NordenBladet – At the opening sitting of the new Riigikogu, Henn Põlluaas was elected the President of the Riigikogu, and Helir-Valdor Seeder and Siim Kallas were elected the Vice-Presidents.
The President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid opened the first sitting and also made a speech.
Kaljulaid presented her recommendations to the new Riigikogu. “Let us keep what we have and speak honestly about what to do better from now on by building, not by tearing down. Let us recognise our success as an e-state. We are proud of our role in the European Union and NATO, not merely as a member but as an active and dutiful contributor. Let us recognise and thank all those Estonian politicians who have led us so far. But let us also be honest about how to improve the functioning of society,” the President said.
“Today, the 14th composition of the Riigikogu commences work. Everyone who is here is here as a result of democratic processes. Estonia’s democracy works. Still, we should ask why, a month after the elections, a large portion of the people feel as if something has been broken in our society. Certain agreed limits no longer seem applicable. It is not a matter of world views but often of elementary politeness and respect. Of respect towards each other and the people,” Kaljulaid noted.
Then the members of the Riigikogu took their oath of office. The eldest member of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa read aloud the text of the oath.
After the members of the Riigikogu began to perform their duties, the elections of the Board of the Riigikogu were held, which were organised by Meelis Eerik, Chairman of the National Electoral Committee.
Member of the Riigikogu Martin Helme nominated Henn Põlluaas as a candidate for the President of the Riigikogu, and member of the Riigikogu Jevgeni Ossinovski nominated Sven Mikser.
100 members of the Riigikogu took part in the secret ballot. 55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Henn Põlluaas, who was elected the President of the Riigikogu, and 45 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Sven Mikser.
Member of the Riigikogu Aivar Kokk nominated Helir-Valdor Seeder as a candidate for a Vice-President, and Member of the Riigikogu Jürgen Ligi nominated Siim Kallas.
100 members of the Riigikogu took part in the secret ballot. 55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Helir-Valdor Seeder, and 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Siim Kallas. One ballot paper was invalid. Thus, Helir-Valdor Seeder was elected the First Vice-President of the Riigikogu and Siim Kallas was elected the Second Vice-President.
After the election of the Board of the Riigikogu, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas announced the resignation of the Government in accordance with the Constitution.
At the festive opening sitting of the new Riigikogu, Ellerhein Girls’ Choir conducted by Ingrid Kõrvits performed.
On Thursday, 4 April at 11 a.m., the 14th Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) will hold its opening sitting and elect the Board.
President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid will deliver the opening speech. Members of the Riigikogu sign the oath of office, which will be read out by the oldest member of the Parliament Enn Eesmaa.
The Riigikogu elects the President of the Riigikogu and two Vice Presidents from among its members.
Pursuant to the Constitution of Estonia, after the election of the Board of the Riigikogu, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas announces the resignation of the Government of the Republic.
Ellerhein Girls’ Choir, conducted by Ingrid Kõrvits, will perform at the festive opening sitting of the Riigikogu.
Dear members of the press,
You are kindly invited to attend the opening sitting of the Riigikogu and the press conference of the new Board, which will be held 15 minutes after the end of the sitting in Room L240 (next to the White Hall).
Journalists wishing to cover the opening sitting and attend the press conference are asked to register by 12 o’clock on 3 April at the latest on the web page of the Riigikogu.
Please note that the permanent accreditations of the Riigikogu are not valid on the day of the opening sitting. Unregistered representatives of media publications are not allowed entrance to the Riigikogu.
Members of the Estonian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly are in Ukraine to observe the presidential elections held on Sunday.
Head of the Estonian delegation Mart Nutt said that the situation in Ukraine was unpredictable and most probably the President would not be elected in the first round of the elections. In that case, a second round will be held on 21 April. Three candidates, Volodymyr Zelensky, who is the leading candidate, incumbent president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, have a real chance of progressing to the second round of voting.
Nutt added that the President of Ukraine was elected directly, and as Ukraine was a semi-presidential republic, its president had relatively extensive powers. “Election of the president may make Ukrainian-Russian relations tenser. The relations between Estonia and Ukraine are good, and the presidential elections probably will not have any impact on them,” Nutt said.
The presidential elections in Ukraine are also observed by members of the Estonian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Jaanus Marrandi and Mati Raidma. The members of the Estonian delegation will be staying in the capital of Ukraine Kiev and its surroundings.
Deploying of election observation missions has been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The missions monitor whether the elections are conducted legitimately and according to democratic standards. Nearly 110 observers participate in the OSCE mission in Ukraine.
Chairman of the Estonian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Marko Mihkelson participates in the meeting of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee in Honolulu, Hawaii (United States), where the Committee will visit several military bases and learn about the Pacific missile defence system.
“The Pacific region is of great relevance to the USA, the most important NATO ally. Besides the Russian and Chinese influence, a real threat caused by the North Korean nuclear programme has also emerged, especially during the last decades,” Mihkelson said before the visit. In his opinion, the visit will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about the threat picture and the necessary deterrence measures in one of the most critical regions for the USA, and thus also for the whole Alliance.
In the beginning of April, NATO will celebrate its 70th anniversary. “During those years, NATO has become the strongest defence alliance of free democratic countries, which has a stabilising impact from the Pacific region to the Baltic Sea,” Mihkelson emphasised. “NATO has justified itself in every way, and it is the duty of the allies to contribute to maintaining the operational strength of the Alliance.”
Mihkelson thinks that the visit of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee to Hawaii proves that the member states trust and defend each other, and are constantly ready for all-around cooperation.
The Committee will visit the marine base Camp H. M. Smith, the headquarters of the US Indo-Pacific Command, where the members of the Committee will be briefed about the missile emergency system and the Pacific Missile Range Facility. They will also go to the training centre and the underground fuel storage facility.
The members of the Committee will also visit Pearl Harbor military base, where they will be given an overview of the US Pacific Air Force and US Pacific Fleet, and the ballistic missile defence system.
NordenBladet —At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, deliberation of the matter of significant national importance “Information security and the associated threats to democracy and the rule of law” was held at the initiative of the Estonian Free Party Faction. Andres Herkel, Chairman of the Estonian Free Party Faction, Ilmar Raag, strategic communication expert, Helen Eenmaa-Dimitrieva, Research Fellow in IT Law at the School of Law of the University of Tartu, and Ivo Juurvee, Research Fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, made reports.
To introduce the deliberation, Andres Herkel spoke of the concept of information security. He said that the list of the problems linked to the field was much more extensive than interpretation of the information spreading via social media. Herkel pointed out that the security of large databases, the security of Internet communication and data transmission, and human rights on the Internet were also information security. He added that inasmuch as the strategic infrastructure and services such as transport and banking were operated on the basis of the Internet, the security of these sectors was also information security. “Very big security threats may be involved here. And last of all, the protection of our statehood and the democratic institutions of the state against cyber attacks and other information attacks,” Herkel said.
In his report, Ilmar Raag said that, when analysing information, the state should ask about its potential impact on the behaviour of the people and the constitutional order. He pointed out that, according to European experts’ assessment, in the case of certain criteria, the Member States had the right to define for themselves what kind of speech or influencing activity could be criminalised or repressed in another way. “The first of them is about whether the messages or activities contain a clear call to violence, and the other one is about whether it contains operations for introducing lies into public space, carried out knowingly,” Raag explained.
Helen Eenmaa-Dimitrieva spoke of the influence of technology on legal systems. She stated that little research had been done on how datafication could serve the interests of being a citizen, and freedom and social justice, but it was indispensable. “Within the context of information security, what we need is more substantive combination of mechanisms and competition – that would be of much use. It is good to use all opportunities to develop the cooperation capacity of society and the decision-making processes,” Eenmaa-Dimitrieva said.
Ivo Juurvee spoke of the influencing activities of special services in the past and today. He said that influencing activities did not include only manipulation of big data, but influencing agents had not disappeared anywhere either, and it was simpler to use them thanks to technological development. He suggested that the problem of influence agents could be reduced to a certain extent with Acts against money laundering and Acts against defamation. “And finally, more specific regulation of lobbying is also a question that the next Riigikogu could perhaps consider,” Juurvee said.
During the debate, Erki Savisaar (Centre Party), Andres Herkel (Estonian Free Party), Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform Party) and Tanel Talve (Social Democratic Party) took the floor on behalf of the factions.
Erki Savisaar said that the information analysis skill was paramount for ensuring security. When reading news and documents, people should think critically why and in whose interests they have been written. He added that innovative solutions should be found how to protect people against fake news and how to offer even better and more human-centered national services.
In his speech, Andres Herkel also called on to critically evaluate information sources, and stressed the importance of digital education. He extended a call to all political parties to conclude an agreement of goodwill to the effect that politicians do not write anonymous comments or use fake accounts.
Keit Pentus-Rosimannus said that greater unity was needed to counter extensive information and influencing operations of foreign countries. For that, she said, a coordinating unit should be designated who would address the issue, and where the know-how and experience of the field would be collected.
Tanel Talve noted in his speech that, when developing new e-services, more attention should be paid to security. He found that cross-party cooperation was possible in that issue, and called on the following Riigikogu to address it.
Three Bills passed the second reading:
The Bill on Amendments to the Estonian Defence League Act (786 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Ants Laaneots, will specify the co-operation of the Defence League with the Defence Forces in reservist trainings, in the military defence of the country and in the preparation for the collective self-defence, and upon participation in international military cooperation. Where necessary, the Government will establish additional duties for the Defence League by an order.
The Bill will also extend the entitlement of an active member of the Defence League to unpaid holidays for up to 30 days from his or her employer upon participation in military training or involvement in the activities of the Defence Forces or law enforcement. The Defence League may pay compensation for such a holiday. Under the current Act, compensation is paid to the extent of up to five days.
The Bill on Amendments to the Police and Border Guard Act and the Rescue Service Act (768 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for a more flexible organisation of the employment in service of the Deputy Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board, and the promotion in the service rank of a police officer, and specifies the grant of the state old-age pension of rescue service workers.
Under the current procedure, old-age pension is granted to rescue service workers on the basis of the State Pension Insurance Act. In addition, the Rescue Service Act provides for an increase of 10-15 per cent in old-age pension, depending on the length of service of rescue service worker (starting from the tenth year). In practice the question has arisen as to whether a person who has the required length of rescue service but who attains pension age after 1 March 2023 would not benefit from an increase in their pension. According to the Bill, the person would retain the entitlement to the increase in old-age pension.
The Bill also provides for the entitlement to an increase in the old-age pension of rescue service worker also for persons who were in rescue service at the time of entry into force of the Act (on 1 March 2008) but who have left the service after that and are not retiring from rescue service. Under the current procedure, the state old-age pension of rescue service worker is granted and paid after termination of employment in the position of rescue service worker. Until the end of 2017, the Act was interpreted to mean that only rescue service workers retiring immediately from rescue service benefited from an increase in the old-age pension of rescue service worker. Under the Bill, rescue service workers who do not retire immediately from rescue service will also benefit from an increase in the old-age pension of rescue service worker if the conditions for receiving the pension are met. This concerns the persons who were in rescue service at the time of entry into force of the Act and who have the length of rescue service required for an increase in old-age pension. The increase will be paid retroactively also to the persons for whom no increase in old-age pension was calculated earlier.
The general objective of the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (658 SE), initiated by the Government, is to reduce recidivism and to increase social security.
The Bill will create the possibility to impose life imprisonment on persons with recidivist past who commit manslaughter or a sexual offence again. Victims of serious crimes will be given an opportunity to express their opinion on the release of an offender on parole. The amendment aims to pay more attention to the rights of the victim and the liability of criminals.
In addition, the Bill will organise the regulation of life imprisonment. Under the current law, a person can be released on parole in the case of life imprisonment after he or she has served thirty years of imprisonment. The Bill will allow for a person serving life imprisonment to be placed in an open prison if he or she has served at least 23 years of imprisonment. The Bill will create the possibility to release on parole a prisoner serving life imprisonment if he or she has served at least 25 years of imprisonment. A person who is released on parole in the case of life imprisonment will undertake to be subjected to supervision of conduct in order that his or her coping in society would be secure.
The Bill will also create the possibility to enter into an agreement for leaving the country with an alien within the framework of settlement proceedings (except with regard to a person accused of a serious crime), which will involve prohibition on entry.
NordenBladet —The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson is taking part in the meeting of the Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Nordic and Baltic parliaments (NB8) in Bergen, Norway, to discuss various problems of international security, ranging from the situation in Afghanistan to food security and condition of the oceans.
Mihkelson cites the situation in Afghanistan as the first topic to be discussed. “The US and allied forces have kept the Afghanistan crisis under control for a long time, barred the spreading of terrorism, and have trained and supported the Afghan security forces,” Mihkelson said. “However, the supposed plan of the US President to leave Afghanistan can now lead to unforeseeable consequences. We will try to shape a common understanding about the further activities with our Nordic and Baltic colleagues.”
The host country Norway also presented its foreign policy goals to the guests yesterday. Another topic was global food security and sustainable management of oceans. Mihkelson said that global food security would keep increasing in importance because the world population is growing, and even now, food security is precarious in certain regions.
“It is critical for every country to remain self-sufficient in strategic food sectors like dairy, meat, fish, and grains, but we must work together to ensure food supplies in countries that suffer from crop failures or military and economic crises,” Mihkelson said.
On the topic of sustainable management of oceans, Mihkelson listed illegal fishing, piracy, climate changes, and marine pollution, all of which put the condition of the oceans at risk. “At the meeting in Bergen, we were looking for ways to ensure safe, secure, clean and fertile seas and oceans worldwide; these regulate our climate, supply us with food and clean air, but also drive our economic growth,” Mihkelson said.
Today, the programme will continue with a visit to the Institute of Marine Reasearch in Austevoll.
NordenBladet —Speech by the President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor at the flag hoisting ceremony in the Governor’s Garden on 24 February 2019.
Good morning and a happy day of celebration to everyone who has come to hoist the flag here on Toompea hillside, as well as to those at home. Today, our country is 101 years old. This 101 is in itself a jolly nice number, but today we can also be happy that exactly 30 years ago on February 24, the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the flag returned on top of the Tall Hermann tower. And it is here to stay.
Compatriots,
Estonia is a strong country if we believe in it. We need to believe like the thousands of singers, dancers and audience members who will touch us with their art during the anniversary Song Celebration this summer. Or like the participants of the ESTO festival who will travel here this year from every corner of our beloved round planet Earth. They know that the Republic of Estonia is not a fragment from their granny’s memories or a fairy tale from childhood, but a place that cherishes and appreciates them. And if some of them have not found the time to visit their Estonian home for many years, we should not be surprised if they are sincerely happy about what they see. They believe in Estonia.
But also believe in Estonia like the boys and girls who have come here this morning with their moms and dads to hoist the flag and sing the anthem. And believe in Estonia like those grannies and grandpas who are struggling to sing the anthem together with their grandchildren because they are getting teary-eyed and their voice cracks with emotion. Singing might not work, but the heart is brimming over with joy, because you see that your life has had a purpose. It is impossible to give your children anything more than freedom.
Believe in Estonia that is full of laughter and consideration of others. Understanding and creation. Freedom and respectful language. Care and determination. The thrill of Christmas and the excitement of Midsummer Night. Which unfortunately includes sad memories, but also merry expectations. The fun of doing things together, and love. Where we hear the beautiful sound of the Estonian language and where everyone feels at home. Believe in Estonia where everyone can be who they want to be. A free human being in a free country.
I wish you happy homes filled with joy. I believe in you, Estonia. Long live the Republic of Estonia!
NordenBladet —On 24 February at 7.34 a.m., everybody is invited to Toompea in Tallinn, where the flag raising ceremony on the Independence Day of the Republic of Estonia is held.
It is also the 30th anniversary of the day the blue-black-and-white flag was again hoisted on the Tall Hermann Tower and the tradition of the flag raising ceremony on 24 February began.
President of the Parliament of Estonia, the Riigikogu, Eiki Nestor will deliver a speech at the ceremony. After that, Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma will say the words of blessing. Actor of Tallinn City Theatre Kaspar Velberg will read out the Estonian Declaration of Independence.
President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President Arnold Rüütel, members of the Riigikogu and the Government, representatives of constitutional institutions and the diplomatic corps, and the Estonian Flag Society have been invited to the flag raising ceremony.
The flag raising ceremony in the Governor’s Garden at Toompea will be attended by the flag hoisting units of the Defence League, the Women’s Home Defence, the Young Eagles, the Home Daughters, the Scouts, the Guides, academic organisations, as well as societies, associations and schools.
The men’s choirs of the Estonian Male Choir Society and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra will perform “Eesti lipp” (“Flag of Estonia”, music by Enn Võrk, words by Martin Lipp), “Hoia, Jumal, Eestit” (”God Save Estonia”, music by Juhan Aavik, words by Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp), “Jää vabaks, Eesti meri” (“Stay Free, Estonian Sea!”, by Viktor Konstantin Oxford), and “Kodumaa” (“Homeland”, music by Raimond Kull, words by Mihkel Veske).
NordenBladet —At its today’s sitting, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) passed the Act that regulates the conditions for residing in Estonia after Brexit for the citizens of the United Kingdom and their family members.
As it is still not yet clear whether the United Kingdom will leave the European Union on the basis of a withdrawal agreement or without an agreement, the Act provides a solution for both cases in order to ensure the citizens of the United Kingdom residing in Estonia as smooth transition as possible.
If Brexit takes place on the basis of a withdrawal agreement, the Act ensures the conditions for living in Estonia laid down in the agreement to the citizens of the United Kingdom who are living in Estonia now or come to live here during the up to two year transition period, and their present and future family members. This would mean that, throughout the transition period, the EU law will continue to apply to the citizens of the UK, and they will be able to continue living in Estonia on the basis of right of residence, without anything changing in two years. The citizens of the UK arriving in Estonia after April 2021 would already fall within the scope of regulation of the Aliens Act, which means that they will require a residence permit for living in Estonia like all other citizens of third countries.
If the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a deal, the Aliens Act will immediately apply to the citizens of the UK and their family members living in Estonia. In such a case, the Act will grant them a temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia, with the period of validity of up to five years, or a long-term resident’s residence permit, depending on whether they live in Estonia on the basis of temporary or permanent right of residence at the Brexit moment. All UK citizens who wish to settle in Estonia after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU will have to apply for a residence permit like all other citizens of third countries.
In the case of both withdrawal with an agreement and withdrawal without an agreement, the identity cards that have been issued will be valid until the expiry of the period of validity of a specific document. In the case of withdrawal with an agreement, the citizens of the UK will be issued residence cards from 2021, in the case of withdrawal without an agreement, from 1 April 2020, which means that the UK citizens settling in Estonia in the meantime will be issued identity cards, and not residence cards, as identity documents.
In the future, the United Kingdom will be treated like the United States of America and Japan, to whose citizens the immigration quota of Estonia does not extend. Regardless of whether the United Kingdom will leave the European Union with an agreement or without an agreement, it is important that the citizens of the United Kingdom should take care that the details of their place of residence in Estonia were registered in the Population Register.
As of February, 1335 citizens of the United Kingdom have registered their residence in Estonia and hold a valid ID-card, and 338 of them have a permanent right of residence.
76 members of the Riigikogu voted for the Act on Amendments to the Citizen of the European Union Act and Other Acts (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union) (781 SE), initiated by the Government.
NordenBladet —The Riigikogu specified the Estonian Defence League Act, introduced amendments into the Code of Civil Procedure to establish the procedure for declaration of enforceability of decisions of arbitral tribunals made in Estonia, and made amendments to the Citizen of European Union Act in connection with the pending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
The Riigikogu specified the Estonian Defence League Act, which gives the Defence Forces a wider opportunity to involve the Defence League in the performance of military national defence tasks, and better social guarantees to members of the Defence League districts.
In the future, it will be possible to involve members of the Defence League districts for example in international military cooperation and for preparation for the military defence of the country. At the same time, the Act’s references to provisions in current law that are connected with the involvement of the Defence League in the Act were corrected.
Under the Act, an active member of the Defence League is entitled to receive 30 days, instead of the current ten unpaid days of holiday, from his or her employer to participate in military training and upon involvement in a task related to rescue, law enforcement or the Defence Forces. The Defence League pays compensation from its budget, but if the Defence League is involved for example in the performance of law enforcement or rescue tasks on the Government’s order, the authority who requests involvement bears the above-mentioned costs.
Under the Act, the Commander of the Defence Forces will have the right to authorise the Commander of the Defence League or a leader of a structural unit of the Defence League to approve the documentation of the wartime units prepared. The Defence League prepares the wartime units of the Defence Forces, and otherwise it would not have the right to approve the documents of other authorities.
During the proceedings, the granting and suspension of weapons permits in the Defence League was harmonised with the provisions of the Weapons Act. It was also provided that the Defence League and the Defence Forces can use each other’s infrastructure and property without the fee provided for by the State Assets Act. The Defence League was also given the right to establish temporarily guarded areas for conducting military training which may be guarded by active members who have received the relevant training.
The Defence League with 26 000 voluntary members is one of the most important mainstays of the national defence. The Act passed today will bring the activities of the Defence League to a qualitatively new level which will significantly strengthen Estonia’s national defence capability.
In the course of the ongoing national defence law revision, all Acts in the field of national defence are reviewed.
The Act on Amendments to the Estonian Defence League Act (786 SE) was initiated by member of the Riigikogu Ants Laaneots. 75 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passage of the Act.
The Act on Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (establishment of the procedure for declaration of enforceability of decisions of arbitral tribunals made in Estonia) (749 SE), initiated by the Government, brings the regulation of arbitral tribunals into conformity with the practice of the Supreme Court. The main amendment harmonises the requirements for the recognition and declaration of enforceability of decisions of arbitral tribunals operating in Estonia. An obligation is created under which the decisions of all arbitral tribunals operating in Estonia must be declared enforceable, except for the decisions made in the proceedings of the arbitral tribunal of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the arbitral tribunal of the Chamber of Notaries.
67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act, and six were against.
The Act on Amendments to the Citizen of the European Union Act and Other Acts (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union) (781 SE), initiated by the Government, regulates the conditions for residing in Estonia after Brexit for the citizens of the United Kingdom and their family members.
As it is still not yet clear whether the United Kingdom will leave the European Union on the basis of a withdrawal agreement or without an agreement, the Act provides a solution for both cases in order to ensure the citizens of the United Kingdom residing in Estonia as smooth a transition as possible.
If Brexit takes place on the basis of a withdrawal agreement, the Act ensures the conditions for residing in Estonia laid down in the agreement to the citizens of the United Kingdom and their current and future family members who are residing in Estonia at present, as well those who will come to reside here during the up to two year transition period. This would mean that, throughout the transition period, European Union law will continue to apply to the citizens of the United Kingdom, and they will be able to continue residing in Estonia on the basis of the right of residence, without anything changing in two years. The citizens of the United Kingdom arriving in Estonia as of April 2021 would already fall within the scope of regulation of the Aliens Act, which means that they will need a residence permit for settling in Estonia like all other citizens of third countries.
If the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without an agreement, the Aliens Act will immediately apply to the citizens of the United Kingdom and their family members already residing in Estonia. In such a case, under the Act, they will be granted a temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia, with the period of validity of up to five years, or a long-term resident’s residence permit, depending on whether they are residing in Estonia on the basis of a temporary or permanent right of residence at the Brexit moment. All citizens of the United Kingdom who wish to settle in Estonia after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union will have to apply for a residence permit like all other citizens of third countries.
76 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passage of the Act.
