NordenBladet — Under the Bill on Amendments to the Organic Farming Act and the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act, in the future, persons who sell unpacked organic products in small quantities, for example small organic shops, will be exempt from the obligation to be in the possession of a certificate.

It will be sufficient to notify the Agricultural and Food Board in order to obtain the exemption. It is an option granted by the EU, under which Member States can grant exemptions to operators that sell unpacked organic products to the final consumer, provided that they do not produce, prepare, store other than in connection with the point of sale, or import such products from a third country, or subcontract such activities to another operator.

The sale of unpacked organic products must not exceed 5 000 kg per year; such sales must not represent an annual turnover in relation to unpacked organic products exceeding EUR 20 000; or the potential certification cost of the operator exceeds 2 % of the total turnover on unpacked organic products sold by that operator.

In order to prevent fraudulent use of the indications referring to organic farming, the bases for the repeal of decisions on recognition will be changed and the fine for knowingly placing on the market non-organic products with an indication referring to organic farming will be increased.

The Bill on Amendments to the Organic Farming Act and the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act (260 SE), initiated by the Government, will bring the Act into conformity with the EU organic farming Regulation and the establishment of a new agency, the Agricultural and Food Board, on the basis of the Agricultural Board and the Veterinary and Food Board.

NordenBladet — At their meeting today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary László Kövér spoke about the bilateral relations between their countries and cooperation at the European Union level.  

“We have very much in common, not only in history, but also in political and security issues,” Põlluaas said. “Such meetings contribute to the deepening of our bilateral relations even more. Our common duty is to look not only to the past, but also to the future, so that we could represent the interests of our countries in the best way.”

At their meeting, Põlluaas and Kövér discussed issues related to the European Union immigration policy and the need to protect traditional European Christian values, as well as the payment conditions of the European recovery fund and the multiannual budget of the European Union.

Regarding tolerance and freedoms, both Speakers were of one mind that all parties had to have equal rights. “It is not acceptable that different positions are forced on nation states that rely on traditional European Christian values,” Põlluaas emphasised.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary pointed out that although the bilateral relations were close and mutual cooperation was further strengthened by having related languages, much could still be done in developing of economic relations,

Chairman of Estonia-Hungary Parliamentary Group Anti Poolamets also participated in the meeting.

At the Riigikogu, Kövér also had a meeting with Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Anneli Ott, with whom the Conference on the Future of Europe, the recovery fund, the Multiannual Financial Framework and the importance of the role of the national parliaments in making decisions were discussed.

In the afternoon, President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary László Kövér laid flowers at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe. On Tuesday, Kövér will be on Saaremaa Island.

NordenBladet — Today, Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary László Kövér arrives on a two-day visit to Estonia.

This morning, he will meet with Prime Minister Jüri Ratas at Stenbock House (seat of the Government of Estonia), and later with President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas and Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Anneli Ott at Toompea Castle.

In the afternoon, President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary László Kövér will lay flowers at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe.

During the visit, Mr. Kövér will present Trivimi Velliste Commander’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit on behalf of the Hungarian State. Vice-President of the Riigikogu Helir-Valdor Seeder will also participate in the meeting.

On Tuesday, Kövér will be on Saaremaa Island. He will meet with Chair of Saaremaa Municipality Council Tiiu Aro and Mayor of Saaremaa Municipality Mikk Tuisk, and visit Kuressaare Castle, St. James Church in Pihtla and Kaali Meteorite Crater visitor centre.

It is a return visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary. President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas visited the Hungarian Parliament last year in October.

NordenBladet — Recent videoconferences of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) focused on artificial intelligence, human rights and academic freedom of higher education institutions.

Head of the Estonian Delegation to PACE Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski said that the main topics of discussions at yesterday’s virtual meeting of the enlarged Standing Committee had been the challenges of artificial intelligence and its threats to fundamental freedoms. The role of artificial intelligence in policing and criminal justice systems and on labour market, and the legal aspects of autonomous vehicles were also discussed.

In her speech at the Assembly, Jufereva-Skuratovski said that various measures had been taken to protect the personal data of users, but it was also necessary to create a so-called “moral machine”. “It is a collection of measures and rules that should become the fundamental principles for the operation of artificial intelligence,” Jufereva-Skuratovski explained. She added that the moral machine had to comply with humanity, principles of the rule of law and the European Convention on Human Rights. In Jufereva-Skuratovski’s opinion, the moral of machines should become a support and a guarantee for the safe and effective development of the relations between the humans, the machines and the environment, and for the future.

The main topics of today’s videoconference were the new crackdown on political opposition and social opposition in Turkey and protection of Turkish citizens by the European Court of Human Rights. The dangers connected with the profession of lawyer, and the need to protect lawyers were also discussed. Besides that, the gender dimension of foreign policy, and threats to the autonomy academic freedom of higher education institutions in Europe were spoken about.

Jufereva-Skuratovski pointed out in her today’s speech that her political group in the PACE, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, supported the creation of a platform for the protection of lawyers and drafting of a European convention on the profession of lawyer. As a positive example, she pointed out Estonia, where lawyers were protected, which showed that we had a country that respected democracy, human rights and principles of the rule of law.

Besides Jufereva-Skuratovski, members of the Estonian Delegation to PACE Urmas Reitelmann, Raivo Tamm and Vilja Toomast attended the videoconference.

Pace is the oldest international parliamentary assembly in Europe that held its opening session on 10 August 1949. The task of the Council of Europe is to protect the fundamental values of its member states: human rights, the principle of the rule of law, and democracy.

NordenBladet — The President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas met with the President of the National Council of Switzerland Isabelle Moret today to discuss friendly bilateral relations, Estonia’s e-governance experience, and cooperation in international organisations.

“Estonia has always viewed Switzerland as a bastion of democracy,” Põlluaas said. “We share the same values and cooperate in international organisations.”

Põlluaas explained the telework options in the Riigikogu and described Estonia’s
e-governance services. He added that Estonia would be delighted to share its experiences in developing digital services with Switzerland.

Moret said that although Estonia is a young democracy, it is modern, and can teach Switzerland a lot about e-services.

Both Põlluaas and Moret highlighted excellent bilateral relations and mutual support for each other in international organisations. Moret was happy that Switzerland has the opportunity to join the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn.

The President of the National Council summarised Switzerland’s relations with the EU Member States. She described Switzerland as very open in its relations with Europe, committed to its relationship with the European Union, and ready and willing to develop this further. The last referendum showed that more than 60 percent of the Swiss support the free movement of people between Switzerland and the European Union.

The parties also talked about international relations, including migration, the situation in Belarus, and relations with Russia.

Other MPs who took part in the meeting were the Chairman of the Estonia-Switzerland Parliamentary Group Anti Poolamets, and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Valdo Randpere. The schedule also includes meetings with the Estonia-Switzerland Parliamentary Group, and the Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Riina Sikkut.

NordenBladet — On Friday, Moret will meet with the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and members of the Estonia-Switzerland Parliamentary Group. She will also meet with the Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Riina Sikkut.  

The visit will include meetings with a Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications expert on energy markets, and with the Head of the Health Service of the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre that manages digital prescriptions.

Today, the Swiss official will visit the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and the e-Estonia Briefing Centre. Moret will depart on Saturday.

NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas welcomed today’s judgment of the Supreme Court of Estonia, according to which the mandatory funded pension reform was not unconstitutional.

“With this judgment, the Supreme Court expressed its high appreciation for the quality of the work of the Parliament. The decision of the Supreme Court to declare the pension reform constitutional proves the excellent level of legislative drafting of the Riigikogu, especially considering the importance and complexity of the reform, and the emotional discussions that accompanied it,” Põlluaas said,

Põlluaas thinks that the judgement of the Supreme Court on constitutionality brought about final legal clarity. “This judgment deprived the accusations against the reform of their basis,” Põlluaas pointed out. “It is especially important that the people of Estonia could be sure that the legislative drafting activities conducted in the Parliament are in accordance with the Constitution.”

“The mandatory funded pension reform adopted by the Riigikogu takes into account and protects in the best way the interests of our working people and our people who receive pension,” the President of the Riigikogu added.

On 29 January this year, the Riigikogu passed the Act on Amendments to the Funded Pensions Act and Other Associated Acts (108 UA), which made joining the second pillar pension scheme and leaving it voluntary. 56 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of and 45 were against the Act, which was tied to a vote of confidence in the Government. The President twice refused to proclaim the Act, and contested it in the Supreme Court on the grounds of unconstitutionality of the reform.

NordenBladet — The Bill that passed the second reading will change the functions of the Place Names Board in the resolution of place name disputes.

Under the Bill on Amendments to the Place Names Act (186 SE), initiated by the Government, the Place Names Board will no longer resolve extra-judicial disputes over the establishment and use of place names, and the resolution of disputes will remain to the local authorities who make the decisions. The Place Names Board will advise local authorities and will give its weighted positions in name disputes where necessary. This way the name dispute process will be shorter and more effective and will take place on a correct basis and at the correct level.

The Bill will provide more clearly for the status of place name to preclude cases where a name is intended to give a named feature a legal status, that is, to change the regime of the rights and obligations of the named feature.

Amendments will also be made to the procedure for the establishment of the Place Names Board. In the future, the Minister of Public Administration will establish the statutes of the Place Names Board, and the number of the members of the Place Name Board will no longer be determined at the level of Act. At present, the Board may have 11-15 members.

The Bill will transfer the maintenance of the national place names register from the Ministry of Finance to the Land Board who is the authorised processor of the register at present. According to the Bill, the functions of the authorised processor of the register will be assigned to the information technology centre of the Ministry of the Environment. On the basis of that, in the future, the Minister of the Environment will also establish the statutes of the register.

During the second reading, an amendment was made to the Bill, according to which it will be prohibited to establish as commemorative names the names of the persons who have acted against the establishment of the Republic of Estonia, the maintenance of constitutional order or the restoration of Estonia’s independence. In the event of a conflict, the names authority will have to change the place name.

During the debate, Mihhail Stalnuhhin (Centre Party), Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), Viktor Vassiljev (Centre Party) and Aadu Must (Centre Party) took the floor.

NordenBladet — The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) starts discussions on the Arctic issues. In order to get background information for the discussions, the Committee decided to commission a study that would provide an overview of Estonia’s interests and opportunities in connection with global developments in the Arctic, and of Estonia’s readiness for cooperation with the countries of the Arctic region.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that the aim of the study was to get the opinion of experts on several issues connected with the Arctic, like topics relating to economic activities, environmental changes, security, research and development and the situation of indigenous peoples. “The economic and environmental topics connected with the Arctic are becoming more and more important every day for many countries, and it is important to start thoroughly analysing Estonia’s possibilities to have a say in these issues,” he pointed out. “The resolution of the Government of the Republic to apply for the status of an observer state is an important step in shaping Estonia’s Arctic policy. The Foreign Affairs Committee wishes to contribute to it through its discussions,” Eesmaa added.

“Observer status in the Arctic Council would open a new door for Estonia to contribute to resolving the issues faced by a region that is attracting ever-increasing global attention,” Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson noted. “Participating in the work of the Council is a unique opportunity for the Estonian scientists, as well as for developing the possibilities and economic activities of our transport and logistics sector.”

“The possibility to enhance our allied relations is an important added value of the observer status. Thus, one of the purposes of the study is to get an overview of Estonia’s opportunities for cooperation in Arctic issues at the European Union level and in regional formats, as well as for bilateral cooperation with the member states and observer states of the Arctic Council,” Mihkelson added.

The Committee expects the study to be ready by spring 2021.

Earlier studies and public opinion polls commissioned by the Riigikogu are available on the Riigikogu website.

The Foreign Affairs Committee also discussed the Arctic issues at a video conference today, where representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave an overview on Estonia’s application for observer status in the Arctic Council.

NordenBladet — Today, on the Finno-Ugric Day, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas sent a video greeting to the Speakers of the Parliaments of Finland and Hungary. He pointed out that multiplicity of cultures had a decisive role in preserving and strengthening of civilizations.

Põlluaas underlined that the Finno-Ugric Day was an excellent example of the cultural and educational cooperation between Estonia, Finland, Hungary, and the Finno-Ugric peoples living in Russia “Let us strengthen the ties between the Finno-Ugric peoples and support each other both in troubles and in success,” the President of the Riigikogu said.

“It is very important to introduce our kindred nations and their concerns to the wider world and to strengthen their cultural self-awareness,” Põlluaas emphasised. “Multiplicity of cultures has a decisive role in preserving and strengthening of civilizations. We, the parliamentarians, have the special responsibility of providing a sustainable legal setting for this.”

Põlluaas recalled that this year Estonia was to host the VIII World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. However, due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress had to be postponed. He expressed hope that the Congress would take place next year in Tartu.

The tradition of introducing kindred peoples and their cultures began in 1931, but it was discontinued when Estonia was occupied. In 1988, this tradition was revived, and in March 2011, the Riigikogu adopted a resolution to celebrate the Finno-Ugric Day as a national holiday and a flag day in Estonia on the third weekend of October.