ESTONIA

Piotr Serafin at the Riigikogu: Defence is now a European priority

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

“The war of aggression against Ukraine. Trade tensions and wars. Technological shifts and climate change reshaping industries and societies,” Serafin said. He pointed out that last July, the European Commission had presented its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework – a budget that would take Europe forward to 2035 and beyond. “Our proposal aims to strike a balance. We continue to support the policies that have proven successful. At the same time, we are responding to new challenges – defence, security and competitiveness.”

Serafin said that according to the proposal, cohesion and agriculture would be kept as strong pillars of the EU budget, and their budgets would remain stable. “We focus new resources where the political demand is the highest: defence, security, competitiveness, and border protection,” Serafin explained. He added that National and Regional Partnership Plans would bring together reforms and investments under one coherent framework, linking cohesion, agriculture, and other key programmes with a total envelope of 865 billion euros.

“To strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to shared challenges at our borders we will integrate the funds for borders, security and migration and integration into the National and Regional Partnerships,” Serafin said. “Member States will receive a pre-allocated amount of EUR 34 billion for migration and border management, three times the current envelope. We will double financing for the Frontex agency and Europol, respectively to EUR 12 billion and EUR 3 billion. The proposal takes into account the specific needs of Member States at the external border, especially in light of the current geopolitical situation.”

Serafin underlined that the European Commission clearly recognized Estonia’s crucial role in safeguarding the Union’s external frontier. That is why the proposal strengthens funding for border management, infrastructure, and resilience measures. He added that the countries bordering Russia and Belarus would benefit from a bonus in the allocation of funds, reflecting their specific challenges both in terms of security and economic development.

European Commission Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin at the Riigikogu. Photo: Erik Peinar

“Defence is now a European priority and it is reflected clearly in the numbers,” Serafin said. He pointed out that military mobility would receive 18 billion euros, ten times the current level. “It means roads, bridges, railways and digital infrastructure that serve both civilians and defence. Military mobility will be anchored in the Connecting Europe Facility, ensuring that connectivity, resilience, and security are developed together,” Serafin said, and added that Estonia was using the Connecting Europe Facility to develop the Rail Baltic.

The Commissioner also spoke about the EU’s commitment to Ukraine’s recovery, resilience and path to membership. “Ukraine is not only our partner; it is part of our shared security. Supporting Ukraine is investing in Europe’s own stability,” he said.

According to Serafin, the new multiannual financial framework will be more flexible and responsive. It will have a crisis mechanism allowing Member States to access EU support swiftly in times of major shocks without improvisation or delay.

Serafin underlined that in the present times, it was clear that the European Union budget should focus more on security and defence. This is also the focus of the proposal for a new multiannual financial framework. “It is a budget for an independent Europe: capable of defending its territory and values, connected through the infrastructure of the future, and confident in its ability to act in the world.”

Serafin’s speech was followed by a debate on the matter of significant national importance “Estonia’s choices and opportunities in the European Union’s long-term budget for 2028–2034”, initiated by the European Union Affairs Committee, with presentations by Meelis Meigas, Head of the EU Policy Unit of the Fiscal Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, and Peeter Tali, Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu.

Verbatim record (in Estonian)

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Video recording will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel. Video recording of the speech in English.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Piotr Serafin at the Riigikogu: Defence is now a European priority

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu will discuss the European Union’s long-term budget as a matter of significant national importance

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

In his speech, European Commission Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin will focus on the European Commission’s proposal for the next budget, discussing Europe’s common challenges and how to overcome them through cooperation and with the help of the EU budget.

Serafini’s speech will be followed by a debate on the matter of significant national importance “Estonia’s choices and opportunities in the European Union’s long-term budget for 2028–2034”, initiated by the European Union Affairs Committee, with presentations by Meelis Meigas, Head of the EU Policy Unit of the Fiscal Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, and Peeter Tali, Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu.

“Discussing the new European Union budget as a matter of significant national importance is very timely and appropriate, as the Government has begun to prepare Estonia’s negotiating positions,” Tali said. “The EU’s seven-year budget, together with EU legislation, Member State policies, and private sector investments, will significantly shape the Europe we will live in at the beginning of the 2030s – how strong our defence and security will be, how well Estonia will be connected to the rest of Europe, and how fast our economy will grow.”

In his presentation, Tali will discuss why the EU budget is important for Estonia, and also speak about the political positions in the negotiations on the budget proposal and the role of the Riigikogu in representing Estonia’s interests. Meelis Meigas will give an overview of the long-term budget proposals, main directions, and areas, as well as the process of forming positions in Estonia.

Members of the Riigikogu may each pose one question to both presenters. The presentations will be followed by the debate, in which representatives of the parliamentary groups will speak first, and after that, all members of the Riigikogu can take the floor.

The sitting and the Commissioner’s speech will be live streamed on the Riigikogu web page and on Facebook. The speech can be followed in English or with a simultaneous interpretation into Estonian. The video recording of the Commissioner’s speech and the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu will discuss the European Union’s long-term budget as a matter of significant national importance

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of four Bills and heard the replies to four interpellations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Principality of Liechtenstein for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Prevention of Tax  Evasion and Avoidance and its Protocol (718 SE), initiated by the Government.

The Convention regulates the division of taxation right between the parties to the convention, ensures equal treatment of persons and establishes an obligation to prevent fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. Estonia has similar conventions with 63 countries. All agreements for the avoidance of double taxation are based on the OECD Model Convention but are still unique due to the needs of specific contracting countries.

According to the tax convention between Estonia and Liechtenstein, the source state has limited taxing rights on dividend income – the maximum limit of withholding tax is 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner of the dividends is an individual. In other cases, the source state cannot withhold income tax.  In the case of interest, the rate of tax withheld from interest paid to a natural person resident of the other state may not exceed 10% of the gross amount of the interest. Interest paid to companies is exempt from withholding tax. In the case of royalties, the source state has the right to withhold tax up to 5% of the gross amount of the royalties.

The government approved the convention on 8 May this year and it was signed in Rome on 10 July.

The Bill on the State’s Supplementary Budget for 2025 (733 SE), initiated by the Government, will reduce expenditure by EUR 19.9 million and investment by 12 million, while increasing financing transactions by 72.3 million.

When preparing the Bill, requests from ministries and constitutional institutions for budget reallocation from this year to the following years were taken into account. In addition, the budget of the area of ​​government of the Ministry of Defence will be increased by 39 million for assistance to Ukraine and for defence procurements. In financing transactions, the share capital of Elering Ltd will be increased by 45 million in the area of government of the Ministry of Climate. In the area of ​​government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, EUR 27.3 million will be transferred from research and development and innovation expenses to financing transactions to provide innovation loans to companies.

According to the State Budget Act, the Government may initiate a draft supplementary budget not later than three months before the end of the budgetary year.

The Bill on Amendments to the Act on Amendments to the Simplified Business Income Taxation Act and the Income Tax Act and the Repeal of the Security Tax, and the Income Tax Act (734 SE), initiated by the Government, will cancel the two-percentage-point increase in income tax and business account tax rates planned for 2026.  In order to continue supporting Ukraine, the special tax exemption regime for donations to eight charitable associations will be extended by two years.

Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Rain Epler from Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Riina Sikkut from the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group and Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi took the floor during the debate.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Budget Act and the Act on Amendments to the State Budget Act (736 SE), initiated by the Government, is related to the 2026 State Budget Act.

The Bill will implement the renewed framework for fiscal surveillance in the European Union, specify the role and tasks of the Fiscal Council, and update the requirements of the national fiscal rule. In addition, the structure of the annual state budget law will change, the principles for planning the government reserve will be determined, and the conditions for granting state loans will be specified.  The amendments are technical in nature and will not increase the minister’s rights to amend the budget. Ministers will also have an obligation to inform the Finance Committee of the Riigikogu of any ongoing budget changes, along with explanations.  The conditions for granting subsidies from the state budget will also be regulated and the links between local authorities and the state budget will be specified.

According to the Bill, the new budget structure will come into effect as early as the 2026 state budget.  Several special provisions apply to the entry into force of the draft amendments, such as the restriction on the transfer of the government reserve, and domestic subsidies.

Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Aivar Kokk from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Maris Lauri from the Reform Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras and Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt replied to interpellations.

Terras replied to the interpellation concerning the revenue base of local governments (No. 802). Sutt  replied to the interpellations concerning the necessity and timeliness of establishing a general nesting peace (No. 804), the future of the Climate Act (No. 809) and the closing down of Endla Nature Centre (No. 815).

The sitting ended at 7.51 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

 

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of four Bills and heard the replies to four interpellations

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Two Bills passed the first reading in the Riigikogu

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

The Bill on the Ratification of the Final Acts of the Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union in Riyadh (689 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading. It will ratify two international agreements adopted by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Riyadh in 2023: the fourth additional protocol to the general regulations and the first additional protocol to the Postal Convention.  The amendments will specify the role of a governing body of the UPU, raise the budget ceiling and better align postal services with the needs of e-commerce, particularly in terms of traceability. These are mainly technical and internal organizational changes that will have little impact on end users.

The Bill on Amendments to the Public Transport Act (725 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the first reading. It will amend the procedure for keeping records of service provider cards in the public transport register. The aim of the Bill is to consolidate economic activity data subject to special requirements into a single register in order to ensure more efficient data management, reduce administrative costs and increase security.

Currently, service provider cards can be applied for and processed in the register of economic activities, but physical cards are issued, managed, and published in the public transport register. Such fragmentation increases the administrative burden on the state and businesses.  In addition, the public transport register is an outdated and poorly maintained system, which means that hosting data in this environment poses serious security risks, and other Transport Administration systems located in the same cluster are also at risk.

Therefore, the current practice of displaying service provider cards to the public will be discontinued, and the application for the cards, the issuance of the cards, and record-keeping will be transferred to the register of economic activities. This will reduce duplicate management of registers, improve data security, and simplify administration for both the state and businesses.

Another amendment concerns the requirement to provide a photo on the service card.  Today’s procedure requires that a person provide an identity photo in the application in order to obtain a service card.  This requirement is a leftover from the time when a physical card was the primary means of identification. Such a photo does not increase security, but it does create risks regarding data protection and misuse and requires an expensive IT-solution. At the same time, the planned amendment is in line with data protection principles according to which the state should not collect or store data that it does not actually need. 

The amendment is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2026.

 Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Rene Kokk from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording is available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Two Bills passed the first reading in the Riigikogu

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NATO Parliamentary Assembly discussed Russia’s airspace violations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Head of the Estonian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Raimond Kaljulaid and member of the delegation Marko Mihkelson gave the Standing Committee, which brings together the heads of member state delegations, an overview of Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace, due to which Estonia requested NATO Article 4 consultations and, for the first time, initiated an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Kaljulaid said that the Estonian delegation also gave the allies an overview of the situation on Estonia’s eastern border, which had been met with exceptional interest.

Border violations were also discussed at today’s Plenary Sitting of the Annual Session, where NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte gave a speech and answered questions from delegates. “During the assembly’s debate with Secretary General Rutte, the question arose as to whether the violation of Estonia’s airspace was intentional. It came as a surprise to us that Secretary General Rutte also considered it possible that it was a mistake. We pointed out that the Russian pilots were naturally aware that they were flying in NATO airspace, and that it certainly could not have been an accident or a mistake,” Kaljulaid said.

Mihkelson underlined that NATO must be more decisive than it had been so far. “Russia must know that NATO will not tolerate deliberate violations of our sovereign territory. There must be zero tolerance in this regard. NATO must move from the Baltic airspace patrol mission to an air defence mission,” he said.

The same topic was addressed in the resolution adopted today by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which noted that Russia’s recent airspace incursions of Estonia and other allies were in line with Russia’s escalating behaviour towards the Allies’ territory, populations, infrastructure, and interests. The Assembly also welcomed NATO’s decision to launch the Eastern Sentry vigilance measure, under which Allies are strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture with additional air defence elements in Estonia and across the Eastern Flank.

In the resolution on supporting Ukraine, the Assembly recommended that NATO allies ensure the timely and continuous delivery of air defence, long-range precision strike systems, ammunition, and other critical capabilities needed by Ukraine, expand and tighten sanctions on Russia, and reaffirm that Russia’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territory will never be recognized.

At its Annual Session, the Assembly adopted a total of six resolutions which, in addition to NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities and support for Ukraine, addressed the strengthening of economic cooperation, increasing of societies’ resilience to external interference, the future of unmanned warfare, and the situation in the Western Balkans.

During the Annual Session in Ljubljana, the Estonian delegation also participated in a separate meeting with delegations from the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States, as well as Poland, and Germany.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: NATO Parliamentary Assembly discussed Russia’s airspace violations

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Kaljulaid and Mihkelson attend NATO Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Kaljulaid said that the Estonian delegation had been asked to give the Assembly’s Standing Committee an overview of the violation of Estonia’s airspace by Russia. “After letting the world know about Russia’s aggressive actions and provocations through the UN, and informing our allies in the North Atlantic Council, we also want to give members of the parliaments of NATO countries an overview of Russia’s hybrid warfare against NATO. There is certainly a great deal of interest in this, and it is important for us to highlight to our allies that this is not a coincidence, but a part of Russia’s efforts to threaten European security, intimidate the citizens of NATO countries, and test NATO’s resolve and unity. We can also show at the level of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that Russia is not able to do these things,” he said.

The Standing Committee, which brings together the heads of member state delegations, will meet on Sunday to discuss airspace violations against Estonia and other allies. Discussions will also be held in other committees of the Assembly during this week. In addition to the Standing Committee, Kaljulaid is a member of the Defence and Security Committee, and Mihkelson participates in the work of the Political Committee of the Assembly.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly will convene for the Plenary Sitting of the Annual Session on Monday. Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Robert de Groot will address the Plenary Sitting and reply to the questions of the members of the Assembly, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver an online address, and Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob will also make a speech.

The debates at the Plenary Sitting will focus on NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities, as well as strengthening economic cooperation, increasing the resilience of societies to external interference, the future of unmanned warfare, further support for Ukraine, and the situation in the Western Balkans. The Plenary Sitting plans to adopt six resolutions on these topics.

During the Annual Session in Ljubljana, members of the Estonian delegation will also participate in a separate meeting with delegations from the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States, as well as Poland, and Germany.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Kaljulaid and Mihkelson attend NATO Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu opposes the EU’s plan to monitor files in private online conversations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that combating and preventing child sexual abuse was also naturally necessary on the internet, but Estonia could not agree to indiscriminate scanning of message files before they are sent.

“It is unthinkable that in the European Union we will start restricting the freedoms of our citizens and undermining their privacy,” Tali underlined. “As a preventive measure, just in case, and no matter how noble the pretext.” He added that many countries are critical of the initiative and expressed his satisfaction that the Presidency had decided at the last minute to remove the draft regulation from the agenda of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 14 October and put it on hold. He stressed that if the draft were to be put back on the agenda in the same form, Estonia would vote against it.

The European Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation to establish rules for preventing and combating child sexual abuse already in 2022. So far, no compromise that is acceptable to all Member States has been reached – some countries agree to greater infringement of privacy rights, while others, such as Estonia, consider the protection of privacy rights a higher priority.

Estonia supports the general objectives of the draft regulation – protecting children from sexual abuse, preventing the dissemination of such web content, and bringing perpetrators to justice – but cannot support the blanket scanning of content shared by users, such as images, videos, or web addresses. Estonia also believes that if a person refuses to give permission for scanning and is therefore restricted from accessing the service, this constitutes a violation of the principle of voluntary consent.

Minister of the Interior Igor Taro gave an overview of the position of the Government on the draft regulation at today’s sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee. The European Union Affairs Committee decided by consensus to support the position presented by the Government.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu opposes the EU’s plan to monitor files in private online conversations

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Hussar discussed strengthening security in the Baltic Sea region with the President of Poland

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to the President of the Riigikogu, relations between Estonia and Poland are characterised by excellent cooperation, which has become even closer in recent years. Hussar pointed out that mutual parliamentary friendship groups had been formed in the parliaments of both countries, and after the meeting, he himself also became a member of the Estonia-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group. “Poland is one of Estonia’s closest allies. We have a lot in common, and we also share the same concerns – our greatest security threat is Russia,” he said.

Hussar pointed out that after Russia’s drone attack in Poland and airspace violations in Estonia and in other European countries, it was of the utmost importance to increase the region’s deterrence and defence capabilities and the cost of aggression for Russia. “We have to do everything we can to make sure such violations would not happen again,” he underlined.

Hussar said that in order to strengthen security, cooperation between the countries bordering the Baltic Sea must be further enhanced. In this context, he mentioned the need for an amendment that would allow NATO countries to enter the airspace of other allies if necessary in response to airspace violations. “We know what we can do and what we must do,” he said.

Relations with the United States, including the importance of the US presence on NATO’s eastern flank, were discussed at the meeting. Issues related to defence industry, energy security, and infrastructure projects important for the development of the region were also spoken about.

The meeting between the President of the Riigikogu and the President of Poland was also attended by Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Kalev Stoicescu and Deputy Chairman of the Estonia-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group Kristo Enn Vaga.

The President of Poland is visiting Estonia in connection with the Arraiolos Group meeting in Tallinn, which is attended by the heads of state of 10 European Union Member States at the invitation of President of Estonia Alar Karis.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar discussed strengthening security in the Baltic Sea region with the President of Poland

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The first reading of next year’s state budget was adjourned in the Riigikogu

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to the State Budget for 2026 Bill (737 SE), initiated by the Government, the revenue of the state budget will be EUR 18.6 billion and the expenditure will be 19.6 billion. The budget foresees EUR 1.3 billion in investments. Compared to this year’s budget, revenues will grow by EUR 843 million or 4.7 per cent and expenditure by EUR 1.15 billion or 6.3 per cent. The total volume of investments will increase by 32%, or EUR 305 million, over the year.

The planned general government deficit amounts to 4.5 percent of GDP which remains within the limits of the exemption granted by the European Union for rapid increases in defence spending.  Next year’s debt burden will grow by EUR 1.7 billion to 25.9% of GDP.

The government says the increase in defence spending to five per cent of GDP is the largest increase in expenditure, which will require an additional EUR 844.5 million next year. The government is planning to invest EUR 276.8 million in road infrastructure, including EUR 65 million from motor vehicle tax, and EUR 684.2 million in railways, among other things to ensure the completion of Rail Baltic by 2030.

According to the Bill, state revenues will decrease by EUR 780 million as a result of the introduction of a uniform 700-euro income tax exemption and the cancellation of the planned two-percentage-point increase in income tax. The tax burden in Estonia will fall from 36.6% to 35.2%.

Together with the tax changes, the net income of those who earn the average salary of teachers will increase by EUR 319 per month, or EUR 3,828 per year. Previous cuts in operating expenses will also apply – the total cuts in the budgets of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Culture will amount to EUR 94 million in 2026, to which the Ministry of Education and Research will add another EUR 18 million through a budget revision. EUR 28.9 million will be allocated for salary increase in the area of ​​government of the Ministry of the Interior in 2026 which will allow front line rescue workers, police officers, rescue coordinators, and lecturers at the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences to receive a salary increase of nearly ten percent.

According to forecasts, the average pension will increase by 5.4 percent, with EUR 210 million allocated for this in the budget. The motor vehicle tax reduction for families with children and the taxation of 8-9-seater M-category vehicles similarly to the N-category vehicles, which will come into effect in 2026, will reduce the amount of motor vehicle tax to be collected by EUR 14 million. To achieve budget neutrality, EUR 48 million from motor vehicle tax will be allocated to the consolidated project for national roads.

According to the bill, the subsistence allowance limit will be raised by EUR 20 to EUR 220 and the subsistence allowance limit for each minor child in a family will be raised to EUR 264 for which an additional EUR 4 million will be allocated from the budget.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the first reading of the Bill was adjourned before debate which will take place at tomorrow’s plenary sitting. The report by Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller on the implementation of the long-term national development strategy “Estonia 2035” which was on the agenda for today’s sitting was also transferred to the agenda for tomorrow’s sitting.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The first reading of next year’s state budget was adjourned in the Riigikogu

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Mihkelson participates in joint visit of Chairs of parliamentary committees from six countries to Germany

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Mihkelson said that the purpose of the joint visit was to discuss with German decision-makers the reasons for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and other provocations directed against European countries, and what countries can do together with the European Union and NATO to stop Russia. “Germany is our firm ally and partner, who has strongly supported Ukraine. At the same time, there is a need for constant information exchange and explanations among allies so that we remain united in our positions and decisions and do not lose our main focus: to help Ukraine win the war of aggression initiated by Russia,” he added.

During their visit, the international delegation will meet with the Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on European Union Affairs and Defence Committee, as well as with various parliamentary groups. They will also have meetings with Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Florian Hahn and representatives of the Ministry of Defence.

The Chairs of parliamentary committees will also participate in a round table discussion organized by the German Council on Foreign Relations and take part in a round table discussion on strengthening NATO’s presence in Lithuania at the Embassy of Lithuania.

The delegation of the Chairs of parliamentary committees includes the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees and the European Union Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and Ukraine, who are members of United4Ukraine, a global parliamentary network created for supporting Ukraine.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson participates in joint visit of Chairs of parliamentary committees from six countries to Germany

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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