ESTONIA

Estonia: The government imposed the restrictions agreed on Tuesday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The government imposed new restrictions on visiting shops, shopping centres, and catering and entertainment establishments, and attending public meetings and events. Catering and entertainment establishments must close their doors to customers at 12 a.m. However, buying take-away food is allowed. The new measures will enter into force on Monday, 16 November.

2 + 2 and 10 + 2 restrictions on movement

The so-called 2 + 2 rule will be re-established in shops and common areas of shopping centres, such as corridors and the atrium. Pursuant to the order, no more than two people may move together and a distance of at least two metres must be kept with others. The restriction does not apply to families moving together and in situations where this cannot be reasonably ensured. The restriction does not apply to employees or places of service, such as pharmacies, banks, beauty salons, shoemakers, etc.

The government imposed a less restrictive restriction on the freedom of movement in the sales and service halls of catering establishments and in entertainment and cultural establishments, such as theatres, cinemas, concerts, nightclubs, etc., where groups of up to 10 people are allowed and a distance of at least two metres must be kept with others (the 10 + 2 rule).

The restriction applies to places outside of seating areas. In other words, it does not apply when you are sitting in your seat in a theatre or cinema. The restriction does not apply to the local staff. There is also an exception for families, which means that people in the same family can move together regardless of the size of the family.

The service provider must ensure that customers are able to meet the requirements and that groups of people can be dispersed outside the seating area. Catering establishments offering on-site dining must ensure that customers are able to meet the requirement of keeping a distance of two metres, for example, by placing tables at a sufficient distance.

Events with fixed seats will continue to be exempt from the 50 per cent occupancy limit, but the limit of 750 participants must not be exceeded.

Restrictions on opening hours do not extend to cultural institutions

In addition, the government has decided that catering and entertainment establishments must close their doors to visitors from midnight to 6 a.m. from Monday, 16 November. Take-away food sales and purchases are allowed.

Cultural institutions with stationary seats, such as theatres, cinemas, and concert halls, may keep their doors open to customers past midnight.

The aim of the order is to prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19, while allowing people to continue with their normal lives as much as possible. Despite the restrictions, the rules still allow people to spend time together in smaller groups and companies to continue their economic activities.

The additional restrictions are necessary, as the spread of the coronavirus in Estonia has increased rapidly. According to the Health Board, as at 12 November, 374 new positive coronavirus test results were added in the past 24 hours, and the number of cases for every 100,000 people in the last fourteen days is 166. For comparison, on 14 October, the same indicator was 43, on 12 September, it was 22.8, and on 1 August, it was 4.

Both the Health Board and the Government Committee Scientific Advisory Board consider the introduced restrictions necessary.

The Government Communication Unit publishes the order and the explanatory memorandum to the order on the kriis.ee website.

 

Source: Estonian Government

 

Estonia: The Riigikogu approved the fundamentals of legislative drafting policy and criminal policy

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed four Acts and two Resolutions. The fundamentals of legislative drafting policy and criminal policy until 2030 were adopted as Resolutions.

The Act on Amendments to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act and Other Acts (restructuring of the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit into a governmental authority) (259 SE), initiated by the Government, makes the necessary amendments to the legislation, so that the Financial Intelligence Unit currently operating as a structural unit of the Police and Border Guard Board will be transferred to the area of government of the Ministry of Finance as an independent governmental authority from 1 January 2021.

The amendments concern the status of the Financial Intelligence Unit as a governmental authority and in particular the availability of the information necessary to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism and the ensuring of legal certainty upon the distribution of information to other authorities. In addition, the Act specifies the right to sign the agreements concluded before 1 January 2021 and administrative acts.

The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit as a governmental authority can exchange information and cooperate with other authorities in Estonia and abroad largely on the same bases as it has been doing until now while the Financial Intelligence Unit has been a structural unit of the Police and Border Guard Board.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Labour Dispute Resolution Act (214 SE), initiated by the Government, amends the principles for the remuneration of lay assessors of labour dispute committees.

Under the Act, the remuneration of a lay assessor is equal to the minimum hourly wage rate, which is 3.48 euro this year. At present, the remuneration of lay assessors is calculated on the basis of the Salaries of Higher state Servants Act according to which the hourly wage is 3.07 euro. In the future, the work of lay assessors of labour dispute committees in preparation for sessions will be remunerated. At present, remuneration is paid only for the time spent on attending the sessions of a labour dispute committee.

Two lay assessors must attend a session of a labour resolution committee: a representative of employees and a representative of employers. Similarly to lay judges, the purpose of lay assessors’ attendance is to view the labour dispute matter from a human rather than juridical aspect in the resolution of a labour dispute, taking into account the particularities of the views of the employees and the employers where they are of importance in the resolution of the labour dispute matter. The bases for the calculation of the remuneration paid to lay assessors have not been changed since 2013, and, under the current procedure, the remuneration paid to lay assessors is lower than the minimum hourly wage rate. This restrains employees and employers’ willingness to contribute to the work of labour dispute committees in the resolution of labour disputes.

In addition, the Act introduces amendments aiming at specification and amendment of the current procedure in the interests of legal clarity. For example, it is specified how many people can have recourse to a labour dispute committee with a joint petition, and the additional option of conducting sessions via a video bridge is provided.

85 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Tax Information Exchange Act (238 SE), initiated by the Government.

In order to facilitate the overcoming of the economic difficulties accompanying the emergency situation due to the coronavirus, the European Union member states have agreed by a relevant Council directive that member states can defer the beginning of the exchange of information on cross-border arrangements by six months. In view of this, the Act makes amendments to the time limits for filing the arrangements, while no substantial amendments are made. The exchange of information concerns cross-border arrangements that enable aggressive tax-planning and the concealment of the beneficial owner of assets or complicate the exchange of bank account information. Under the current law, providers of tax advice, banks and taxpayers would have to begin to communicate the information on the arrangements to tax authorities from 31 July 2021. According to the Act, 31 January 2021 is the new deadline.

85 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (277 SE) (consolidated Bills 131 SE, 132 SE and 172 SE) includes the Children’s Day, celebrated on 1 June, in the list of days of national importance. The Children’s Day and the Grandparents’ Day, which is already now celebrated as a day of national importance on the second Sunday of September are included in the list of flag days.

Three Bills were consolidated in the course of the proceedings: the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act (131 SE), initiated by Liina Kersna, Annely Akkermann, Andres Sutt, Mart Võrklaev, Signe Kivi, Signe Riisalo, Andrus Seeme, Toomas Kivimägi, Vilja Toomast, Jüri Jaanson, Yoko Alender and Kaja Kallas, the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (132 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, and the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (172 SE), initiated by the Government.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Riigikogu also passed two Resolutions

Under the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Fundamentals of Legislative Drafting Policy until 2030” (53 OE), submitted by the Government, the long-term vision of the Estonian legislative drafting policy and the principles of good legislative drafting are agreed upon. In the future, they will serve as the basis in proceedings on Bills, the development of legal language, and the organisation of cooperation and development. The explicit formulation and enforcement of legal policy objectives is also important to stakeholders and society more broadly in order to ensure foreseeability and openness of legal policy.

During the debate, Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) and Paul Puustusmaa (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

78 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Fundamentals of Criminal Policy until 2030” (52 OE), submitted by the Government.

The fundamentals of criminal policy have been drafted due to the need to increase security in society and to make the criminal justice system more citizen-centred. The main goal of criminal policy approved by the Riigikogu is to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system, to prevent offences committed by young people and due to addictions and mental health disorders and to enhance the penal policy. Criminal policy includes the prevention of offences, and treating offenders so that the security of society and the rights and needs of victims would be ensured and the rehabilitation of offenders would be supported.

Kert Kingo (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.

73 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution.

Members of the press,

In view of the COVID-19 virus disease outbreak, the Chancellery of the Riigikogu is taking the necessary precautionary measures. Members of the press are asked to wear face masks and maintain social distance from interviewees where possible when visiting Toompea Castle.

Thank you for your understanding.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

Estonia: The Riigikogu appointed a new member to the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet  – At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu adopted a resolution on the appointment of a member of the Public Broadcasting Council from among the members of the Riigikogu.

Under the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among the Members of the Riigikogu” (280 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, Anti Poolamets, member of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, is appointed as a member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council in connection with the premature termination of the mandate of member of the Council Urmas Reitelmann.

The Public Broadcasting Council includes a representative from each faction of the Riigikogu until the end of the mandate of the Riigikogu, and four experts from among the acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting with a five-year mandate.

48 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, 29 voted against, and there were four abstentions.

The Riigikogu did not pass a Resolution

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Organise the Work of the Estonian Pre-school and General Education Institutions on Uniform Bases in the COVID-19 Virus Situation” (242 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, was intended to make a proposal to the Government of the Republic to prepare a plan for organising all the work of Estonian pre-school and general education institutions in the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research on uniform bases in the COVID-19 virus situation, together with a plan for implementing the necessary changes.

The initiators found that the plan should be drafted keeping in mind the restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the virus and the restrictions must not infringe disproportionately or unnecessarily the right of nursery school and school children to high-quality education, learning social skills and hot school meals. It was also found that the changing of the organisation of studies due to the spread of the virus and the risk of infection, including the implementation of distance learning, should be on uniform bases in the whole country and unambiguously understandable to teachers, students, parents and heads of school and should be based only on objective indicators and action plans agreed on previously. Finally, it was pointed out that extensive use of distance learning should be permissible only on the basis of a recommendation of the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board advising the Government or another scientific grounding, and with the approval of the Health Board.

During the debate, Marko Šorin (Centre Party), Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) and Heidy Purga (Reform Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions.

The proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee as the lead committee was to hold a final vote on the draft Resolution. A majority vote of the members of the Riigikogu was needed for the draft Resolution to be passed. 38 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and 42 voted against; thus, the draft Resolution was not supported.

 

Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

Estonia will have young people from eight countries developing green ideas

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Estonia, as the coordinator of the Nordic-Baltic Cooperation NB8, will bring together young people from eight countries to develop green ideas as part of international cooperation. During the idea creation day ‘Empowering Youth on 21 November: Green Together’, young people from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark are working together to find solutions to environmental problems.

According to the patron of the idea creation day, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, in order to mitigate the effects of climate change it is necessary to find new solutions in many areas so as to leave behind a liveable home planet for future generations.

“Achieving climate neutrality requires effort from every country and every person. Certainly, young people should be involved in the search for solutions, seeing as they are most concerned about climate change and it is their future that will be shaped by our decisions made today.”

“I hope that several ideas that emerge from international youth cooperation can soon be used, helping us to slow down climate change. I encourage young people to actively participate.”

According to Kristi Klaas, the deputy secretary general of the Ministry of Environment, worries about the climate have brought young people to the streets, but the Ministry wishes to find ways to actively involve young people in finding solutions.

“We want young people to actually be able to do something to slow down climate change, and during the international idea creation day, we invite them to discover and propose innovative solutions of their own in cooperation with the environmental and climate experts of the Nordic and Baltic states,” said Klaas.

The international green ideas competition expects young people to have innovative solutions to reduce consumption, develop sustainable food systems and promote circular economy and sustainable mobility.

“We support green innovation, due to new ideas and solutions being needed to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its effects. The more environmentally conscious and knowledgeable about climate young people are, the more they are able to contribute to the changes needed for society,” explained Klaas.

This event is taking place for the first time under the coordination of Estonia and it will hopefully become a tradition, being organised next year by the next coordinator of NB8. Estonia has already proven itself as a very successful organizer of digital events, and this International Idea Day is also taking place virtually. Garage48 and Cleantech ForEst are involved as partners, both of whom have years of experience in organising innovative events and involving young people.

Since 1992, Nordic-Baltic Cooperation, or NB8, has brought together five Nordic countries and three Baltic countries – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – to informally discuss relevant topics of regional and international importance. In 2000, on the initiative of the then Foreign Minister of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, it was decided that this cooperation format would be designated with the name Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8), expressing unity of the cooperation format.

The international green ideas competition is organised from the proceeds of the auctioning of allowances for aircraft operators.

Read more about the event: https://garage48.org/events/greentogether

Source: Ministry of the Environment – Republic of Estonia

Estonia: Mobile operator Telia rolling out 5G services in select regions of Estonia

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Mobile operator Telia opened its 5G network on Tuesday, in a first phase covering Estonia’s three largest towns, Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu.

Andre Visse, technology manager at Telia Estonia, said the service uses a frequency resource which had already been used in mobile communication technology.

“Although frequency bands for 5G in the 3.5 GHz band have not been distributed yet, the development of technology enables us to offer 5G also over those frequencies already in use,” Visse said.

5G will start reaching end users in stages, being also underpinned by the ever growing availability of 5G devices, including that on smartphones.

The 3.5 GHz frequency auction due at the beginning of 2021 will give the company the possibility to further extend its network and add speeds, Visse went on.

The new service covers 10 locations, six in Tallinn, two in Tartu and two in Pärnu. Telia said it plans to extend its 5G network to 20 locations by the end of this year.

The Tallinn locations are: the Solaris shopping mall area; on Betooni, in Lasnamäe; Tallinn Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel), the Linnahall and Tallink SPA area; the area around Telia’s Sõle head office; the area around Endla and in the vicinity of the Magistrali shopping mall in the Mustamäe district of Tallinn.

In Pärnu, the locations are the areas of Rüütli and Suur-Jõe streets, whereas in Tartu the service will be available on Tähe, and shortly also on Vanemuise streets.

Telia’s 5G network speeds at the moment reach up to 1 Gbps. When the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz frequency bands are added, speeds can be increased to several Gbps.

Clients must have a device supporting 5G and a relevant mobile internet subscription with Telia to be able to use the 5G network, the company says.

Telia’s partner in bringing 5G to end customers is Swedish mobile communications provider Ericsson.

Estonia: Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) to show films online

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – The annual Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) takes place this year in exceptional conditions due to the coronavirus. Viewers will be required to wear a mask to movie screenings, but PÖFF films can also be watched at home online for the first time.

PÖFF director Tiina Lokk implored people to follow the rules put in place by the festival this year, which starts on November 13, so the festival can remain open.

This year, PÖFF has slightly fewer films than but all competition programs are still running and several Estonian films will be screened and premiered. There will also be a focus will be on German cinema.

Mikk Granström, director of the youth and children’s film festival Just Film, described how the online part of the festival will work. “You can see almost 100 movies on the Internet. The logic is that if a movie has been physically out of the cinema for some time, then you can watch that movie online for five days. That’s the simplest rule that’s there. Once a person has bought a ticket, they have 48 hours to watch the film,” he said.

Granström said the Just Film program still reflects a virus-free world: “All the films in the program, 40 films, were made before the coronavirus crisis, we can look back at a world we will never return to.”

Speaking about the impact of the coronavirus on the film industry, Tiina Lokk told ETV’s “Akutaalne kaamera”: “It’s been such a mess in the film world. It’s wreaked havoc at festivals, the schedules of premieres have been messed up, no one has benefited from it.”

The festival ends on November 29. View the full programme HERE.

Featured image: PÖFF ´s director Tiina Lokk (NordenBladet)

Estonia: Travel restrictions apply to all people entering Estonia from Monday

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – All travelers entering Estonia must follow the quarantine guidelines from Monday, November 9. Travelers from Latvia, Lithuania and Finland have several exemptions.

Starting from November 9, the coronavirus infection rate limit concerning restrictions on the freedom of movement in Estonia is 50 per 100,000. The limit is reviewed on a weekly basis on Fridays and the new limit will take force the following Monday.

Based on the coronavirus infection rate, starting from Monday, a 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement will apply to passengers arriving in Estonia from the following European countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Vatican and the United Kingdom.

The infection rate of the Vatican is 0 but anyone travelling to Estonia from there through Italy is subject to the 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement.

Based on Order No 282 of Government of Estonia, the restriction on the freedom of movement does not apply to asymptomatic people who have been on the territory of Lithuania, Latvia or Finland in the past 14 days and have arrived to Estonia directly from Lithuania, Latvia or Finland with the following preconditions:

Firstly, the person has taken a coronavirus test within 48 hours before their arrival in Estonia and the result is negative. When travelling to these countries from Estonia and returning to Estonia, it is possible to take the coronavirus test in Estonia, and return to normal life in case of a negative result. It is required to remain in self-isolation while waiting for the test results.

Hospitals expanding coronavirus wards

Secondly, if they arrive in Estonia for the purpose of working, studying or receiving health services or for family reasons or transit. When travelling to Estonia for the reasons listed above, it is not required to take a coronavirus test before arriving in Estonia.

The infection rate of each country is below:

  • Andorra 1619,9
  • Austria 614,8
  • Belgium 1693,2
  • Bulgaria 446,5
  • Croatia 693,8
  • Czech Republic 1594,4
  • Cyprus 243,6
  • Denmark 233,0
  • Finland 51,8*
  • France 874,3
  • Germany 247,6
  • Greece 182,4
  • Hungary 437,0
  • Iceland 212,6
  • Ireland 205,1
  • Italy 564,5
  • Latvia 153,9*
  • Liechtenstein 1070,9
  • Lithuania 352,6*
  • Luxembourg 1412,8
  • Malta 316,9
  • Monaco 420,1
  • Netherlands 753,5
  • Norway 97,3
  • Poland 624,0
  • Portugal 493,1
  • Romania 391,4
  • San Marino 638,6
  • Slovakia 608,6
  • Slovenia 1125,7
  • Spain 596,6
  • Sweden 301,0
  • Switzerland 1169,6
  • United Kingdom 464,9
  • Vatican 0,0**

The full list can be seen here.

On October 22, the Council of the European Union reviewed the list of third countries included in Annex 1 of its recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, and according to the list, it is possible to travel to Estonia from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay. Starting from next week, only travelers arriving in Estonia from Uruguay are obligated to self-isolate for 10 days.

From September 1, people arriving in Estonia from high-risk countries can shorten the mandatory self-isolation and return to work by testing for COVID-19 at the airport and port.

Testing is free of charge for Estonian residents; foreigners can take the test at a cost of €67 and can pay on the spot by card.

Until the test results are known, a person must stay in complete self-isolation. In the case of a negative result, the person will be notified via text message, positive results will be communicated over the phone. The result will also be visible when entering the health information system with an ID card.

Health Board: Day brings 229 COVID-19 cases

In the case of a negative test result, the person must stay in limited self-isolation for the first seven days following arrival to Estonia, i.e. the person can go to work and, for example, a shop, but unnecessary contacts must be avoided. The person should also keep their distance from others while at work.

A second test must be performed no earlier than seven days after the results of the first test, and if it is also negative, a person can resume their daily life.

What does quarantine mean?

This means that within 14 calendar days of their arrival in Estonia, people must refrain from unnecessary contacts and can leave their place of residence or permanent accommodation only for seeing a doctor and shopping for food, essentials and medicines, or in emergencies.

Who is required to restrict their freedom of movement?

All symptomatic Estonian citizens and residents arriving in Estonia.

Passengers arriving from countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Schengen area who began their trip from a country belonging to this region or transited a country of this region, based on the infection rate:

  • The mandatory self-isolation does not apply to passengers arriving in Estonia from a country with an infection rate below 25 per 100,000 inhabitants;
  • If the infection rate of the country is between 25 and 50, the need to self-isolate depends on whether the infection rate is below or above the rate of Estonia times 1.1;
  • If the infection rate is below that of Estonia, the person is not required to self-isolate;
  • If it is above the infection rate of Estonia, a two-week mandatory self-isolation applies.

Foreign ministry: Essential travel only

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against any non-essential international travel.

In cases where travelling is essential, the Foreign Ministry advises keeping the following in mind:

    • Before planning your trip, please consult the Foreign Ministry website for the infection rate in your planned country of destination;
    • Stay up to date with possible travel restrictions in your destination – please consult the Reisi Targalt website, the ReOpen portal of the European Union, and, if necessary, contact the foreign mission of the country of destination for details;
    • Register your trip at the Foreign Ministry’s Reisi Targalt website to allow us to notify you of possible travel restrictions;
    • Follow the recommendations of the Estonian Health Board for a safe flight to protect your health and that of others – if you show symptoms, please postpone your trip and contact your GP;
    • Take out travel insurance and carefully read the conditions of your insurance (including for travel interruptions caused by COVID-19);
    • At your destination, follow the instructions of local authorities and keep up to date with possible new restrictions;
    • On your return, follow the rules introduced in Estonia, monitor your health, and if you suspect you have been infected with the virus, contact your GP.

Featured image: Pexels

Estonia: The government announced new measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — At today’s cabinet meeting, the government approved measures to be taken at work, at home, on public transport, and in other public places to curb the spread of the coronavirus and to protect the lives and health of Estonians.

According to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, the situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus in Estonia is critical and the number of patients in hospital is growing rapidly. ‘In cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Health Board, and the Science Council, we offer recommendations and suggestions on how to reduce the spread of the infection at work, at home, on public transport, and in other public places. In addition, in the current situation, we consider it necessary to tighten restrictions in commercial establishments and catering and entertainment establishments so that we could control the spread of the virus,’ he said.

Today, the cabinet approved in principle the measures, the implementation of which requires a change in the government’s orders. The government will issue the relevant orders this Thursday.

Workplace measures

• We recommend employees to work remotely if possible.
• Employers are advised to prepare a remote working plan and arrange remote working in case someone becomes infected with the coronavirus at work.
• We recommend cancelling all joint events, including Christmas parties, which are attended by people who do not come into contact on a daily basis. Celebrating Christmas with family is, of course, allowed.

Measures at home

• Before meeting a person at risk, make sure you are safe from infection and ensure safety when visiting: wear a mask, keep your distance, and clean your hands and surfaces.
• Social welfare institutions must ensure safe opportunities for contact and non-contact communication for people belonging to the risk group.
• The safety rules applicable to living with a person infected with the coronavirus must be observed, including wearing a mask, keeping distance and avoiding contact with them, if possible, and cleaning hands and surfaces regularly.

Measures in public places and public transport

• On public transport, in the service halls and public areas of commercial enterprises, and at conferences, concerts, theatres, and cinemas, a mask must be worn or the nose and mouth must otherwise be covered. We ask carriers, enterprisers, and event organisers to monitor compliance with this requirement and to inform people thereof. People for whom it is medically indicated (for example, asthmatics or the deaf) and children under the age of 12 do not have to wear a mask. Other justified situations are also possible (for example, if there are no other passengers in the vehicle).

• Carriers are asked to put up a notice on wearing a mask on public transport, such as ‘Dear passenger, put on your mask!’ Other safety information must be displayed in a visible place on public transport.

• The government establishes by its order a 2 + 2 rule in service halls and public areas of commercial enterprises, in accordance with which no more than two people may move together and a distance of at least two metres must be kept with others, except for families and if this cannot be reasonably guaranteed. The rule will take effect on 16 November.

• The government establishes a two-metre distance rule between groups of people in catering and entertainment establishments, with a maximum of 10 people per group. The restriction does not apply to members of the same family, nor does it apply to, for example, hobby education and children’s playrooms. The rule will take effect on 16 November.

• The government limits the opening hours of catering and entertainment establishments from midnight to 6 a.m. to prevent crowds. The restriction does not cover the take-away of food. The rule will take effect on 16 November.

 

Source: Estonian Government

 

Estonia: Committees of the Riigikogu discuss foreign investments and impacts of foreign capital at public sitting

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The Economic Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) will today hold a joint public sitting “The results of the Estonian Research Council RITA study of foreign investments, and the impacts, bottlenecks and opportunities of foreign capital in Estonia”.

According to Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee Sven Sester, the purpose of the sitting is to get an overview of the impact of foreign capital on Estonia’s economy. “We must make continuous efforts in Estonia to attract foreign investments and to make our country attractive for foreign investors. Today, we will get the latest information from the Estonian Research Council, which will enable us to be better prepared for discussing the bills and laws concerning the Estonian economy,” Sester said.

“Sustainable increasing of foreign investments is one of the priorities of Estonia’s foreign policy and foreign trade in the coming years,” Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said. “The volume of innovative investments into Estonia is decreasing at the moment. A survey of the role of foreign investments in Estonia’s economy helps recognise the reasons for the decrease, learn about the assessments of foreign investors and create a context for further decisions concerning Estonian economy and investment climate,” he added.

At the sitting, Professor of International Business at the University of Tartu Urmas Varblane will speak about the results of a study on smart foreign investments, Director of the Estonian Investment Agency Raido Lember will give an overview of foreign investments in Estonia, and representatives of foreign investments Katri Jürine from Ericsson Estonia Ltd and Jaanus Aal from Enics Estonia Ltd will share their experience. Deputy Secretary General for Economic Development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Viljar Lubi and Head of the Foresight Centre Tea Danilov will also present their comments.

The representatives of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, the Estonian Service Industry Association and the Foreign Investors’ Council in Estonia are also included in the discussion.

The joint sitting of the Committees begins at 2 p.m., and it will be streamed online.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

Estonia: The Riigikogu did not support expressing no confidence in the Minister of Finance Martin Helme

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The motion of no confidence in the Minister of Finance Martin Helme, signed by 34 members of the Riigikogu, was not supported in the Riigikogu. 46 members of the Riigikogu voted for the motion of no confidence and nobody was against. However, the support of at least 51 members of the Riigikogu was needed to express no confidence.

Marko Mihkelson (Reform Party), who presented the motion of no confidence, noted that Martin Helme in his capacity as a member of the Government had persistently engaged in damaging Estonia’s security and international reputation and allied relations important to Estonia.

The motion of no confidence states that Martin Helme has called into question the reliability of Estonian elections and the independence of Estonian democratic institutions and has deliberately sown mistrust in the fundamental principles of the functioning of the Estonian state as a democracy. Martin Helme has also engaged in splitting the society and has attacked various social groups.

Minister of Finance Martin Helme and Minister of the Interior Mart Helme gravely attacked democratic elections in the United States of America, Estonia’s main security partner and ally, in a statement they made after the US presidential elections. They attacked our major ally’s domestic political right to self-determination and the newly elected president personally. Mart and Martin Helme’s unfounded accusations regarding US election fraud and their personal attacks towards the US president-elect Joseph R. Biden are unfounded, immoral and completely inappropriate for a member of Government. With such a statement, Mart and Martin Helme have caused extraordinarily severe damage to Estonia’s foreign and security policy interests.

The protection of human rights, the principles of the rule of law and the minorities are in the heart of Estonian foreign policy. By attacking Estonia’s foreign policy course and, besides that, the general principles of liberal democracy and by calling on to decide on the rights of minorities through a referendum, Martin Helme seriously jeopardises the reliability of the Republic of Estonia as a democratic state based on the rule of law in the eyes of the European Union and NATO allies. His activities place our country from the West to the East, and in the case of such an allegiance, we have no reason to expect allies’ support.

Martin Helme has also been continuously attacking the separation of powers, independent investigation, the administration of justice and the press.

“It is clear, having regard to all of the above, that Martin Helme is unsuitable for his office and therefore we propose that the Riigikogu express no confidence in the Minister of Finance,” the motion of no confidence states.

The members of the Riigikogu asked numerous questions of Minister of Finance Martin Helme, requesting for clarifications on the reproaches expressed in the motion of no confidence.

During the debate, Kaja Kallas (Reform Party), Viktor Vassiljev (Centre Party), Siim Pohlak (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions.

The Bill on amendments to this year’s state budget passed the second reading in the Riigikogu.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Budget for 2020 Act (252 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading and was sent to the third reading.

Considering that the State Budget for 2020 Act was prepared in the autumn of the preceding year and some of the funding needs have changed, it is expedient to initiate an amendment of the state budget to achieve more effectively the aims set by state agencies. The Bill (252 SE) covers 85 amendments in total.

According to § 43 of the State Budget Act, in order to amend the state budget without amending the total amount of funds, the Government of the Republic may initiate a draft State Budget Amendment Act not later than two months before the end of the budgetary year.

During the debate, Aivar Sõerd (Reform Party) took the floor.

The Riigikogu heard replies to two interpellations

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas replied to the interpellation concerning the tourism sector support measures (No. 43), submitted by members of the Riigikogu, and Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps replied to the interpellation concerning the transition to instruction in Estonian (No. 42).

During the open microphone, Peeter Ernits took the floor.

The sitting ended at 8.06 p.m.

 

Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

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