Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Anneli Ott participates in the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The meeting focuses on the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and on bringing Europe closer to citizens.
“Now that the new European Commission has been in office for some months, it is time to discuss with the representatives of all member states how the national parliaments can contribute to bringing the European Union issues closer to citizens,” Ott said.
The Chairpersons of the European Union affairs committees of the national parliaments will hold two panel discussions today. The first discussion will focus on the priorities of the Croatian Presidency. Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković will deliver the opening speech of the panel. Croatia has promised to deal with the strengthening of the digitalisation agenda and the competitiveness of European industry and small and medium enterprises during its Presidency period.
The second panel will be opened by Vice-President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica, who is in charge of democracy and demography. Mairead McGuinness, First Vice-President of the European Parliament in charge of relations with the National Parliaments, is the keynote speaker at the session.
NordenBladet —The investment protection agreement between the European Union and Singapore, passed in the Riigikogu today, aims to improve the investment climate between the EU and Singapore.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement benefits European investors, ensuring the protection of high-level investments in Singapore, at the same time reserving the parties the right to regulate the sector and to establish legal provisions. The agreement establishes an investment tribunal system of two instances which aims to ensure better legal protection to investors and to consider their disputes more quickly and transparently. The agreement also ensures the protection of Singaporean investors in Europe.
The draft agreement was approved at the sitting of the Government on 4 October 2018. Estonia signed the agreement in Luxembourg on 15 October 2018. The EU and Singapore signed the agreement at the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Brussels on 19 October 2018. The agreement enters into force after all countries have ratified the agreement according to their national procedures.
According to the data of the Bank of Estonia, Singapore’s direct investments in Estonia totalled 136.2 million euro as at June last year. That accounted for 0.6% of direct investments in Estonia. Investments have mainly been made in processing industry, and they make up 83% of the investments. Estonia’s direct investments in Singapore totalled 2.5 million euro. Investments have been made in processing industry, wholesale and retail trade, the information and communications sector, financial and insurance activities, real estate, and vocational, research and technology activities.
In 2018, Estonian exports to Singapore totalled 47 million euro, and Estonian imports from Singapore totalled 5 million euro. More than 10,000 EU companies have been established in Singapore, and they service the whole Pacific region from there. In 2016, the volume of mutual investments amounted to 256 billion euro.
80 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act on the Ratification of the Investment Protection Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Singapore, of the other part (104 SE).
NordenBladet —A Bill passed the second reading in the Riigikogu. It will create the possibility to apply for citizenship under a simplified procedure for minors who were born in Estonia and whose parents or grandparents have resided here before the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia.
The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (58 SE), initiated by the Government, concerns minors one of whose parents is of undetermined nationality and whose other parent is a citizen of a foreign country. According to the Bill, a minor will acquire Estonian citizenship at the request of his or her legal representative if his or her parent or grandparent was a resident of Estonia as at 20 August 1991. If a minor who wishes to acquire Estonian citizenship is a citizen of another country, he or she will first have to renounce citizenship of the relevant country. A Resolution of the Government on the granting of Estonian citizenship will enter into force on the day following the day on which the certificate to the effect that the person has been released from citizenship of the other country is submitted to the governmental authority authorised by the Government.Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor during the debate, and on behalf of his faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. 33 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 52 were against. Thus, the motion was not supported and the second reading of the Bill was concluded.
NordenBladet —At its today’s sitting, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) heard the overview on foreign relations by the President of the Riigikogu, and recommended him to keep his personal opinion and his party’s position apart from representing the Parliament in his statements on the Estonian-Russian border agreement.
President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas explained the Foreign Affairs Committee his positions on the Estonian-Russian border treaty and the Tartu Peace Treaty. He said that his remarks had been based on his own clear views and the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that the Committee heard the explanations of the President of the Riigikogu, and wished to clarify Põlluaas’s recent statements on the Estonian-Russian border issues, which Russia had interpreted as the position of the Estonian Parliament. “Today’s debate was really necessary, we specified our positions and recommended the President of the Riigikogu to underline when he is expressing his personal opinions in his statements,” Eesmaa added.
Eesmaa also said that legal continuity was very important, and that all earlier resolutions of the Riigikogu and the Government on the Estonian-Russian border treaty were valid, as they had not been amended. “Although the present composition of the Riigikogu has not adopted any resolutions in this issue, this does not mean that the resolutions of the previous composition are not in force,” Eesmaa emphasised.
Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the Parliament had to proceed from the law, and pursuant to the Foreign Relations Act, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu coordinated the foreign relations of the Riigikogu. “The rules of procedure say that the President of the Riigikogu represents the Riigikogu, and the good practice in democratic parliamentary countries is that the principles and the positions that have been formulated at the debates in the Parliament must be adhered to,” Mihkelson pointed out.
According to him, it is unacceptable that the President of the Riigikogu does not proceed from the earlier resolutions of the Parliament and presents his personal and his political party’s opinions in his statements and interviews in such a way that they may be interpreted as the Parliament’s position.
Mihkelson emphasised that nobody was attacking the personal positions of Henn Põlluaas, but it was necessary to clarify which resolutions of the Riigikogu were the basis for the statements Põlluaas as the President of the Riigikogu had expressed in the media on the issues regarding the border treaty.
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NordenBladet – In 2019, the annual cargo volumes of listed Estonian port operator Port of Tallinn (Tallinna Sadam) totaled 19.9 million tons, down 3.3 percent on year, while the number of passengers served increased by 0.2 percent on year to a record 10.64 million passengers.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, 5.6 million tons of cargo and 2.3 million passengers passed through ports operated by Port of Tallinn. Compared with the same period the previous year, cargo volumes increased by 12.3 percent due primarily to liquid bulk. Passenger volumes increased by 1.2 percent, and the number of ship calls increased by 2.8 percent to 1,893 calls, Tallinna Sadam told the Tallinn Stock Exchange (TSE).
In 2019, the Port of Tallinn’s annual cargo volume totaled 19.9 million tons, decreasing by 3.3 percent on year due primarily to a decrease in liquid bulk volumes in the third quarter which, on the other hand, was balanced by growth in dry bulk.
The number of passengers, meanwhile, increased by 0.2 percent on year, reaching a record of 10.64 million passengers. This growth was driven by passenger traffic between Estonia and Finland on the Tallinn-Helsinki and Muuga-Vuosaari routes, bu was also supported by another annual record of 660,000 cruise ship passengers.
According to Port of Tallinn CEO Valdo Kalm, it is positive that the strong growth in liquid bulk in the fourth quarter, which was driven by increased demand for storage and the blending of dark petroleum products due to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) requirements for marine fuels entering into effect in the beginning of 2020, helped significantly reduce the drop in annual cargo volumes compared with the resul for the first nine months of the year. At the same time, liquid cargo business remains volatile, and growth in the fourth quarter should not be interpreted as a continuing trend.
The on-year decrease in liquid cargo was also compensated by the growth of dry bulk, due primarily to the export of Estonian grain and the import of crushed stone.
“For the number of passengers, we set a record for the 12th consecutive year, thanks to the recovery of passenger traffic between Estonia and Finland, which was also strongly supported by the addition of servicing passengers with vehicles and the addition of a new ship on the Muuga-Vuosaari route,” Kalm noted. “In the cruise business, we have once again achieved a record, and Tallinn remains one of the most attractive cruise destinations in Europe.”
NordenBladet – Last year, the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) sold altogether 610,000 cubic meters of firewood worth €18.5 million. Compared with 2018, the amount of firewood sold increased 7.9 percent, or by 45,000 cubic meters. The monetary value thereof, however, increased by 19.4 percent, or by €3 million, RMK Timber Marketing Department director Ulvar Kaubi told BNS.
Altogether 62 percent of firewood sold last year was hardwood, with coniferous woods making up the other 38 percent.
RMK sold 17,000 cubic meters of firewood to private persons in 2019, down from 22,000 cubic meters in 2018.
NordenBladet – The reauthorization of a cross-border aid mechanism for Syria was put to a vote on Friday ahead of its expiration at midnight, marking the first time that Estonia voted as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The council voted to extend the cross-border authorization, although to a reduced extent, facing pressure from permanent council member Russia, who vetoed one draft resolution extending it last month.
Two options were on the table at the Security Council, one of which was sponsored by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait and the other by Russia.
A compromise resolution was passed with 11 votes in favor and none against. Four permanent council members, Russia, China, the U.S. and the U.K., abstained from the vote.
Under this resolution, which was approved for just half a year, humanitarian aid will be transported via two existing border crossings on the Syria-Turkey border. Under a previous mandate, which expired at midnight, humanitarian aid was passed through four border crossings in total.
Belgian and French representatives expressed disappointment over the outcome.
“Eleven million Syrians need humanitarian assistance,” said Belgian Ambassador to the UN Marc Pectseen de Buytswerve.
“Syrians will die as a result of this resolution,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft.
NordenBladet —The extraordinary sitting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) today focused on the situation in Iraq and the possibilities for relieving tensions in the region. The Committee was given an overview of Estonia’s positions for the upcoming extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels.
In the opinion of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa, it is important to cool tensions in the Middle East and to prevent escalation of the conflict. He said that Estonia supported its ally, the United States of America, and followed developments in the region.
Eesmaa pointed out the need to observe and follow international law. “It is necessary to avoid the risk of interpreting and implementing international law selectively,” he added.
Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson also emphasised the importance of international law and the world order based on it. “The rules-based world order and adherence to international law can ensure stability in the Middle East,” Mihkelson said. “Estonia as a small country is interested that our own security would not be threatened through the erosion of international law.”
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented to the Foreign Affairs Committee Estonia’s positions for the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, due to be held in Brussels on 10 January.
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NordenBladet —Speaking today in Nõmme Rahu (Peace) Church to commemorate the War of Independence Armistice Day and the War of Independence Veterans Day, the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas said that we still needed the courage, bravery and inextinguishable striving for freedom now, when one hundred years have passed since the weapons fell silent on our battlefronts.
“Exactly one hundred years ago today, the weapons fell silent and the armistice between the Republic of Estonia and the Bolshevist Russia entered into force,” Põlluaas said. One month later, the armistice extended into the Tartu Peace Treaty that ended all military activities.
“The endless noise of the battlefields ceased and suddenly everything became so silent. But there was a great power in that silence… The power that took us to the stabilisation of our independence,” noted the President of the Riigikogu.
Põlluaas said that today we bow our heads in memory of the fallen, and thank the fighters and victims of the War of Independence for our sovereignty. “We promise to be worthy of these men and women, and to defend our country and our people. If necessary, with a weapon in hand, as did our freedom fighters in World War II, and our Forest Brothers for long years after that,” Põlluaas said.
“In the battles of the War of Independence, we saw courage, bravery and inextinguishable striving for freedom. We still need all that now, when one hundred years have passed since the weapons fell silent on our battlefronts,” Põlluaas added.
The President of the Riigikogu also said that we must be strong and stand united. “Unanimously, and together with our friends and allies, we can ensure stability and lasting peace for our country and our nation.”
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The wonderful holidays are over and it is the New Year. We have stepped into the second decade of the third millennium. Last year was crammed full of significant events.
As the President of the Riigikogu, I first remember the anniversary of the parliament. In April, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first democratic representative body of Estonia – the Constituent Assembly. This also marks the birth of the Riigikogu.
The Estonian flag had its 135th, and the Song Celebration its 150th anniversary. What did people sing about at the first Song Celebration? About the Estonian language and ideas, the beauty of nature, meandering rivers and glittering lakes, about the soul and happiness. Warm feelings and goodness abounded. This is also how we sing today.
Estonia is the only country in the world where people speak, sing, and think in Estonian. Estonian became the national language one hundred years ago. And one hundred years have also passed since the reopening of our Estonian-medium national university – the University of Tartu. However, we cannot get by everywhere in Estonia in our mother tongue. A growing concern is also the increasingly important role played by the English language in higher education as well as in the service industry. We must keep and protect our mother tongue.
Friends,
We have reason to be proud of our school students. Last year, they rose to the first place in Europe, and rank among the top achievers in the world in the PISA test. This is a high praise to the Estonian education system. Young people, tomorrow is in your hands, it is up to you to shape it and make it work.
2019 was also a memorable year in the Estonian sports. Ott Tänak became the World Rally Champion. Congratulations to Tänak and his whole team. We are proud of your achievements. Little Estonia is definitely growing bigger through sports. I wish all the success to our athletes at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Last year also brought international success to Estonia. We were elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. This requires us to take positions in many global topics, and will increase our visibility. At the same time, taking positions in complicated topics can also lead to being a target for negative feelings. All in all, carrying our Estonia’s foreign policy in the Security Council will not be an easy task.
The world has become more complex than it was a dozen years ago. The future of the European Union is important to us. We must keep an eye on Russia, who is carrying out its own aggressive geopolitical ambitions. Enhancing our defence capability and a stronger NATO presence are some of the main priorities of Estonia’s security. As are strengthening the transatlantic relations and cooperating with all our allies and friends.
Compatriots,
A new Riigikogu was elected in March last year; this led to a new government coalition that represents the majority of the people. The government coalition is working towards making Estonia a good place to live, so that our people would come back home.
It has been a tradition in Estonia to give a new coalition 100 days without criticism. This worthy practice was flouted this time: by the opposition, the media, and the President. I would like to urge you all to be more thoughtful and respectful towards each other. Destructive attitude and confrontation take us nowhere.
The Republic of Estonia has been established to preserve the Estonian language, people, and culture. This is enshrined in our Constitution. I will never get tired of repeating that. This is the principle and aim that we should all be following.
February 2 will mark the 100th anniversary of signing the Tartu Peace Treaty. The Tartu Peace Treaty meant that Russia recognised the independent Estonia, it put an end to the War of Independence, and settled the Estonian-Russian border. When we regained our independence, all countries acknowledged us as the legal successor to the Republic of Estonia with all its symbols, including the state border. The Tartu Peace Treaty remains in force and has been entered in the UN register of international treaties.
People of Estonia,
‘Today I saw Estonia’, says a song. This summer, as part of the Estonian Village Movement Kodukant Village of the Year competition, I visited 15 beautiful villages across Estonia. I saw how much people care for their families and homes, their villages, how well they cooperate. Their eyes were sparkling and their actions were sincere. The joy of doing things together brings us together, and takes our people and country higher. Together we can do more than we might believe, if we are willing to work and are not afraid of challenges.
We are moving forward. We cannot turn back.
Let us be proud of our country and our people.
I hope that the New Year brings us all joy and fulfilment of our beautiful dreams.