The forum is organised by the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia). The leaders of Defence Committees will discuss collective defence, the increasing of defence spending, and regional defence cooperation, as well as Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and its implications for the international security architecture. Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu underlined that discussing security challenges and strengthening cooperation was particularly important in the current tense security situation.
Lieutenant General Bertrand Toujouse, Commander of French Forces Europe/Commander French LANDCOM, who is on a visit to Estonia, will participate in the forum as a special guest. Brigadier (Ret’d) Robbie Boyd from the United Kingdom will also deliver a report. Undersecretary for Defence Policy of the Ministry of the Defence of Estonia Tuuli Duneton and Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia Martin Roger will give an overview of Estonia’s positions.
The forum will be held in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu. The key topics of discussion will be the priorities and challenges of defence and security policy in a broader sense, and the steps needed to achieve a militarily stronger Europe as soon as possible. On Friday, the representatives of Defence Committees will visit Ämari Airbase, where one of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing aviation units is located.
Leaders of the National Defence Committees of the parliaments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden will participate in the forum. Chair of the National Defence Committee of the Parliament of the Netherlands will attend the forum as an observer. Representatives of Germany and France will also take part in the forum held in Tallinn.
The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has held annual working meetings with the National Defence Committees of the Baltic States since 1998. From 2011, the representatives of the National Defence Committees of the of the Nordic Countries, Germany and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.
Photos (will be added in accordance with the programme; photographer: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi presented to the Riigikogu the report for 2025 on the implementation of the long-term national strategy “Estonia 2035”, in the framework of which he also gave an overview of the development trends in the civil service in 2024.
The minister noted that democracy needed protective mechanisms and bearers of continuity, which, in addition to rules and institutions, also included civil servants. “Their professionalism and motivation help ensure that the public tasks assigned to the state and local government are fulfilled and that the state is consistent,” he said. Ligi specified that the civil service made up one fifth of the public sector, 130,000 people. “While there are often big news stories around about how the number of officials keeps on growing, these are poorly informed news stories. The public sector is overwhelmingly composed of non-officials. Nearly 50,000 of these 136,000 are educators; this includes medical professionals, but also electricians, for example. So the word ‘officials’ is being misused when talking about an over-inflated state, which in turn is not true,” he emphasised.
The minister explained that, in 2024, there were 28,456 people in the civil service, of whom 22,787 worked in state institutions and 5,672 in local governments. “The size of the civil service has been fairly stable over the years. But the changes here reflect the overall situation, the security situation, which requires a separate and greater effort. But we have set a goal that the proportion of the civil service in the working-age population would not increase, and it has remained below three percent,” Ligi explained.
The Minister of Finance pointed out that, among other things, cuts were necessary to motivate committed and competent staff. “This means that what is cut from elsewhere is still channelled into motivating people. Since the public sector has higher education requirements compared to the general labour market, the average total salary in the civil service in 2024 is EUR 2,473, which was last year, and that was higher than the Estonian average 1981. However, if we compare jobs of similar complexity in the civil service and the private sector, the higher the rank, the lower the salaries in the civil service compared to the private sector,” he explained.
The minister also spoke about the gender pay gap and composition, human resources policy, recruitment, and creating remote work opportunities, as well as making the state apparatus more efficient. “In summary, it can be said that the health of the civil service is quite good, and our officials are professional. And we need to start having more respect for those people who have decided to serve their country.”
Ligi also gave an overview of the implementation of Estonia’s long-term development strategy in 2024. “Our strategic goal is to ensure security, sustainability, and competitiveness in a rapidly changing world. The Ministry of Finance touches on every horizontal area, from budget and taxes to financial literacy, security, and spatial planning,” Ligi said. He pointed out the ministry’s contribution to developing financial literacy and making the pension system more flexible. The economy and the climate, investments in the updates to tax services and the customs system, expectations for public real estate, the centralisation of state shared services, and the use of European Union structural funds were also discussed. “73 percent of the funds for the period 2021–2027 have now been committed and this reflects our ability to implement the funds in a targeted manner. We are among the best in the European Union again, third after Luxembourg and the Netherlands,” he noted.
Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), Anti Allas (Social Democratic Party) and Annely Akkermann (Reform Party) took the floor during the debate.
An Act was passed
The Act on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act and the Churches and Congregations Act (544 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, postpones the deadlines for the formation of electoral districts for this year’s municipal council elections, taking into account the constitutional amendment adopted in March this year.
The parliament introduced an amendment into the Act, according to which, as an exception, this year electoral districts will be formed by 11 August at the latest and local councils will distribute mandates between electoral districts on the basis of the number of voters according to the population register as of 15 July. Typically, electoral districts are formed no later than the 90th day before election day and mandates are distributed based on the situation as of 1 June.
Another amendment was made to the Act concerning elections which provides that Estonian and EU citizens and stateless residents who are at least 16 years old and whose permanent place of residence is in the respective rural municipality or city would be able participate in the local elections to be held in October this year, and after this year’s elections, only Estonian and EU citizens would have the right to vote. Earlier, the right to participate in local elections extended to third-country nationals who resided in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or the permanent right of residence, in addition to Estonian and EU citizens.
The motion to amend arose from a constitutional amendment adopted by the Riigikogu at the end of March and coming into force in July this year, according to which, this year the right to vote in local elections is revoked for third-country nationals residing in Estonia, and from the next elections after the coming elections, for stateless persons as well. The amendment brought the provisions regulating the right to vote in the Act concerning elections into line with the Constitution.
In addition, the parliament supported the proposal to amend, in the interests of legal clarity, the Churches and Congregations Act, which until now linked the right to be a minister of religion with the right to vote in local elections. The purpose of the amendment introduced into the bill is to avoid the interpretation that the amendments to the Constitution could lead to some ministers of religion being deprived of their rights as ministers of religion. While the Act currently provides that a person who has the right to vote in local elections can be a minister of religion of a religious association, according to the new wording, an adult person with active legal capacity who has a legal basis to stay in Estonia can be minister of religion.
At the final vote, 64 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and six were against.
A Bill passed the second reading
The purpose of the Bill on Amendments to the Hunting Act (553 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, is to give the Environmental Board the right to organise hunting all year round to prevent damage caused by wild game. Under the current Act, the Board can organise hunting outside the hunting season to prevent damage caused by game. However, during the hunting season, the Board cannot currently organise game hunting, including the hunting of problem individuals, after the hunting quota is filled.
The lead committee submitted a motion to amend for the second reading, according to which, if necessary, wounded game could also be tracked outside the hunting area where the wound was inflicted, with a hunting permit issued by the hunting area. When capturing game, monitoring data should also be submitted for only one permit. In this case, the user of the hunting area would have the obligation to ask for the consent of the other hunting area for tracking and killing the game, in order to avoid getting involved in a driven hunt in the other hunting area when tracking the wounded game.
Tiit Maran (Social Democratic Party) and Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.
A meeting to establish Saaremaa Support Group on the initiative of Marek Reinaas will be held after the sitting.
The photo exhibition “Mother” is dedicated to Ukrainian mothers who have given the most precious sacrifice – their sons – in the name of future and freedom. These are the stories of women who, after a terrible loss, continue to support volunteers and soldiers because they do not want their sons’ deaths to have been in vain.
According to President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, the genocide that is being carried out by Russia against the Ukrainian people is horribly brutal and unjust. “Having myself also closely witnessed the pain of Ukrainian mothers in Ukraine, it is difficult to put into words one of the most awful emotions in the world, the pain of losing a child. We cannot alleviate this grief. But we can do our best to ensure that the children abducted by Russia in Ukraine are returned to their homes and that the aggressor receives the punishment they deserve,” Hussar said.
The author of the exhibition is Svіtlana Korableva, a photographer from Mariupol, who now lives in Cherkasy. Her works address social issues. In addition to being a photographer, Korableva is also an activist and involved in the displaced non-profit organisation Halabuda, which provides assistance to soldiers and civilians affected by war.
Svitlana Korableva said that she had portrayed women whose worst fear had come true – they had lost their children to war. “But they never surrendered! They continued to fight and to take care of the goals of their children. I sincerely hope that you will never know what war is. And that your mothers will never have to celebrate Mother’s Day alone. Glory to Ukraine! And many thanks to the people of Estonia for their support!” Svitlana Korableva said.
The exhibition opening in the Riigikogu is also a reminder of a big problem – the lack of a culture of talking about grief, which leads to a sense of loneliness for mothers in mourning. This is a special category of Ukrainian women affected by the war, who may not have been physically touched by the war, but whose mental health has suffered a severe blow. They need support, understanding, acceptance and respect for their grief.
The exhibition has been made possible in Estonia thanks to the support of the Viljandi NGO Mariupol Free, the Riigikogu and the Open Estonia Foundation. President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, photographer Svitlana Korableva (video greeting), Member of the Riigikogu Helmen Kütt, Ambassador of Ukraine Maksym Kononenko, Mall Hellam from the Open Estonia Foundation, representative of NGO Mariupol Free Nataliya Logozinska as well as civil activists Yevgenia Chirikova and Ülo Vihma will speak at the opening of the exhibition.
The exhibition will be open in the 2nd floor art gallery of Toompea Castle until 5 June. The exhibition can be visited on working days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors need to present an identity document to gain entry to Toompea Castle.
On Friday, Mihkelson, together with politicians and experts from Finland, Lithuania and Sweden, will speak at a debate where the leading role of the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States in countering Russia’s aggression, supporting Ukraine, strengthening regional security and shaping Europe’s strategic posture will be discussed. Mihkelson will also participate in a panel on the Russian threat and European security, where alongside representatives of Austria, Bulgaria, France, Lithuania and Ukraine, Russia’s opposition activist Garry Kasparov will take part.
Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Luisa Rõivas will take part in the debate on the role of Eastern Europe in responding to Russia’s aggression as well as in maintaining European unity and strengthening security.
The 17th Kyiv Security Forum will focus on topics relating to stopping Russia’s aggression and achieving a just and lasting peace. The event will be held on the days when the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, and Europe Day will be celebrated. It will bring together heads of state, representatives of military and intelligence community, diplomats, as well as security and foreign policy experts from around the world.
Before the start of the Kyiv Security Forum, Mihkelson will give a lecture today afternoon at Taras Shevchenko National University, where he will talk about Ukraine on the global political map.
The Act on Amendments to the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Acts (Union restrictive measures directive) (584 SE), initiated by the Government, transposes into Estonian law the EU directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of sanctions. According to an amendment, violation of Union restrictive measures is considered a predicate offence for money laundering under the directive.
The Act makes two amendments to Estonian law. EU restrictive measures are included in the list of areas of activity provided for in the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Act is specified by adding a clause to the effect that the provisions on whistleblower protection also extend to reporting breaches of international sanctions.
The purpose of the Act is to establish uniform rules for determining violations of EU restrictive measures and the penalties to be imposed for them, in order to ensure uniform application of sanctions. The amendment of the Act will help to detect and prevent violations, supporting compliance with EU law and the achievement of objectives.
Anti Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.
60 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, 19 were against and there was one abstention.
A Bill passed the first reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Competition Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (609 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose the directive organising the procedure for processing infringements of competition law, using the structures of existing law.
The Bill will establish competition supervision proceedings under administrative law and sanctions will be imposed in misdemeanour proceedings similarly to other areas where administrative fines should be applied under European Union law. The Competition Authority will conduct competition supervision proceedings and will do so pursuant to administrative procedure. District courts will impose fines for committing competition infringements constituting misdemeanours in misdemeanour proceedings.
In competition supervision proceedings, it will be provided that evidence gathered can be transferred to misdemeanour proceedings which has so far been one of the main concerns in competition supervision and in proceedings on competition offences. Also, in the future, competition infringements will no longer be criminal offences, and this will eliminate the need to choose between criminal and misdemeanour proceedings.
The bill replaces the bill withdrawn by the Government at the end of March this year, which contained administrative fine regulations and self-incrimination provisions that led to many objections from legal specialists. Then the Government decided to fundamentally amend the bill and to propose an approach based on existing procedures for competition infringements.
During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group and Jaak Aab on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.
The Social Democratic Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The motion was not supported because 13 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of it and 48 were against. The first reading was concluded.
Seven interpellations were replied
Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo replied to the interpellation concerning the amendments to the Employment Contracts Act, i.e. contracts with unstable salary (No. 735), submitted by members of the Riigikogu. Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller replied to the interpellations concerning social welfare reform (No. 720) and the livelihood of pensioners (No. 726). Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras replied to the interpellations concerning rural areas (No. 713), the suspension of the construction of Rohuküla railway (No. 731), the reorganisation of Kehtna Vocational Education Centre and Vana-Vigala School of Technology and Service Industry Studies (No. 733) and the future of ferry connection (No. 739).
Riina Sikkut and Lauri Läänemets took the floor during the open microphone.
Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)
Kalev Stoicescu, Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), which is organising the forum, said that parliaments in all democratic countries had an important role in the organisation of national defence, and closer cooperation between allies was vital both now and in the foreseeable future. He was delighted that the members of the annual cooperation format – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland and Germany – would be represented at the forum, and that, for the first time, the Netherlands would take part as an observer.
The forum will be held in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu on Thursday. The discussions will focus on collective defence, the increasing of defence spending, and regional defence cooperation, as well as on Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and its implications for the international security architecture. Undersecretary for Defence Policy of the Ministry of the Defence of Estonia Tuuli Duneton and Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia Martin Roger will give an overview of Estonia’s positions. Lieutenant General Bertrand Toujouse, Commander of French Forces Europe/Commander French LANDCOM, who is on a visit to Estonia, will participate in the forum as a special guest.
The leaders of the National Defence Committees will also discuss the priorities and challenges of defence and security policy more broadly and talk about the steps needed to achieve a militarily strong Europe in the shortest possible terms. On Friday, the leaders of the National Defence Committees will visit Ämari Airbase, where one of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing aviation units is located.
Leaders of the National Defence Committees of the parliaments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden will participate in the forum. Chair of the National Defence Committee of the Netherlands will attend the forum as an observer. Representatives of Germany and France will also take part in the forum held in Tallinn.
The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has held annual working meetings with the National Defence Committees of the Baltic States since 1998. From 2011, the representatives of the National Defence Committees of the of the Nordic Countries, Germany and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.
At the meetings with members of the Parliament and the Government of Denmark, Hussar said that Europe had to strengthen cooperation in supporting Ukraine. “We have to move on quickly with using Russia’s assets that were frozen under sanctions, and continue to tighten sanctions to exert pressure on Russia,” he said, and reiterated that it was necessary to keep supporting Ukraine in the war of aggression launched by Russia.
The NATO Summit, which will take place in June, and further cooperation with the United States were also discussed at the meetings. Hussar highlighted Estonia’s decision to allocate more than five per cent of GDP to national defence in the coming years and stressed the need to ensure that the increased defence budget is used to strengthen national defence as effectively as possible.
The meetings confirmed the excellent relations and cooperation between Estonia and Denmark in the European Union, NATO and the Nordic-Baltic cooperation format NB8, where Denmark holds the Presidency this year. The development of cooperation in the field of energy and green issues, as well as in new technologies and the defence industry, were also discussed.
Yesterday, the President of the Riigikogu had meetings with Speaker of the Folketing Søren Gade, Deputy Speakers Leif Lahn Jensen, Karsten Hønge and Lars-Christian Brask, as well as with Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee Christian Friis Bach.
Hussar also had a meeting with Minister for Resilience and Preparedness Torsten Schack Pedersen, with whom he discussed strengthening the protection of the critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including the need to restrict the movement of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea. At the meeting with Europe Minister Marie Bjerre, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will start in July, as well as the enlargement of the Union and the situation in South Caucasus were discussed. Hussar also visited the public-private green transition cooperation platform State of Green, and met with local Estonian community at the Embassy of Estonia.
The President of the Riigikogu was accompanied on the visit by Chair of the Estonia-Denmark Parliamentary Friendship Group Maris Lauri and Member of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)