NordenBladet —European Union heads of state and government agreed on a target of reducing EU-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. Last night, the Council also reached a final agreement on the EU’s next seven-year budget and recovery facility.
According to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, setting a new EU-wide target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is very important to keep a more reasonable pace for achieving climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. The Council will return to this issue in the spring to provide further guidelines before the European Commission presents legislative proposals in June 2021.
“We need to make the green turn in a smart, affordable and realistic way and it must become a strategy for economic sustainability and growth. The transition must also consider the specificities of countries and industries, but also the current dependence on fossil fuels. It is important to ensure equal competition with producers from countries outside the EU,” said the Prime Minister.
According to Ratas, it is very important for 30 percent of the joint funds of the future long-term budget and the recovery facility to be directed to investments necessary to achieve the climate targets. A total of 3.3 billion euros has been allocated to Estonia for activities that reduce environmental and climate impact. This also includes 340 million euros of support from the new Fair Transition Fund, this support is primarily necessary to achieve changes in Ida-Virumaa. Last week, the government decided on specific directions to support the green turn and technological transition throughout the economy.
Estonia’s national target by 2030 is to reduce greenhouse gases by 70%. According to the data of 2019, Estonia has already reduced emissions by 62% compared to 1990. Despite this, Estonia’s carbon footprint is the fourth largest, per capita, in Europe, which is why we have to continue working on the issue.
Ratas welcomed the final agreement on the European Union’s next long-term budget and recovery facility and revealed hope for the necessary procedures being completed quickly so that the budget can be implemented from the start of 2021. “This is a very important agreement for the people of Estonia and all other Member States as well. It will provide the people and economy of both Estonia and other European countries with additional confidence for the future and significant support for overcoming the crisis,” the Prime Minister emphasised.
“The year 2021, when the new seven-year budget period also begins, must be the year for the recovery and revitalisation of the European economy, as the health crisis will be alleviated and a vaccine will arrive. New investments and reforms will help us to revitalise the European economy, secure jobs for our people and create a greener and more digital future,” said Ratas.
Yesterday, the Council discussed joint efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed recent announcements on the development of operational vaccines and the European Commission’s work to secure the vaccines for EU Member States. State authorities and the healthcare system are making preparations to start vaccination as soon as the vaccines arrive in Estonia. The first vaccines may receive EU marketing authorisation by the end of the year, and deliveries to Estonia are expected in January.
The Council notes in its conclusions that the arrival of vaccines does not mean an immediate end to the pandemic and that the epidemiological situation in Europe remains concerning.
Yesterday, EU heads of state and government approved proposals on how to further strengthen the strategic transatlantic relationship with the United States, based on common values and interests.
The Council called on Turkey to ease tensions and decided to impose further restrictive measures against illegal drilling activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Council also decided to keep the economic sanctions against Russia in effect for the next six months.
Today, on 11 December, heads of state discussed EU relations with its southern neighbours, security issues and the fight against terrorism. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen provided the heads of Member States with an overview of negotiations over future relations being held with the United Kingdom.
The Euro Summit will also be held today, focusing on subsequent steps to be taken by the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union.
Estonia’s positions are being represented in the Council by Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, since Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will remain in self-isolation until Saturday, as he came into contact with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
NordenBladet —Yesterday, Prime Minister Ratas held a telephone conversation with his Lithuanian colleague, Ingrida Šimonytė, to discuss bilateral relations, Baltic cooperation and the COVID-19 crisis.
‘Lithuania is a great friend and a strategic partner for Estonia, with whom we share common interests and goals. For us, it is important to jointly overcome the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged us this year, in a manner that would support all those who have suffered the most. Preparations for vaccination are underway everywhere, but we need one last effort to reduce infections and support the economy’, said the Prime Minister. ‘I wish all the best to Lithuania in their efforts to contain the pandemic’.
Ratas confirmed that cooperation with the new Head of Government of Lithuania will certainly be close and productive. ‘We have clear common goals: we must vigorously continue with the major projects that we have jointly led. During the European Council meeting, held in July, we received confirmation of additional funding for Rail Baltic. Now, we must swiftly put these funds to use, to be able to finish the route connecting the three Baltic States on time. In the field of energy, our main aim is to quickly continue the synchronisation of Baltic energy grids with Central Europe, for which the European Union allocated EUR 720 million’, the Prime Minister added.
In addition, Ratas and Šimonytė discussed the plans of the new Lithuanian Government.
This year, Estonia is the holder of the Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers and the leader of Baltic cooperation. A video meeting of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Prime Ministers, to summarises this year’s events, will be held on 21 December.
NordenBladet — Riigikogu discussed “The green transition – both a challenge and an opportunity for Estonia“ as a the matter of significant national importance today; it was initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction.
Reports were heard from the Chairman of the Environment Committee Erki Savisaar, the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, and the Coordinator of the Just Transition Platform of the Association of Local Authorities of Ida-Viru County Hardi Murula.
Erki Savisaar described the green transition as a huge challenge for Estonia, but also as an extraordinary opportunity to do away with old dependencies and achieve a complete energy autarky. “By nature, green transition is a strategy aimed at bringing about a structural change in the economy and social organisation,” he said. “This strategy should make Europe energy-autarkic and environmentally sustainable.”
The Chairman of the Environment Committee said that the green transition starts on the local level through local actions, and referred to the example of the Farm to Fork strategy that emphasises the need to support small and organic businesses, and the significance of short supply chains. “The strategy serves a double purpose – on the one hand, a cleaner nationally produced food, and on the other, food security. Our ability to produce food and raw food products is vital because we depend on it daily.”
Another important aspect is circular economy, i.e. increasing resource recovery, including reducing refuse, waste, and pollution. He identified two major questions that need to be solved in Estonia to ensure the functioning of circular economy – biodegradable waste and plastic. He also thinks that a balance should be found between reusable and singe-use packaging, which should be as adaptable as possible to circular use or recycling.
Thirdly, Savisaar highlighted energy, which needs to be more sustainable and carbon neutral. While transport has been dependent on oil and power and heat generation on oil shale, he would like to see these replaced with sun, wind, hydrogen, methanol, biofuels, and – for good measure – waste. He stressed that this did not mean closing down manufacturing or power plants with massive carbon emissions but that it was possible to capture this carbon.
“Over the last years, the price of CO2 has reached such a high point that the power produced from oil shale is no longer competitive on the market. The forecasts show that the price will go up further, and faster than before. This means that we must definitely find new methods for generating power. However, in practice, we are still missing a functional solution to oil shale industry,” he said.
Savisaar concluded with a few remarks on hydrogen. “On the one hand, hydrogen is clearly a fuel for the future, but on the other hand, it is also an excellent way to store energy,” he said. He emphasised that Estonia could contribute to hydrogen energy, especially by developing and testing a complete system. He explained that the next year’s budget had planned EUR 5 million for the purpose, with another at least EUR 25 million added in the near future. “Over the next five years, I would like us to reach a level where at least 25% of transport and energy in Estonia is based on hydrogen,” he added.
In her report, Kadri Simson presented the European Union Green Deal, new initiatives, and the Just Transition Fund.
Simson said that the purpose of the Green Deal was to turn Europe into the first climate neutral continent by 2050. “This is a growth strategy which covers all the fields, beginning with transport, environment, health care, and life in rural areas. However, the most important aspect of the Green Deal is energy, because up to 75% of the current CO2 emissions in the European Union come from energy,” Simson said.
She stressed that the Green Deal would remain a long-term priority of the European Commission even regardless of the crisis because the need to clean up European economy and make it more competitive has not gone anywhere. “As we are in a situation where the economy needs a pick-me-up and we can do this through additional investments, the conditions are more than ripe for the green transition,” she said. “Studies show that renewable energy creates more jobs and added values than injecting funds into chains that start with fossil fuels.”
The Commissioner for Energy iterated the clear recommendation of the European Commission to the Member States to use 30% of the EU long-term budget as well as the new recovery package for climate goals related investments.
She pointed to Ida-Viru County as being by far in the most precarious situation in the Estonian context, as it depends largely on the oil shale industry. Simson explained that the region would avoid a decline with the help of the new Just Transition Fund that offers assistance to regions that depend on fossil fuels mining or industries with large CO2 missions.
Simson confirmed that Estonia’s share of the total EUR 17.5 billion is EUR 340 million, with additional resources for technical assistance. She hastened to add that Estonia would receive the highest per capita support in Europe. “These funds can be used in Ida-Viru County, preferably to retrain and train the working age population so that they would find employment in some other field whose ecological footstep is smaller. These funds can and must be used to create new jobs as well,” she said.
As the latest developmental directions in European energy, Simson highlighted the higher emission reduction goals of the EU for 2030, and the strategies for integrating energy systems, hydrogen energy, renewed methane energy, off-shore renewable energy, and wave of renovations. “For us – Estonia and the countries around the Baltic Sea more broadly – wind energy could very potentially give a massive advantage in cheaply producing hydrogen,” she said and added that hydrogen was also an excellent method to store renewable energy or electricity.
Hardi Murula introduced the possibilities of green transition in Ida-Viru County.
He explained that the population numbers of Ida-Viru County have significantly decreased over the recent years, as have the per capita relative wellbeing and relative GDP. “We really treasure our people and we want to maintain their wellbeing, help them find motivation to remain in our County, and contribute to the transition,” Murula said.
Although the oil shale industry might not play the biggest role in the County’s economy in absolute employment figures, the industry does pay the highest salaries and does provide the largest added value. “If we remove this one industry from the equation, all the others stand to suffer as well,” Murula said. “We hope that the transition will increase our share in the national wealth of Estonia, raise our salaries, and ensure a sufficient budget for our local governments to accept these challenges; if not, it would be a clear failure.”
Murula stressed that the transition must be spread out over a longer period and follow an agreed plan. He also said that it was not possible to close and replace the existing structures overnight. A new alternative and the relevant business sector should be built up next to the existing one; after that, the regulations and the changes in the economic environment would contribute to reducing the importance of the oil shale sector in the economy of the County.
Speaking of the Just Transition Fund, Murula emphasised that 90% of its assistance should be directed towards the development of the business sector, including research and development, and 10% into the living environment. He also thinks that Ida-Viru County should receive a guaranteed regional loan, which would help to develop the business sector. Murula also mentioned the need to guarantee a specification in the regional labour taxes through the national level regulations as a way of developing entrepreneurship and ensuring wellbeing and economic growth.
Siim Kiisler (Isamaa), Dmitri Dmitrijev (Centre Party), Katri Raik (Social Democratic Party), Yoko Alender (Reform Party), Imre Sooäär (Centre Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa), Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform Party), and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.
NordenBladet — Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed recent regional and international developments and the issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament Eduskunta at a video conference today.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa emphasised the value of the cooperation between the two committees. “The annual meetings of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Estonian and Finnish parliaments have become a nice tradition and an important means for developing the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
Eesmaa gave the Finnish parliamentarians an overview of the latest political developments in Estonia, including the adoption of the 2021 budget, and the long-term strategic documents “Estonia 2035” and the Estonian Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030. He also highlighted Estonia’s applying for observer status in the Arctic Council, and spoke of the organisation of the work of the Riigikogu and the Foreign Affairs Committee in the context of the pandemic.
Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson gave an insight into the new Foreign Policy Development Plan. He pointed out that the central topics of the plan were security policy, international relations, foreign trade and trade policy, maintaining relations with the Estonians living abroad and strong foreign service. Mihkelson added that in the last 30 years, the shaping of Estonia’s foreign policy had been based on strong consensus, and this had also been the basis for drafting the new Foreign Policy Development Plan.
The Deputy Chairman said that in spite of the pandemic and the restrictions it had caused, it was necessary to maintain the strong and continuous cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. Mihkelson thinks that Estonia’s aspiration to become an observer state of the Arctic Council is an important opportunity for cooperation.
Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Raivo Tamm, Imre Sooäär, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Raimond Kaljulaid and Mihhail Lotman also participated in the video conference.
NordenBladet —At their meeting, the government approved an order on the new national restrictions and the restrictions in Ida-Viru County. In Ida-Viru County, the restrictions will take effect on Saturday, 12 December, and the national restrictions will take effect on Monday, 14 December.
Restrictions in force in Ida-Viru County from 12 December to 3 January (inclusive)
Entertainment and accommodation facilities, museums, and exhibitions must be closed to customers and visitors. The restriction on accommodation services does not apply to people directly involved in resolving the emergency situation, such as doctors and nurses who have gone to work in Ida-Viru County from other parts of Estonia.
All sports facilities must be closed to customers, including sports clubs, saunas, spas, swimming pools, water centres, and swimming pools. The restriction does not apply to professional sports activities taking place in the competitive system of sports governing bodies, including members and candidates of adult and youth national teams and big league teams, activities related to the country’s military defence and internal security, and people with special needs.
All sales and service halls of catering companies must be closed to customers. Food takeaway and related courier service will be allowed.
Both outdoor and indoor public meetings and events, including conferences, theatre performances, concerts, and cinema screenings are not allowed.
Churches and other religious venues may remain open under the current requirements.
It is prohibited to conduct youth work, hobby activities and education, refresher training, and refresher courses. These activities may only be continued as individual activities or at a distance. The restriction does not apply to activities related to the country’s military defence and internal security, as well as to people with special needs.
Exercise and training in public indoor areas are not allowed. Contactless individual activities and training are allowed outdoors, either alone or with a trainer. The restriction does not apply to professional sports activities taking place in the competitive system of sports governing bodies, including members and candidates of adult and youth national teams and big league teams, activities related to the country’s military defence and internal security, and people with special needs.
National restrictions in force from 14 December
Outdoor and indoor sports
Only contactless individual activities and training or activities and training done with e-solutions with a trainer are allowed indoors. The 2 + 2 rule applies and a mask must be worn. The obligation to wear a mask does not apply to children under the age of 12 or if it is not possible to wear a mask due to health reasons or the nature of work and activity. Shared items must be disinfected after each use.
Outdoor sports are allowed in groups of up to 10, plus a trainer.
The restriction does not apply to professional sports activities taking place in the competitive system of sports governing bodies, including members and candidates of adult and youth national teams and big league teams, activities related to the country’s military defence and internal security, and people with special needs.
Sports and exercise events are not allowed until 3 January 2021 (inclusive).
Sports competitions
Until January 3 (inclusive), sports competitions are allowed only for big league teams participating in the competitive system of sports governing bodies, professional athletes, and members and candidates of the Estonian national adult and youth team. Spectators are not allowed.
The 2 + 2 rule applies, but not to the competitors during the competition. A mask must be worn indoors. The above exceptions apply to wearing a mask. The organiser of the competition must provide disinfectants.
Youth work, hobby activities and education, refresher training and refresher courses
Youth work, refresher training, and refresher courses are only allowed at a distance or in contactless individual activities and training, which may be done with a supervisor. The 2 + 2 rule applies. A mask must be worn indoors, subject to the above exceptions. Shared items must be disinfected after each use.
Up to 10 people can take part in outdoor hobby education and hobby activities, plus a supervisor or coach.
The restriction does not apply to activities related to the country’s military defence and internal security, as well as to people with special needs. These restrictions do not apply to the Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre.
Education
Until 31 December 2020, the study buildings of general education schools, vocational education institutions, institutions of professional higher education, and universities will be closed. In exceptional cases, distance learning may be conducted at the decision of the school. Personal consultations, olympiads, internships, and examinations and tests may also be carried out exceptionally and at the discretion of the school (compliance must be ensured with the following requirements: 2 + 2 rule, wearing masks indoors with the above exceptions, availability of disinfectants).
Contact teaching can take place for students with special educational needs.
Kindergartens and childcare institutions will remain open.
The restrictions do not apply to institutions and schools for children with special needs.
The Government Communication Unit will publish the order and the explanatory memorandum on the website kriis.ee.
At today’s meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik introduced the pre-purchase agreement of COVID-19 vaccine between the European Commission and the pharmaceutical company Moderna. It is one of seven pre-purchase agreements for the European Union’s vaccine portfolio that the government decided to join last week. State authorities and the health care system are preparing to start vaccination as soon as the vaccines arrive in Estonia. The first vaccines may receive an EU marketing authorization by the end of the year, and the first deliveries arrive in Estonia in January.
Last week, the members of the government gave their approval to joining all seven pre-purchase agreements with vaccine manufacturers in the joint procurement process of the European Union. “The government received an overview of the COVID-19 pre-purchase agreement between the European Commission and pharmaceutical company Moderna. The common vaccine portfolio of the European Union helps to mitigate the risks in case the development, launch or production of a vaccine should be delayed and ensure that vaccination can start in Estonia at the same time as in other European Union countries, “said Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik. “Both public authorities and the healthcare system are preparing to be ready for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the begging of next year, so we can start vaccinating as soon as possible.”
Estonia has now signed agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers AstraZeneca, Jannsen Pharmaceutica NV, Pfizer / BioNTech, Curevac and Moderna. In the joint procurement of the European Union, the European Commission has also entered into an agreement with the vaccine manufacturer Sanofi, which Estonia can join later. Negotiations are also ongoing with the vaccine manufacturer Novavax. With the AstraZeneca contract, Estonia purchases COVID-19 vaccine for approx. 600,000 people, Jannsen Pharmaceutica NV for approx. 300,000 people, with the Pfizer / BioNTech contract for approx. 300,000 people, with the Curevac contract for approx. 330,000 people, with the Moderna contract for approx. 117 000 people.
According to the agreements, the vaccines will be delivered to the Member States after the vaccine has been granted a marketing authorization in the European Union. Estonia has an agreement with vaccine manufacturers that vaccines will be delivered to the Health Board, which will ensure the necessary conditions for storing vaccines (incl. particularly low temperatures and compliance with cold chain requirements). Estonia organizes the domestic distribution of vaccines to vaccination points in accordance with the vaccine distribution plan being prepared. Transport shall be ensured in such a way that it is not necessary to create special storage conditions at the vaccination points. Even the most pretentious vaccines can be stored for five days under normal conditions.
“Vaccines will gradually arrive in Estonia over several quarters. Already in the beginning of the summer, we mapped the risk groups for whom we want to enable vaccination as a matter of priority, “said Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik. “These are, first and foremost, health and care workers, people working in healthcare institutions, residents of care institutions, the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases, providers of vital services. There are slightly more than 300,000 people in the COVID-19 risk group in Estonia. After that, it is planned to make vaccination available to all Estonian residents who wish to vaccinate. ”
The necessary conditions for the storage of vaccines are provided by the Health Board. Preparations for the storage and transport of vaccines to vaccination points and for the organization of vaccination (including training of vaccinators) are ongoing. “In order to organize vaccination, we will primarily use the systems used also today – hospitals, nursing homes, family doctor centers,” added Minister Kiik.
Pfizer and BioNTech have applied to the European Medicines Agency for a conditional marketing authorization for COVID-19 BNT162b2. If the data provided provide clear and substantial evidence of the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency will evaluate the vaccine at an extraordinary meeting scheduled for 29 December. However, this deadline may change during the data evaluation and will be notified by the European Medicines Agency.
Moderna Biotech Spain has applied to the European Medicines Agency for a conditional marketing authorization for Moderna COVID-19 (mRNA1273). If the data provided provide unequivocal and fundamental evidence of the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine, the Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use will evaluate the vaccine at an extraordinary meeting scheduled for 12 January. However, this deadline may change during the data evaluation and will be notified by the European Medicines Agency.
The main objectives of procuring the COVID-19 vaccine and enabling the Estonian population to be vaccinated are to protect the most vulnerable groups of people, ie groups at risk, who are more likely to be infected or for whom the disease may be particularly dangerous; to protect workers in vital services in order to ensure the normal functioning of society; to reduce and prevent deaths caused by COVID-19 and to provide the opportunity to vaccinate also those Estonian residents who do not belong to the vaccination target group, but who want to be vaccinated.
NordenBladet — In order to control the epidemic spread of the coronavirus, the government is imposing restrictions concerning education, hobby education, and sports throughout Estonia. In Ida-Viru County, restrictions also apply to leisure, entertainment, cultural, and accommodation services and all public events will be prohibited in the county. The government plans to approve the order at tomorrow’s meeting.
“Based on the recommendations of the Science Council and the Health Board to minimise human contact and movement due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the government will temporarily impose additional restrictions that may be extended if the infection is not slowed down,” said Prime Minister Jüri Ratas. “Gaining control over the coronavirus requires a joint effort by all of us. We will live through the coming weeks! Christmas and New Year’s Eve will be different this year. I urge everyone to spend the holidays at home among family.”
Restrictions in Ida-Viru County
From 12 December, leisure activities will be suspended, holding public events will be prohibited, and all entertainment facilities, including cinemas, theatres, concert venues, museums, exhibition halls, catering establishments, sports clubs, swimming pools, spas, and accommodation establishments will be closed for three weeks. These restrictions apply both indoors and outdoors.
Churches and other religious venues can continue their daily work if the 50 per cent occupancy requirement, the 2 + 2 rule, and the obligation to use a mask and disinfectants are followed. The government calls on churches and religious ministers to take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus at communion and other sacraments.
Supervision over compliance with the isolation obligation, especially concerning border crossers, will increase. Border crossings must be kept to a minimum.
Restrictions throughout Estonia
From 14 December, all educational institutions will be closed: general education schools, vocational educational institutions, institutions of professional higher education, and universities. In 2021, studies will continue as usual, unless the government decides otherwise. In-person learning is allowed for students with special educational needs, and personal consultations, olympiads, internships, and examinations are allowed if measures of trust are used. Educational institutions may continue their activities using distance learning.
Kindergartens and childcare institutions will remain open.
From 14 December, hobby education, hobby activities, and sports activities for both young people and adults will be suspended for three weeks. Only individual activities, learning, sports, and activities offered remotely will be allowed. Individual sporting activities outdoors are allowed.
The restrictions do not apply to professional athletes, including big league teams, athletes in national teams, and candidates for national teams. Such athletes may train and compete both individually and in teams; spectators are not allowed.
Supervision over compliance with the isolation obligation will be stepped up.
The government will develop additional financial compensation mechanisms for the areas most affected by the closures.
In Estonia, 5,699 new coronavirus test results were added, of which 547 were positive. Out of the tests performed in the last 14 days, a total of 5,515 tests have turned out positive, which means that the number of positive cases per 100,000 people is 414.98. The current number of hospitalised coronavirus patients is 264. Two new deaths were registered in the last 24 hours. In total, the coronavirus has claimed the lives of 139 people in Estonia.
NordenBladet — At the sitting today, the Foreign Affairs Committee heard about the working plans made according to the Foreign Policy Development Plan and the 2021 budget, as well as about the principles of drafting strategic documents.
The Chairman of the Committee Enn Eesmaa welcomed the fact that the strategic documents accord increasing attention to strengthening foreign trade and developing business diplomacy. He was also pleased about the emphasis on the possible reporting on the Foreign Policy Development Plan, e.g. in the explanatory memorandum of the budget, the consolidated annual report of the state, or the annual discussion on foreign policy. “The Foreign Affairs Committee is strongly advocating for being included, and we are constantly providing input into the process of drafting national and regional strategies,” he added.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson raised the issue of a possible Asia Strategy for Estonia. He referred to the proposal made by the Foreign Affairs Committee to the Government on drafting Estonia’s Asia Strategy that would reflect Estonia’s long-term plans concerning the developments, opportunities, and challenges taking place in Asia.
“Drafting a comprehensive strategy on the whole Asian region is undoubtedly difficult. At the same time, it is important that Estonia as a country has a clear vision and a plan on how to map out its activities in Asia, and how to use its resources to establish embassies and shape their cooperation,” Mihkelson explained. He added that the visions of other ministries, think tanks, and universities should be taken into consideration next to those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mihkelson also emphasised that any fragmentation of foreign policy must be avoided in drafting different strategies. “Every strategy must link up with the priorities of the Foreign Policy Development Plan, and the resources or the specific foreign policy actions needed to fulfil the set objectives must also be provided,” he said.
The Estonian Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030, which was approved by the Foreign Affairs Committee in May and the Government in August, sets out the foreign policy goals and the steps to implement these, supports the implementation of the fundamental strategic documents on foreign policy, plans foreign policy activities and instruments, and introduces a strategic planning control system which is the basis for implementing performance-based budgeting.
The Development Plan covers the foreign policy activities of the state until 2030. The implementation of the goals of the Development Plan falls into the remit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary on Political Affairs Rein Tammsaar and Undersecretary on Administrative Affairs Kadri Maasik were also invited to the sitting.
NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed a number of Resolutions concerning the Defence Forces missions. Seven of them concern extending of missions.
The 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 Barkhane in Mali” (263 OE), submitted by the Government, extends 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 Barkhane in Mali until 31 December 2021 from 1 January and reduces the maximum number of the Defence Forces personnel to up to 75 servicemen.
60 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, three voted against, and there was one abstention.
The 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” (264 OE), submitted by the Government, extends the time limit for the use of up to three servicemen in the fulfilment of the international commitments of the Estonian state in the United Nations-led international peacekeeping mission UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) in Lebanon until 31 December 2021 from 1 January.
64 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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” (265 OE), submitted by the Government, extends the time limit for the use of up to ten servicemen in the European Union training mission EUTM Mali (European Union Training Mission in Mali) until 31 December 2021 from 1 January.
The Resolution also provides for the extension of the time limit for the use of the Defence Forces in the fulfilment of the international commitments of the Estonian state in Mali in the United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) until 31 December from 1 January and a reduction in the maximum number of the Defence Forces personnel to up to five servicemen.
58 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and one voted against.
The 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” (266 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the extension of the time limit for the use of up to six servicemen in the United Nations-led peacekeeping mission UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Syria until 31 December 2021 from 1 January.
59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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’” (267 OE), submitted by the Government, extends the time limit for the use of the Defence Forces in the United States-led international military operation “Inherent Resolve” until 31 December 2021 from 1 January and reduces the maximum number of the Defence Forces personnel to up to ten servicemen.
62 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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” (268 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the use of up to 70 servicemen as necessary from 1 January to 31 December 2021 in the composition of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force NRF (NATO Response Force) and up to 200 servicemen in the composition of the NATO Readiness Initiative in a military operation organised for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace and security on the basis of Chapter VI or VII of the Charter of the United Nations and in any other international military operation in accordance with generally recognised principles and provisions of international law.
61 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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” (269 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the use of up to 50 servicemen, as necessary, from 1 January to 31 December 2021 in a military operation organised for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace and security on the basis of Chapter VI or VII of the Charter of the United Nations, led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its Member State, the European Union or the United Nations, or in any other international military operation in accordance with generally recognised principles and provisions of international law, upon the first contribution thereto.
63 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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” (270 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the 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 until 31 December 2021 from 1 January and an increase in the maximum number of the Defence Forces personnel in this mission to up to 40 servicemen.
62 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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” (271 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the use of up to 24 servicemen as necessary from 1 January to 31 December 2021 in the composition of the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force in a military operation organised for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace and security on the basis of Chapter VI or VII of the Charter of the United Nations and in any other international military operation in accordance with generally recognised principles and provisions of international law.
59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
The 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 Training and Advisory Mission in Afghanistan” (273 OE), submitted by the Government, allows contributing with up to 46 servicemen in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led training and advisory mission RSM (Resolute Support Mission) in Afghanistan from 1 January to 31 December 2021.
63 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
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 Military Mission EUNAVFOR Med/Irini” (274 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the use of up to six servicemen in the fulfilment of the international commitments of the Estonian state in the European Union military mission EUNAVFOR Med/Irini from 1 January to 31 December 2021.
On 22 June 2015, the European Union launched the military operation EUNAVFOR Med/Sophia in the central area of the Mediterranean to combat and prevent the activities of criminal networks engaged in human trafficking and the deaths of refugees on their journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.
61 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.
Three Bills passed the second reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Financial Management Act and the Maritime Safety Act (282 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee, will enable local governments to increase their net debt burden. This is necessary in order that, in the emergency situation due to the spread of COVID-19 and in the period following it, local governments could take larger loans as necessary to stimulate economy and make necessary investments in the circumstances of a slowdown of revenue growth in 2020–2027.
In ordinary circumstances, the upper limit for net debt burden for each local government is a sixfold value of its operating result or 60 per cent of its operating revenue. At present, the upper limit for net debt burden has been set at the tenfold value of operating result or 80 per cent of operating revenue as an exceptional case for 2020 and 2021. The Bill will extend the exemption for the upper limit for net debt burden until the end of 2024. From then on, the upper limit will gradually decrease in 2025–2028.
The Bill also amends the Maritime Safety Act to implement a reduction of the waterway due. The amendment is due to the need to support the continuation of international maritime transport through Estonian ports and to motivate consignors to direct their trade flows through Estonian ports.
The Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Other Acts (257 SE), initiated by the Government, will define at the level of Act the aim of the working environment database, the data collected and the retention periods of data on the basis of the Personal Data Protection Act. The Bill provides for a new requirement for the employer to draw up a risk assessment of the working environment in the working environment database or to forward the risk analysis to the Labour Inspectorate in a format which can be reproduced in writing.
The purpose of the Bill is to facilitate the creation of a safe working environment and to reduce the administrative burden for employers in complying with occupational health and safety requirements. For this, the working environment database will be developed, facilitating the communication of agencies and businesses with the state and offering new services. The Bill will increase the extent of the liability of the employer and the employee in the working environment.
The amendments included in the Bill are intended to reduce employees’ own liability when they fall ill and to reduce the risk of people going to work when ill and thereby the spread of the COVID-19 disease over four months starting from January. According to the Bill, upon compensation for the days of sick leave, employees’ own liability will decrease to one day instead of the current three days, and the employer will begin to pay for four days instead of five.
During the debate, Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party) and Tõnis Mölder (Centre Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions.
The main aim of drafting the Bill on Amendments to the Law of Obligations Act (lease relationships) (232 SE), initiated by the Government, is to stimulate and develop the leasing market and thereby to offer people the option of leasing a place of residence as a sensible alternative to owning a home. The lease regulation has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years.
As a result of the amendments, market participants will be enabled to regulate their mutual relations more flexibly, at the same time keeping in mind the need to rely on balanced solutions.
For example, the absolute ban on contractual penalty in the case of residential lease contracts will be eliminated and in the future it will be possible for parties to agree on the distribution of the repair obligation. According to the Bill, the lessor will have the right to cancel the contract due to delay in payment by the lessee in the event of smaller arrears or a shorter delay (two months instead of three).
At the same time, the Bill provides for restrictions on the amount of contractual penalty, several content and format requirements for agreements on the repair obligation, as well as more extensive notification obligations for lessor upon cancellation due to delay in payment.
Heljo Pikhof (Social Democratic Party) took the floor during the debate, and on behalf of her faction moved to suspend the proceedings on the Bill at the second reading. Nine members of the Riigikogu voted for the suspension and 47 voted against.
The Riigikogu did not support a draft Resolution
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Organise the Provision of Preschool and School Education in Estonia Uniformly and in the Estonian Language” (243 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to organise the provision of preschool and school education in Estonia uniformly and in the Estonian language. According to the explanatory memorandum to the draft Resolution, this would have ensured the cohesion of society and ensured young people’s competitiveness and equal access in education and the labour market regardless of their native language. At the same time, non-Estonian students would be ensured the possibility to study their native language and culture.
During the debate, Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Oudekki Loone (Centre Party), Katri Raik (Social Democratic Party), Priit Sibul (Isamaa) and Kaja Kallas (Reform Party) took the floor.
At least 51 votes were needed for the Resolution to be passed. 36 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing, 43 voted against and there was one abstention.
Minister of the Environment Rain Epler replied to the interpellation concerning the developments in forestry (No. 41) submitted by members of the Riigikogu. Among other things, the members of the Riigikogu wished to know the minister’s opinion on the new forestry development plan that had got stuck. When answering the questions, Epler said that today he had signed the decision on the dissolution of the steering council that had been formed to draw up the forestry development plan up to 2030 because the steering council had failed in its task, and he promised to ensure that a new development plan would be completed as soon as possible.
Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor as one of interpellators during the debate.
At the beginning of the sitting, alternate member of the Riigikogu Imre Sooäär took his oath of office.
NordenBladet — At today’s cabinet meeting, the members of the Government decided that the crisis measures directed at KredEx, the Estonian Rural Development Foundation, and tourism sector will continue to be implemented in the coming year.
According to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, the state has to support the economy in difficult times. ‘We support an economy that has been hammered by the crisis. The least we can do is ensure that critical resources for rapid economic recovery are available after the crisis,’ he emphasised. ‘When making decisions in today’s difficult situation, we need to think about the future.’
KredEx
The cabinet meeting of the Government approved in principle the continuation of the implementation of the KredEx measures. The proposal of the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Raul Siem to increase the limit of the credit loss indemnity in case of the emergency crisis measure of KredEx from 30% to 50% in guaranteeing new loans granted by banks was supported.
‘Although the economic downturn turned out to be less severe than expected since the beginning of the crisis, the new outbreak of the coronavirus will postpone the economic recovery, maintaining the need of entrepreneurs to survive the crisis with state support. Therefore, we proposed to the Government to transfer the funds remaining from the supplementary budget allocated to KredEx this year to the next year,’ Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Raul Siem said.
In order to direct companies to invest more, it is planned to abolish the budgetary allocations of direct loans at KredEx and to merge the budget for working capital and investment loans.
‘In spring, we divided the business loan budget of KredEx in a way that 500 million euros were allocated to working capital loans and 50 million euros to investment loans. As the crisis has deepened, we also need to increase flexibility, and we have decided to remove these limits in the direct loan budget of KredEx,’ Minister Siem said. ‘We will use the remaining funds with a common budget, which will help increase the volume of the investment loans at KredEx and contribute to the fact that new business ideas of companies can be realised as soon as possible and have a better starting point in growing competition,’ he added.
Estonian Rural Development Foundation
In 2021, loan guarantees, working capital and investment loans, and support measures for the financial lease of agricultural land will continue to be implemented.
‘Existing crisis measures of the Estonian Rural Development Foundation have been of great help to businesses, but the crisis is far from over and the business sector has a lot of uncertainty about the future. In order to cope with and better overcome the crisis, it is important to continue to implement the developed crisis measures after 31 December 2020,’ Minister of Rural Affairs Arvo Aller said.
There has been a great deal of interest in the COVID measures of the Estonian Rural Development Foundation, indicating that in times of crisis, it is important to support businesses both in solving liquidity problems and in realising investments that would help them adapt to the new situation and better prepare for any crises in the future. As of the beginning of December, loan decisions in the amount of 79 million euros, guarantee decisions in the amount of 29 million euros, and financial lease decisions in the amount of 2.6 million euros have been made.
Enterprise Estonia
The Government approved in principle the enabling of the use of 5 million euros allocated from the Government’s reserve on 10 November to support the tourism sector next year. This amount will be accompanied by the balance of the crisis support for lease payments of trade and service companies of Enterprise Estonia in the amount of 3 million euros.
According to Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Raul Siem, the aim of crisis measures for the tourism sector is to support the most severely affected accommodation companies, catering companies in the Old Town of Tallinn, travel companies, and handicraft shops all over Estonia. ‘With the new crisis measures, we help tourism entrepreneurs whose business activities are most dependent on foreign tourists and who are relevant service providers in the recovery of foreign tourism,’ Siem said.
Enterprise Estonia can provide support in 2021.
The content and conditions of support covering all crisis measures will be decided in the near future.