NordenBladet — Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Andres Metsoja and member of the Committee Johannes Kert attend the security forum of the national defence committees of the parliaments of the Baltic States and Nordic Countries and Poland in Sweden. The forum will focus on strengthening the security of the region.

The topics on the agenda of the meeting include discussions on creating resilience in societies, and on developing the European Defence Fund.

“Increasing of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation is extremely necessary, keeping in mind the regional security situation, and it should be developed further,” Metsoja said. “We think that information exchange should be made more effective both in situation awareness and in reacting to potential crises.”

The discussions held today seek an answer to the question what the resilience of society means. Supply security, and cooperation between the states and the defence industry companies will be spoken about.

“It is important to promote the competitiveness and innovation capability of Europe in defence sphere in close cooperation with NATO. We see the need for Defence Fund, and the opportunities for organising research activities in defence industry and cooperation that would develop common defence capabilities,” Kert said.

The participants of the security forum will also get an overview of the developing of defence capability in Sweden.

The annual meetings of the National Defence Committees of the parliaments of the three Baltic States started in Lithuania in 1998. Since 2011, the delegations of the parliaments of the Nordic Countries and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) was given an overview of the elections of non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for 2020–2021, and future activities. The Committee acknowledged the work of the Estonian diplomats during the UN Security Council campaign and admitted that practical work was only beginning.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that the diplomats had done a huge job, which also won recognition, but the real work was just starting. He thinks that the Committee is interested in parliamentary level involvement in the development of Estonia’s positions for participating in the work of the UN Security Council. “The Foreign Affairs Committee actively cooperates with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Eesmaa emphasised. “We effectively use our role relating to parliamentary control in dealing with various issues.”

Eesmaa added that during the autumn session, the Foreign Affairs Committee would continue discussing the issues of the UN Security Council, and before Estonia took up its seat, the Committee would review Estonia’s positions also by topics. During Estonia’s presidency, there will be regular discussions in accordance with the agenda of the Council.

In the opinion of Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, it is clear that Estonia’s diplomatic work in the Security Council during the coming two years will be based on the framework of international law and the long-time traditions of Estonian foreign policy.

Mihkelson thinks that the status of non-permanent member will give Estonia the possibility to make itself better known globally. “It should be kept in mind that a large part of the topics concern African and Middle Eastern region, where we ourselves do not have diplomatic representation, or it is very, very small,” Mihkelson said. According to him, one of the critical issues is relating to Iran.

The main topics discussed by the UN Security Council are threats to international peace and security, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, arms control and disarmament, and human rights. Estonia wishes to bring issues relating to cyber security to the attention of the Security Council.

Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paul Teesalu told the Foreign Affairs Committee about the work of the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020–2021. He thanked the members of the Riigikogu who had contributed to the campaign and introduced Estonia’s positions.

Teesalu said that the Presidency of the UN Security Council rotated monthly in alphabetical order, which means that Estonia would hold the Presidency of the 15-member Council in both years.

Besides discussions, the main output of the UN Security Council are resolutions. In 2018, the Security Council adopted 54 resolutions and issued 21 presidential statements.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu approved the agenda for the working week, according to which 12 issues will be discussed. At Tuesday’s sitting, member of the Riigikogu Siim Valmar Kiisler, justice of the Supreme Court Kaupo Paal and justice of the Supreme Court Kai Kullerkupp will take their oaths of office.

Thereafter, the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice to bring the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure into conformity with the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia will be discussed. The Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise will make a report.

The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (30 SE) will be at the second reading, and the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of Members of the Supervisory Board of the Guarantee Fund” (32 OE) will be at the first reading.

At the sitting on Wednesday, the Bill on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, and the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act and Other Associated Acts (15 SE) will be at the third reading. The Bill on the Acceptance of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia (26 SE) will be at the second reading. Four drafts will be at the first reading. They are the following: the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania” (34 OE); the Bill on Amendments to the Securities Market Act and Other Acts (28 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Taxation Act, the Courts Act and the Liquid Fuel Act (29 SE), and the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for Air Services between and beyond their respective Territories (27 SE).

The agenda also includes a report by Kadri Simson, candidate for the European Commission.

The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (30 SE) is scheduled for the third reading at Thursday’s sitting in case the second reading will have been concluded.

The Bill on the Denunciation of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches (25 SE) will be at the second reading.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — The Bill on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, and the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act and Other Associated Acts, initiated by the Government, which will bring the Waste Act into conformity with European Union law, passed the second reading at today’s plenary sitting of the Riigikogu.

The Bill (15 SE) will amend the Act on the basis of the relevant European Union directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Based on the directive, the Waste Act will be amended by introducing the term “waste electrical and electronic equipment”, and the terms “medical device” and “in vitro diagnostic medical device” will be specified.

The Bill will amend the provisions of the Waste Act on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. It will also amend the provisions concerning the placing on the market thereof which are connected with the hazardous substances used in equipment.

In the European Economic Area, it is prohibited to place on the market electrical and electronic equipment and its components containing lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and, starting from 22 July 2019, also certain phthalates.

The Bill will specify the definition of components of electrical and electronic equipment which also covers cables and spare parts for its repair, its reuse, updating of its functionalities or upgrading of its capacity.

The committee made three technical motions to amend the Bill, and moved to include the Bill in the agenda for the sitting of the Riigikogu on 12 June for the third reading.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s plenary sitting, the Riigikogu formed the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski is the head of the delegation.

Eerik-Niiles Kross and Jaak Madison are members of the delegation, and Indrek Saar and Raivo Tamm are substitute members.

The explanatory memorandum to the Resolution notes that, according to Article 26 of the statute of the organisation, Estonia as a full member of the Council of Europe has the right to form a three-member delegation to the parliamentary assembly.

The number of the delegation members is proportional to the size of the population. Estonia also has the right to appoint up to three substitute members as necessary.

The membership of the delegation is such as to ensure equitable representation of the various political forces, and women and men, in the Riigikogu.

The substitute members of the delegation are entitled to participate in all sittings of the plenary and committees of the Assembly.

The Estonian delegation has three votes at votings.

Plenary session of the PACE meets four times a year – in January, April, June and September.

The most important documents are legally binding agreements and conventions, and recommendations to the governments of member countries in basic issues of society.

English and French are the official working languages of the Assembly.

82 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe” (16 OE), submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas said at the flag raising ceremony in the Governor’s Garden at Toompea in the morning of the 135th anniversary of the national flag of Estonia that the blue-black-white flag had become an integral part of our nation, our identity and our independence. He added that it was a link that tied the previous and the next generations together.

“The Estonian flag is our symbol that was carried by the previous and will be carried by the next generations, and which means freedom, independence and aspirations to survive in this world,” Henn Põlluaas emphasised.

“The Estonian flag embodies faith, hope and love. Faith in our people, our independence, our strength and will. Hope for survival and for the bright future. Love for our country and for all,” the President of the Riigikogu said.

In his speech, Põlluaas also pointed out that this year marked several anniversaries. “Besides the 135th anniversary of our national flag, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the work of the Estonian Parliament, and the first All-Estonian Song Festival took place 150 years ago,” he said. The President of the Riigikogu also recalled that thirty years passed from the Baltic Way and the day the blue, black and white flag was again raised at the Tall Hermann Tower after long years.

“Let us keep this flag and these colours in our hearts, and never let this flag fall,” Põlluaas said.

The Riigikogu and the Estonian Flag Association thanked the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, the Institute of the Estonian Language and Gustav Adolf Grammar School, giving them ceremonial flags.

The Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation was awarded the flag on the occasion of the anniversary year of the song and dance celebration, and the Institute of the Estonian Language on the occasion of the Estonian Language Year. Gustav Adolf Grammar School was awarded the flag for active participation in the events organised by the Estonian Flag Association.

Chairman of the Estonian Flag Association Jüri Trei also delivered a speech at the flag raising ceremony. Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma said the words of blessing.

Head of the Denmark Society Erik Fage-Pedersen greeted Estonia on its National Flag Day. This year, we mark the 135th anniversary of the national flag of Estonia and the 800th anniversary of the national flag of Denmark.

The honour guards of the Defence League, Women’s Home Defence, Young Eagles, Home Daughters, Scouts, Guides and academic organisations, and the flag hoisting units of societies, associations, and schools attended the flag raising ceremony in the Governor’s Garden. The orchestra of the Defence Forces, and the choirs of the Estonian Female Song Society and the schools of Tallinn performed at the ceremony.

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Tall Hermann Tower will be open for visiting. In order to ensure smooth entrance, visitors will be given free tickets indicating the time for entrance to the tower.

Photos of the flag raising

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

Source: Parliament of Estonia