NordenBladet —During the discussion at the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), which starts today at 10, Prime Minister of Estonia Jüri Ratas will give an overview of the activities of the Government in implementing of the European Union policies. Chairperson of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Anneli Ott will deliver a report, and the representatives of factions will present their positions.
The speech of Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will focus on the security of the European Union, issues relating to climate neutrality, digital internal market and Estonia’s main objectives in the Union in the coming years. The Prime Minister thinks that globally influential and integrated European Union, based on values and solidarity and internally effective, is in the interests of Estonia.
In her report, Chairperson of the European Union Affairs Committee Anneli Ott will speak about the challenges of climate policy and achieving an agreement on the EU’s new long-term budget for 2021–2027.
“Only a year ago, we did not speak much about the climate issues at the discussion of the European Union policy. Now the climate policy topics dominate in all fields, starting from the European Union budget and ending with agricultural policy,” Ott pointed out. She added that ambitious climate targets required good cooperation and great flexibility from all member states. “It is the greatest challenge of the new budget period and a stress test for the functioning of the Union. But ambitious targets can be achieved only by mobilising oneself and joining forces,” Ott said.
The discussion of the activities of the Government in implementing of the European Union policies will be live streamed on the web page of the Riigikogu.
The Estonian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly participates in the NATO PA Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum in Washington this week.
Head of the Estonian Delegation, member of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Oudekki Loone said that practically all focus issues and challenges of international politics of today would be discussed at the Forum, mainly from the position of the organising country the USA: from nuclear weapons to the elections in the USA, the crises in Syria Afghanistan and more generally in the Middle East.
“One of the most relevant tasks of the NATO PA is giving the member states an opportunity to exchange ideas on all these topics,” Loone added. She thinks that it is important that Estonia contributes to such discussions. “At the same time I would like to emphasise to my Estonian colleagues that although a wider discussion is necessary, NATO’s central role is ensuring peace in Europe, and not interfering in every conflict across the world. It is better to do one thing well than many things poorly,” Loone said.
The opening panel of the Forum today will be devoted to Transatlantic relations after the London Leaders Meeting. It will be followed by discussions about nuclear weapons and arms control, the changing global order, the state of Transatlantic relations, the Syrian crisis and the situation in Iran, the Far East, Russia and Ukraine. The 2020 elections in the US as well as the US defence priorities and the US approach to the war in Afghanistan will also be spoken about.
Besides the Head of the Delegation Oudekki Loone, members of the Estonian Delegation to the NATO PA Andres Metsoja and Ants Laaneots will also attend the Forum.
NordenBladet — The Bill that will amend the rates of the state fees for acts performed in foreign missions and will establish new state fees for acts which as yet are not subject to a fee passed the second reading in the Riigikogu today.
With the Bill on Amendments to the State Fees Act, the Identity Documents Act and the Consular Act (78 SE), initiated by the Government, the planned state fees for acts performed in foreign missions are intended to be brought in line with actual costs. The state fee charged for acts performed under Acts in foreign missions will be raised so that it will be higher by 30 euro than the state fee charged for the performance of the same acts in Estonia. The Bill has been drafted in particular to cover the costs related to accepting applications, issuing documents and using the postal service. A state fee for issuing documents in Estonian foreign missions and through honorary consuls will also be established. This service has so far been free of charge.
A Bill was dropped from the proceedings of the Riigikogu:
The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol Act (83 SE), initiated by members of the Riigikogu Kalle Laanet, Jürgen Ligi, Andrus Seeme, Kristen Michal, Erkki Keldo, Annely Akkermann, Kristina Šmigun-Vähi, Urmas Kruuse, Vilja Toomast, Jüri Jaanson, Aivar Sõerd, Ants Laaneots and Toomas Kivimägi, provided for granting local governments greater rights to regulate the sale of alcohol on their territories.
The Bill would have allowed municipal councils to restrict the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the spot on their entire administrative territories or parts thereof for the period from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., and from 12 midnight to 10 a.m. on the nights preceding days off.
During the debate, Jürgen Ligi from the Reform Party Faction and Tarmo Kruusimäe from the Faction Isamaa took the floor.
The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 43 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion, 20 were against, and there was one abstention. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.
NordenBladet — Today, the Cultural Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) were given an overview of the activities of Estonia in supporting the Finno-Ugric peoples and of the preparations for the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples, which would take place in Tartu in summer.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that overviews of the situation of Finno-Ugric peoples had been on the agenda of the Committee since 2005. He pointed out that today’s meeting had been the Foreign Affairs Committee’s 20th hearing on the Finno-Ugric topic, and the third to be held together with the Cultural Affairs Committee.
In reply to the question raised by Eesmaa on the work-related migration of the Finno-Ugric peoples, the Committees were explained that the population number of our kindred nations was decreasing fast because people had been leaving mainly for more rapidly developing regions in the Russian Arctic in search for better work and bread. It is also a wide-spread practice to go to Moscow and Saint Petersburg for seasonal work because there are not enough jobs in the region.
Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee Aadu Must drew a parallel between the situation of Finno-Ugric kindred peoples and the Estonians living in Siberia. He said that the Finno-Ugric peoples were facing very serious problems, from Russification of names to the possibilities of learning their languages.
The fact that supporters of Finno-Ugric peoples have had difficulties with extending the Russian visa that is necessary for their work was highlighted at the sitting as being of particular concern.
Member of the Cultural Affairs Committee Signe Kivi considered it important to support the studies and culture of the students belonging to Uralic indigenous peoples who study at the Estonian universities. Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson acknowledged Estonia’s work with the kindred peoples. In his opinion, the Kindred Peoples’ Programme is an excellent example of how Estonia as a small country can keep contacts with the kindred peoples and really do something for small nations.
The Committees were told about the preparations for the 8th World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. The main theme of the Congress will be “Cultural landscapes – language and mind”. Besides the problems relating to language preservation, language imparting and bilingualism, the impact of climate change on Finno-Ugric peoples and the issues of cultural innovation will be discussed at the Congress held at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu from 17 to19 June 2020.
Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Anti Poolamets underlined as a positive message that the topics of the Congress also include the opportunities of traditional and new media channels as well as the application of contemporary linguistic technologies within networks of Finno-Ugric peoples.
It was also that the Finno-Ugric peoples were having great problems with the media in their national languages, because there are few TV and radio channels. The situation of national languages in the Internet is a little better. The spread of national languages is also hindered by the legislative amendment passed in Russia in 2018, as a result of which national languages are taught and studied significantly less at schools.
Member of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples Tõnu Seilenthal, Director Viia-Kadi Raudalainen and Counselor Jaak Prozes from NPO Fenno-Ugria, Chair of the Board of the Kindred Peoples’ Programme Sirli Zupping, Member of the Council of Elders of the Seto Congress Rieka Hõrn and representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture were invited to the sitting.
NordenBladet – The skills of Estonian students rank 1st in Europe according to the OECD’s international survey PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). Estonian students rank first in all three domains of assessment. The share of top performers has increased while the share of students performing below the baseline level has decreased. The results indicate that the level of education provided by basic school is not dependent on the socio-economic background of a student.
>Estonia’s 15-year-olds rank 1st in reading, science and mathematics in Europe while in the world, Estonia’s students rank 5th in reading, 8th in mathematics and 4th in sciences. Estonia belongs to one of five countries globally where students have demonstrated improved results in two domains. The PISA results suggest that Estonia’s education system is effective and ensures equity – compared to other countries, there is a large number of students who despite socio-economic disadvantage attain a high level of academic proficiency.
“We must first of all thank our students, parents and teachers for these results. Their dedication and hard work each day gives us reason to take pride in our education,” said Mailis Reps, the Minister of Education and Research of Estonia. “Our consistently excellent PISA results show that we have made right choices in our education policy in this fast-changing world. I am glad that Estonia is increasingly known and recognised as an education nation.”
PISA 2018 focused on reading literacy. The Estonian results demonstrate a steady growth in performance, increasing by 22 points compared to 2009 when reading literacy was last assessed. The difference between the performance of boys and girls has declined significantly. Estonian students are very good in searching for information and data. The number of top performers has increased compared to the last PISA assessment in 2015. 13.9% of students are able to solve complicated and very complicated tasks compared to OECD’s average of 8.5%.
Estonian students have one of the highest levels of knowledge in natural sciences (biology, physics and chemistry): 1st in Europe and OECD member states, and 4th in the world. The share of top performers in sciences is double the OECD average (12.2% compared to 6.8%). Estonia also has the lowest number (8.8%) of low performing students among European and OECD member states (the OECD average is 22%).
In mathematics, Estonian students rank 1st in Europe and 8th in the world. 15.5% of students are top performers compared to OECD average of 5%. Boys rank slightly higher than girls in mathematics.
PISA assesses skills necessary for future
The domains PISA assesses play fundamental role in students’ future studies and performance, said Gunda Tire, the PISA Coordinator in Estonia and expert at the Foundation Innove. “PISA provides countries with feedback on their education system. The results are helpful for understanding which aspects of the education system require more attention,” said Tire. “In addition to skills and knowledge, PISA also looks as students’ well-being.”
The majority (77%) of Estonian students exhibit growth mindset – they believe that they are capable of improving their intelligence and are willing to put effort into their own development in order to secure a better future. This is the highest among OECD countries. 70% of students plan to attain higher education; the most popular professions are ICT specialist, doctor, CEO, architect and psychologist.
On average, 70% of Estonian students are satisfied with their life, which is above OECD’s average. For the first time, PISA 2018 studied how students feel in their lives. Results demonstrate that 89% of students feel always happy and cheerful while 53% are worried and 51% sad.
Estonia’s challenges
While the differences in results between boys and girls in reading literacy has decreased and both genders have improved significantly, the share of low-performing boys is larger than we would like. A student-oriented approach and a greater attention to different approaches are something that help to decrease the number of low performers.
Similarly to previous results, a performance gap between schools with different languages of instruction persists. The consistent gap shows that more attention must be paid to training teachers and headmasters. It must be highlighted that students at schools with Russian as the language of instruction perform above the OECD average.
Estonia’s education know-how in the world
Thanks to the excellent results in PISA, Estonia has become an education expert in the world, said minister Mailis Reps. “I am glad that we have proven ourselves to the world in three of the most important domains. By learning from other countries, we have been able to shape our unique path that has made us a top performer. We have become from students to teachers. Now it is our turn to share our expertise and know-how,” said Reps.
“There is great interest in our success story. We have a story to share with the world. We have established an international brand and concept to introduce Estonia’s education,” Reps added.
The brand is called “Education Nation – for the smartEST people in the world”. Working together gives an opportunity to go further, increase the attractiveness of Estonia and provide better support to Estonian education technology companies, said Reps. The brand helps to share Estonia’s know-how, competences, experiences, trainings, smart solutions or products better and it will assemble a number of initiatives and undertakings that showcase Estonia’s education.
Background
79 countries and economies and 600 000 students aged 15 participated in PISA 2018 testing. 5371 students from Estonia participated in the test (4000 in Estonian language and 1371 in Russian language).
PISA focuses on the 15-year-olds because at this age, students in many OECD countries graduate compulsory education and decide their next steps.
PISA is a triennial international survey with a goal to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students in mathematics, reading and sciences. Each PISA cycle explores one of the subjects in more detail. PISA 2018 focused on reading literacy. The financial literacy was also studies and the results will be published in 2020.
NordenBladet —Members of the European Union Affairs Committee (EUAC) of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) are taking part in the Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) in Helsinki.
Chair of the EUAC Anneli Ott said that the newly appointed European Commission had set climate-neutral Europe by 2050 one of its clear political goals. “The European Parliament has declared climate emergency, and it is certainly not possible to avoid climate issues. But as Ursula von der Leyen pointed out in her speech, transition towards climate neutrality must be just and inclusive – or it will not happen at all,” Ott said.
Deputy Chair of the EUAC Riina Sikkut emphasised that the new Commission had also adopted strengthening Europe’s global position and innovation in digital technology as its targets. “Europe must own key technologies itself and not import them. If we do not control data and technologies and the ways they are used, then it is not possible to achieve top-level technological innovation ambitions,” Sikkut said.
Today, the COSAC agenda includes Finnish Presidency, promoting rule of law and fundamental rights in the European Union, and discussion on the main objectives of the new European Commission. The last panel will open with a speech by Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič. Prime Minister of Finland Antti Rinne will give an overview of the achievements of the Finnish Presidency.
Tomorrow, COSAC Plenary Assembly will focus on the European climate strategy. The debate is opened by presentations from climate specialists. The delegations of the Member States will then discuss how climate and energy policy could launch a new era in European economy. The EU Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier will also make a speech.
The Plenary Meeting of the COSAC is taking place in Helsinki until 3 December. Other participants from Estonia are Tarmo Kruusimäe and Oudekki Loone.
NordenBladet —The Rail Baltica project, development of the energy market, hydrogen perspective and higher education in the Baltic States were discussed at the 38th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 25th Baltic Council held in Riga (Latvia) today.
Head of the Estonian Delegation to the BA Aadu Must said that the Baltic Assembly had always had serious discussions on common national defence issues. “This does not mean only military national defence, but also other issues relating to it. Cross-border cooperation in its full extent is very important in medicine and organ transplantation. And in the joint procurement of medicines, and generally in various cross-border joint procurements that have brought real financial benefits,” Must explained.
Estonia is taking over the BA Presidency from Latvia today, and Aadu Must becomes the President of the Baltic Assembly. Must said that Baltic partnership in defence and security, development of energy and transport connections and regional networks in research and education would be the priorities of Estonia’s Presidency. “We strive for promoting of cooperation not only between the Baltic States, but also with our more distant partners,” Must added.
Member of the Estonian delegation to the BA Sven Sester participated as a co-chair in the theme panels dealing with the development of the energy market and the hydrogen perspective. In his opinion, energy security in the Baltic States has been a major issue through the years, and different energy sources are also relevant. “We pay more and more attention to potential additional alternative energy sources and we are jointly tackling with creating a common interest in different renewable energy issues in the Baltic States, like the wind energy, hydro power, and why not also nuclear power in the future,” Sester said.
He added that one of the discussion panels had been dedicated to the issues relating to hydrogen. “We spoke about the issues that are connected with hydrogen and its use for the benefit of society. The common interest of the Baltic States is to go further and deeper with the possible use of hydrogen in transport, and also in other spheres,” Sester explained.
Member of the Estonian Delegation Signe Kivi co-chaired the panel discussing Baltic cooperation in higher education. She believes that the Baltic cooperation in education, culture and research is based on trust, partnership and view to the future. “Nothing can be more forward-looking than cooperation in education and research. Therefore, it is a great pleasure to take over the torch, and add some new aspects to it. Some weeks ago, I made a proposal here in Riga that we should pay more attention to ecological footprint in cultural management. We know that this is a significant issue in the whole world, and people in the culture sector should also contribute. Our Latvian and Lithuanian colleagues found that it is a very important topic, and Estonia will make it one of the priorities of its presidency,” Kivi said.
The Joint Statement of the 25th Baltic Council and the Final Document of the 38th Session of the BA are signed, and the BA Resolution is adopted today at the Session.
The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States and discusses issues of mutual interest. A 12-member delegation of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) represents Estonia in the Assembly.
Today, the Estonian delegation to the Baltic Assembly (BA) is going to the 38th session of the Assembly in Riga. Tomorrow, Estonia will become the BA presidency country for the next year. The Baltic Assembly presidency is held on the principle of rotation.
The President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas said that the three Baltic states were more interconnected globally than ever before. “Our contribution to the national, regional and allied security starts with our individual awareness of the responsibility we have in developing and protecting democracy and the rule of law. When we think about our recent history, we often understand each other almost without the need for words. Our countries are free and democratic, our languages and cultures are here to stay, and we are reliable partners for our friends and allies,” Põlluaas said.
The President of the Riigikogu added that Baltic defence cooperation needs to be enhanced to ensure our security, and we must also involve our NATO allies through a larger permanent presence.
The Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA Aadu Must said that traditions and mutual trust have helped the Assembly to make this form of cooperation an extremely efficient means of achieving common goals. “This cooperation has passed the test of history, strengthening our fight to restore our independence and enhancing our coordinated actions, thoughts and development plans. These traditions are still going strong,” Must said.
Estonia is taking over the BA presidency from Latvia tomorrow, and Aadu Must will become the President of the Assembly. “I would like to acknowledge the huge work done by the current President Jānis Vucāns who put his whole heart into it. It is a great honour to continue his work,” Must said.
At the sitting of the 38th Baltic Assembly and the 25th Baltic Council on 29 November, the Latvian presidency is presenting its report, and discussions are held on the Rail Baltica project, development of the energy market, perspectives on hydrogen, and higher education in the Baltic states. The BA Resolution and the Final Document of the 38th session will be passed and a Joint Statement of the Baltic Council of Ministers will be signed.
At the Baltic Assembly Award Ceremony tonight, Leelo Tungal will receive this year’s BA Prize for Literature.
The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States that discusses issues of mutual interest. A 12-member delegation of the Riigikogu represents Estonia in the Assembly.
Riigikogu Press Service Veiko Pesur Phone 631 6353, 55 590 595 e-mail veiko.pesur@riigikogu.ee Questions press@riigikogu.ee
NordenBladet —The Foreign Affairs Committee is on a visit to Paris today and tomorrow. In the meetings, discussions on the future of Europe focus on both the transatlantic security architecture and the global challenges.
“Estonia has active and very good relations with France,” Chairman of the committee Enn Eesmaa said. “We are like-minded with the French in many issues. For example, we have similar interests and a deepening cooperation in cyber issues. We are also ready to closely cooperate with France in the UN Security Council over 2020-2021.”
Eesmaa said that Estonia was grateful to France for having made a significant contribution to the security of the Baltic states through its presence on NATO’s eastern flank and participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson said that, in the meetings during the committee’s visit to Paris, they wished to become clear on France’s goals in the shaping of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Mihkelson also wishes to explain to his French colleagues the need for the European Union and NATO to expand, and Estonia’s positions on supporting the Eastern partnership countries. He also wishes to discuss cooperation in the UN Security Council.
Today, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee meets the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of France Marielle de Sarnez and members of the French-Baltic friendship group of the Senate. In the evening, the Estonian Embassy will host a reception to mark the fifth anniversary of e-residency, which the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee will attend.
Tomorrow, the day will start with a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France. Thereafter the committee will meet Emmanuel Bonne, Foreign Policy Adviser to President Macron. A meeting with Christian Cambon, President of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee of the Senate is scheduled for the afternoon. The delegation is also planning to hold meetings with representatives of the Estonian community and analysts of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank.
The delegation includes Chairman of the committee Enn Eesmaa, Deputy Chairman Marko Mihkelson and members Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Ruuben Kaalep and Raivo Tamm.
NordenBladet —At his meeting with Governor General of Canada Julie Payette, the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas spoke of the possibilities of e-governance and the development of the digital state, and the defence cooperation in NATO.
“The relations between Estonia and Canada are excellent, and we recognise similar values in terms of human rights, freedom of speech and free trade,” Põlluaas said. “We also have common goals in the development of the digital state, as well as maintenance of peace and security in the world.”
Põlluaas said that the allied relations in NATO also made Estonia and Canada closer. The President of the Riigikogu thanked Canada for its contribution to increasing the security in the Baltic region. The Governor General said that the contingent located in the Baltic states was the largest mission abroad of her country. She confirmed that Canada supported small states and cooperated with them in international organisations.
Põlluaas noted that despite the long distance Estonia sensed a strong emotional closeness to Canada because a large Estonian community lived there. The Governor General appreciated the contribution of the people of Estonian origin to Canadian society.
Other topics included foreign language skills of citizens, artificial intelligence and digital literacy where countries were willing to exchange their experience. With regard to digital solutions, Canada considers it important to harmonise international law.
Members of the Riigikogu Annely Akkermann and Andrei Korobeinik also participated in the meeting.
