joint Statement was drafted on the initiative of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This Statement will open for signature by the Chairs of the European Union Affairs Committees of the parliaments until Friday.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

The Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and Sejm of the Republic of Poland held a video meeting today afternoon to discuss the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, and made a joint statement.

“We, Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and Sejm of the Republic of Poland unequivocally condemn and oppose the triggering and escalation of a crisis on the Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian borders with Belarus, by Alexander Lukashenka’s regime. These borders are also the external borders of the European Union and NATO. This is an unprecedented phenomenon, organized top-down by Belarusian authorities to destabilise the situation in our countries and the European Union as a whole.

It is unacceptable to use people, citizens of third countries, as human shields, for cynical political games aimed at diverting the attention of the Belarusian society from illegally exercised power. Continuation of these activities will inevitably lead to a serious humanitarian crisis for which the authorities in Minsk will be held responsible. It is disturbing that Belarusian authorities are finding support for their actions in the disinformation campaign conducted by the Russian Federation.

We call on authorities of the European Union and all Member States to take immediate action to introduce new, serious, and broader sanctions against people and institutions contributing to this crisis.

We support the decision of the Polish authorities to temporarily close the Kuźnica Białostocka-Bruzgi border crossing to tackle illegal attempts to cross the border, with support from Belarusian services.

We call on all states and international institutions mandated to do so to continuously pressure Belarusian authorities to end the crisis as soon as possible.”

The statement has been signed by:
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia Marko Mihhelson
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Rihards Kols
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Žygimantas Pavilionis
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Marek Kuchciński

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

At today’s plenary sitting, the Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill that provides for the requirements for the technology and equipment used by toll service providers and sets out the rights and obligations of both service providers and users.

The Bill on Amendments to the Traffic Act (414 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose into Estonian law the European Union directive that provides for making the payment of road fees within the European Union more convenient. At the same time, a regulation for cross-border information exchange for cases of failure to pay a road fee will be established. In Estonia, road toll is not collected through automated identification, but the directive needs to be transposed to the minimum mandatory extent, that is, in respect of the provisions concerning the right of European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) providers to register their activities in every EU Member State. Therefore, every Member State must provide, in accordance with the directive, for the requirements for the technology and equipment used, and set out the rights and obligations of both service providers and users.

Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.

A Bill passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the European Union Common Agricultural Policy Implementation Act (439 SE), initiated by the Government, will establish the basis for the implementation of the measure activity “Support for the development of new advisors” in the Estonian Rural Development Plan 2014–2020. At the same time, on the basis of the transitional regulation, several deadlines relating to the implementation of the measures of the Estonian Rural Development Plan will be postponed by two years.

A Bill was dropped from the proceedings

The Bill on Amendments to § 8¹ of the Political Parties Act (disclosure the lists of members of political parties) (416 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, was intended to put an end to the disclosure of the names of people who are members of political parties. The explanatory memorandum to the Bill pointed out that the disclosure of the names was not reasonable or justified because membership of a political party may affect a person’s prospects in the labour market.

Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 48 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 16 voted against. Thus, the motion was supported and the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the Bill on Amendments to the Preschool Child Care Institutions Act (415 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction and Member of the Riigikogu Raimond Kaljulaid, was postponed to tomorrow’s sitting. The aim of the Bill is to ensure a free nursery place to every child. According to the Bill, parents’ obligation to pay the nursery fee will be eliminated, and the relevant cost will remain to be borne by the state.

Before discussing the items on the agenda, members of the Riigikogu asked numerous questions about remote-participation sittings. Then the Riigikogu decided with 62 votes in favour and 23 against that plenary sittings would be held by remote attendance from 10 to 25 November. Members of the parliament will be able to attend plenary sittings both in the session hall and by electronic means.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

At the beginning of the sitting, the new Minister of Culture Tiit Terik took the oath of office.

The Riigikogu approved its extensive agenda for this working week.

No deliberation of Bills or replies to interpellations have been scheduled for Monday’s sitting.

At Tuesday’s sitting, one Bill will be at the second reading: the Bill on Amendments to the Traffic Act (414 SE).

Three Bills will be at the first reading: the Bill on Amendments to § 8¹ of the Political Parties Act (disclosure the lists of members of political parties) (416 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the European Union Common Agricultural Policy Implementation Ac (439 SE) and the Bill on Amendments to the Preschool Child Care Institutions Act (415 SE).

At Wednesday’s sitting, two Bills will be at the third reading: the Bill on Amendments to the Commercial Code and the Accounting Act (digital solutions in company law) (394 SE) and the Bill on Amendments to the Law of Obligations Act and the Consumer Protection Act (transposition of the Digital Content Directive, the Sale of Goods Directive, and the Enforcement and Modernisation Directive) (404 SE).

Six Bills will be at the second reading: the Bill on the Approval of the Amendments to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail and to its Appendices (386 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Building Code (395 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Employment Contracts Act and the Taxation Act (403 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Public Information Act (409 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Covered Bonds Act and Other Acts (407 SE) and the he Bill on Amendments to the State Budget for 2021 Act (431 SE).

First reading – 14 Bills and draft Resolutions: the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Consolidated Report of 2019 of the State (432 OE), the Bill on Amendments to the State Export Guarantees Ac (423 SE), e Bill on Amendments to the Consumer Protection Ac (424 SE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force” (444 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Training Mission in Mozambique” (445 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the International Military Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’” (446 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission in Iraq” (447 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Military Mission EUNAVFOR Med/Irini” (448 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Readiness Units” (449 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Training Mission and the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali” (450 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Post-Conflict Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Syria” (451 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in France’s Military Operation Task Force Takuba in Mali and Niger (former name “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in France’s Military Operation Barkhane in Mali”) (452 OE), the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in Another International Military Operation Led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its Member State, the European Union or the UN upon the First Contribution thereto” (453 OE) and the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon” (454 OE).

The agenda also includes the overview of the use and preservation of state assets in 2020-2021 by Auditor General Janar Holm.

No deliberation of Bills has been scheduled for Thursday’s sitting.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

Today, the Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly (BA) participates in the 40th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 27th Baltic Council, where an overview of the achievements of Lithuania’s presidency is presented and the Resolution of the Session will be adopted. At the end of the session, Lithuania will pass the presidency on to Latvia, and the new President of the BA will be elected.

Head of the Estonian Delegation to the BA Aadu Must said that the Lithuanian presidency took place during complicated times when, besides the coronavirus problem that was already demanding lots of attention and work, it became necessary to face a hybrid attack overnight. “First Lithuania, and shortly afterwards Latvia as well became victims of an attack by Lukashenka’s regime, when their borders were literally flooded with people who had arrived from third countries at the connivance of the Belarusian authorities. We understand the effort dealing with it all has required from our neighbours, and it is all the more gratifying to note that Lithuania has not cut any corners in its presidency of the Baltic Assembly, and the work of the Committees and the Presidium has proceeded as planned. I would like to express great gratitude and recognition to Lithuania and to the President of the BA Andrius Kupčinskas,” Must said.

Deputy Head of the Estonian BA delegation Sven Sester highlighted energy as one of the important topics of the Assembly’s work. “From the point of view of security and also people’s daily lives, synchronising power networks with Europe and disconnecting them from Russia is becoming increasingly important. This is not easy, and should be done by 2025. Lithuania has done an excellent job in keeping that issue in focus during its presidency of the BA, and our three countries will certainly complete this major joint task without any problems. At today’s meetings, we will also discuss what the electricity trade in the Baltic States will be like after 2025,” Sester said.

President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas will also deliver a speech at the BA Session. He thinks that in complicated times, there is no place for managing on your own. In his opinion, it is time to recall again how we supported each other through difficult times, striving for freedom and ready to do our utmost for a common goal. Ratas said that our common important areas of cooperation were security, the digital transition and environmental protection, as well as fight against hybrid attacks.

At the 40th Session of the BA and the sitting of the 27th Baltic Council, the report of Lithuania’s presidency will be presented, cooperation in reopening the region will be discussed, and energy security and the role of the Baltic States in resolving security issues on the external borders of the EU will be spoken about. The Joint Statement of the Baltic Council will be signed, and the BA Resolution and the Final Document of the 40th Session will be adopted. At the Session, Lithuania will pass the presidency of the BA on to Latvia.

Today’s session of the Baltic Assembly is attended by Deputy Head of the Estonian delegation Sven Sester and members of the delegation Erki Savisaar, Helle-Moonika Helme, Andres Metsoja and Kalvi Kõva.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is on a visit to Belfast and London. The visit will last until Friday. At the meetings, the problems relating to Brexit and implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol as well as their possible solutions, and the issues of bilateral relations will be discussed. The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee will also examine the situation in the customs offices on the border of Northern Ireland.

“The United Kingdom is a key ally and partner for Estonia, and they have made a significant contribution to ensuring our security,” Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said. “Now, when Great Britain is no longer a member of the European Union, it is especially important to continue the earlier excellent cooperation and find ways for strengthening it. Let it be even closer partnership in business diplomacy, e-residency, cybersecurity, green issues or in other fields,” he added.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee explained that the aim of the visit was to strengthen the cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, and the colleagues from the UK were expected to visit Estonia soon.

The Estonian delegation will start the visit in Belfast, where they will meet with the representatives of the Executive Office of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and the civil society. They will also visit the customs offices of Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, the visit will continue in London with meetings with Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat, Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood and members of the committees. It is also planned to meet with the representatives of the Scotland House in London and Ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom João Vale de Almeida.

On Thursday, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee will meet with former Prime Minister Theresa May and representatives of think tanks. The visit will end with meeting with the Estonians living in London.

The delegation consists of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Mailis Reps and Raivo Tamm. Vice-President of the Riigikogu Hanno Pevkur will join the delegation at meetings in London.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

The discussions at the meeting of President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil today focused on strengthening bilateral relations in the fields of energy and digitalisation. Economic cooperation, defence cooperation, green transition and energy security were also spoken about.  

Ratas said that the Czech Republic was a close partner and a like-minded ally for Estonia both in the European Union and in NATO. President of the Riigikogu thanked the Czech Republic for their contribution to NATO Baltic air policing. He recalled that in 2019, the Czech forces were present in Ämari Air Base, and expressed hope that they would return soon. “The cooperation between our countries has been long, this December we will celebrate the centenary of our diplomatic relations,” Ratas pointed out.

Energy security, green transition and the measures to counter the sudden rise of energy prices were discussed in greater detail at the meeting. Ratas emphasised that the rise of gas and electricity prices must not prevent the achievement of the green targets. According to him, Estonia’s positions regarding the green package “Fit for 55” are being drawn up. “The transition should be fair and not take place at the expense of people,” Ratas underlined, and added that the synchronisation of the Baltic energy networks with those of West Europe was also under way.  

“Estonia has formulated the target of climate neutrality by 2050, and decided that production of energy and oil from oil shale must end by 2040 at the latest,” Ratas said. “This will be a time for transformation in order to find new energy sources and to solve the social-economic issues as well. Estonia sees solar and wind energy as alternatives, and is ready also to consider taking into use of nuclear energy, because this is a potential alternative to fossil fuels.” Ratas admitted that it was definitely necessary to hold a debate on the adoption of nuclear energy because the issues relating to financing and also the emotions of people needed to be resolved.  

Both speakers acknowledged that there was still unused potential in bilateral relations, and agreed that the topics relating to energy and digitalisation would be dealt with further in the framework of parliamentary cooperation. According to the President of the Czech Senate, the interest of their entrepreneurs in cooperation is great.

Chairman of the Estonia-Czech Republic Parliamentary Friendship Group, member of the European Union Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee Aivar Sõerd also participated in the meeting. He highlighted the close and excellent parliamentary relations between the two countries. Speaking of climate neutrality, Sõerd remarked that achieving these targets would provide opportunities for innovation, and it would also be possible to apply for support from the Recovery Plan for Europe.

This morning, President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas and President of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil opened the Czech-Estonian business forum at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In his opening address, Ratas called on focusing on bilateral economic cooperation and to look for wider possibilities for cooperation in digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

Tomorrow, Miloš Vystrčil and the delegation accompanying him will visit e-Estonia Briefing Centre. After the visit to Estonia, the President of the Czech Senate will go on a visit to Lithuania.

Photos of the meeting (Erik Peinar, Riigikogu)

Source: Parliament of Estonia