Mihkelson said the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu was closely following the developments in the Middle East, and considered frank exchange of information and debate to be of vital importance. “We are working to achieve a just and lasting peace in Europe, but we also want to see it in the Middle East one day,” he said.
He noted that Estonia had consistently supported the two-state solution and the implementation of international law. Unfortunately, the terrorist attack against Israel on 7 October 2023 has made finding a solution much more difficult than before. “It was a dramatic escalation that has led to a tragic situation in Gaza, where many innocent people have perished,” he said.
Mihkelson also pointed out that the events in the Middle East were not isolated from the rest of the world, but were a part of the global security situation. “If not directly, then indirectly, the full-scale war that Russia has started in Europe with the aim of destroying the current rules-based world order has paved the way for these developments,” he said, and added, “If Russia is not defeated in this war, we will not see peace in the Middle East either.”
Mihkelson was accompanied at the meeting by members of the Foreign Affairs Committee Henn Põlluaas and Juku-Kalle Raid.
Photos (Merje Meisalu / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Prime Minister Kristen Michal replied to the interpellation concerning the automatic number plate recognition camera network and the related database (No. 756), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Varro Vooglaid, Rene Kokk, Anti Poolamets, Evelin Poolamets, Mart Helme and Rain Epler.
The interpellators wanted to know by whose decision and on whose order such a system had been established. They also asked whether there were any other massive systems for collecting information about citizens.
Prime Minister explained that a regulation of the Minister of the Interior of 13 November 2009 had established the statutes on the maintenance of the police database, or the database ‘Information System POLIS’, which for the first time regulated the issues relating to cameras. The regulation had been established on the basis of the Police and Border Guard Act. The draft regulation was prepared by the Ministry of the Interior in 2009. This regulation has been amended 17 times by several Ministers of the Interior over time. This regulation can be found in the Riigi Teataja database and is available to everyone.
“It is also true that the perception of the protection of data has changed over time. At that time, there was probably a great desire for security in society, to stop all kinds of car thieves, other thieves,” Michal said. He explained that the statutes on the maintenance of the database ‘Information System POLIS’ were a regulation of the Minister of the Interior, not a government legal act.
Michal noted that, according to the review of by the Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board, the technology of the number plate recognition cameras used in the system worked by detecting the vehicle’s number plate and taking a photo of it. Depending on the camera, the vehicle, and circumstances, people in the vehicle may also be captured in the photo but they are generally not identifiable due to the external environment, weather, or daylight, because the camera focuses on the registration plate. “The photos taken by number plate recognition cameras are not personalised and are not automatically linked to the owner or user of the car. This means that the police will only link a person with a vehicle if a specific case is being investigated or a crime is being solved. Data processing has been purposeful, data is stored for a short period of time, and internal mechanisms for data deletion are in place,” Prime Minister saif.
Michal explained that the Police and Border Guard Board’s internal audit of the use of number plate recognition cameras had confirmed that the Police and Border Guard Board had used the data for its intended purpose, and the possibility of follow-up checks, and timely deletion of the data were guaranteed. The inspection has established that the Police and Border Guard Board has observed the Police and Border Guard Act, the Law Enforcement Act, and the POLIS statutes approved by the Minister of the Interior when using automatic number plate recognition. The conformity of the practice with legal principles has also been confirmed by case law, which has not questioned the legality of the use of number plate recognition cameras or the use of the data they collect as evidence.
Prime Minister stated that there was no consensus among legal experts on the existence of a legal basis. Minister of the Interior Igor Taro has suspended the further use of number plate recognition cameras by the Police and Border Guard Board by a decision of 14 May this year, pending legal clarity. The Legal Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu discussed the issue at its session on 3 June and found that the Ministry of the Interior was to present more precise regulations on the use of number plate recognition cameras. As of today, the relevant bill has been initiated in the Riigikogu, and as far as I know, the first reading should take place as early as next week. The committee has promised to thoroughly process the bill and to hear the positions of both the Office of the Chancellor of Justice and the Data Protection Inspectorate. “I believe that this debate is thorough and will continue in the Riigikogu in the autumn,” Michal noted.
The Prime Minister said that, according to the information received from the Ministry of the Interior, no covert data collection systems collecting personal data on a massive scale had been established or were under construction in Estonia. “All existing information systems are regulated by legislation and their use is based on the principles of proportionality, purposefulness and transparency,” the Prime Minister confirmed. “All existing data systems, including the POLIS information system, are used only by those officials who need it due to their official duties,” Michal noted.
Prime Minister also replied to interpellations concerning the spread of poverty in Estonia (No. 757), the decrease of population (No. 758) and the economic sustainability of wind energy and international experience in shaping Estonia’s energy policy (No. 763) submitted by members of the Riigikogu.
Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur replied to interpellations concerning the impact of the wind turbine industry on Estonia’s defence capability and security(No. 747) and the problems with the Defence Forces cemetery (No. 752). Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller replied to the interpellations concerning the severance pay paid to an adviser (No. 753) and the sustainability and accessibility of the healthcare system (No. 759).
A Bill passed the first reading
The Bill on the Termination of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Belarus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (666 SE), initiated by the Government, will terminate the Convention with Belarus for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on Income which has been in force since 1998. The aim of the convention is to encourage investments between the two countries, but Belarus has unilaterally violated the convention by partially suspending the application of the convention to Estonian residents.
Lauri Laats and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart 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.)
“In the information society, information is power,” says Editor-in-Chief of RiTo Marju Himma, Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the University of Tartu. “In the information society, the creation, spreading and use of information are of key importance to economic, social and cultural life. This proves the central role of information.”
Information warfare and hybrid war were also in the focus of the RiTo conversation circle, where Peeter Tali (Estonia 200), Andre Hanimägi (Social Democratic Party), Varro Vooglaid (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Karmen Joller (Reform Party), Ants Frosch (Isamaa) and Vadim Belobrovtsev (Estonian Centre Party) participated.
In a few months’ time, the people of Estonia will be electing local government councils. As the experience of elections in other countries shows, no democracy is today immune to external influences, to electoral manipulation. In the latest issue of RiTo, Master’s Student of political science at Tallinn University Oleksii Shpak addresses the main threats of propaganda and disinformation in the context of the 2025 local elections. He identifies social media, artificial intelligence, dark enlightenment and the polarisation of young people as key risks. Shpak points out that Estonia can successfully counter these risks, for example, by drawing on the Swedish model.
“People love stories, have loved stories for thousands of years. Therefore, spreading of stories, or to be more precise, spreading of narratives is one of the weapons of information warfare. Narratives are the ammunition of propaganda machine,” Himma says. Therefore, it is important to study which narratives Russia has used in history and which narratives it is using today to manipulate the minds of people.
Professor of political and sociosemiotics at University of Tartu Andreas Ventsel, and researchers Holger Mölder and Vladimir Sazonov, who study the manifestations of hybrid war, write on these topics.
Both in kinetic warfare and in hybrid warfare, many other everyday things take place alongside it – and it is also so in RiTo. In RiTo 51, you can find a number of articles that discuss our everyday lives. For example, young assistant physicians write about the obstacles and risks they face in their work due to the language barrier. Mare Ainsaar, Associate Professor in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Tartu, analyses trust in the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR). She points out that the largest group that does not trust the ERR is among the Russian-speaking residents, who do not trust other state institutions either.
Education researchers Katrin Saks and Äli Leijen give an overview of the results of PISA 2022 regarding the learning strategies, motivation and mindset of our students. Prominent economic and social experts paint a rather sobering picture of Estonia’s energy strategies. All articles of the RiTo are available on the Riigikogu Toimetised web page.
You can exchange ideas with the authors and editors, and hold the fresh issue of RiTo in your hands at the presentation on 11 June at 11 a.m. in the Art Gallery on the first floor of Toompea Palace, where Junior Research Fellow of the University of Tartu Kaarel Lott will give a talk about the radicalisation of young men.
In the RiTo panel discussion, Henrik Praks, Researcher at the International Centre for Defence Studies and hybrid warfare researcher, and Peeter Tali, Member of the Riigikogu with strategic communication expertise, will discuss hybrid warfare and information manipulation. The panel will be moderated by Editor-in-Chief of RiTo Marju Himma.
The presentation can also be watched live online and later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Toimetised (“RiTo, Proceedings of the Riigikogu) is a parliamentary journal that has been issued since 2000. It covers various topics that are of importance for society. The journal is meant for all those who are interested in politics and society, and it is published twice a year.
For more information, please contact:
Marju Himma
Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised +372 5341 0997 marju.himma@ut.ee
The main message of the Chairman of the EUAC Peeter Tali to his colleagues in other national parliaments is that Russia is waging a non-kinetic war against the free world. “The Kremlin is using cyberattacks, information operations, and hostile influencing activities to rupture the unity that is based on EU values, and to break our will. The European Union must be ready to respond to several crises at once and prevent these. This is why we need to develop the digital and cyber capabilities of our people and regularly drill the necessary activities.”
Today, the participants will discuss the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the next long-term budget in light of the challenges lying ahead of the Union, as well as the working plans of the European Commission and Parliament, and the EU strategic action plan in the new period. Tomorrow, the debates will focus on the EU enlargement policy and the need for concentrated efforts by the Member States to promote cyber security and combat misinformation.
Before the plenary sitting, the delegation met with Estonia’s Ambassador to Poland Miko Haljas yesterday. In May, the chairs of the European Union Affairs Committees of the national parliaments of the Member States around the Baltic Sea met in Latvia to prepare for the COSAC meeting.
The Riigikogu delegation at the COSAC plenary in Warsaw, Poland, is made up of the Chairman of the EUAC Peeter Tali, Deputy Chairman Vladimir Arhipov, and member of the committee Kristo Enn Vaga.
COSAC is a cooperation format that brings together the European Union Affairs Committees of the national parliaments of the 27 EU Member States.
“In the information society, information is power,” says Editor-in-Chief of RiTo Marju Himma, Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the University of Tartu. “In the information society, the creation, spreading and use of information are of key importance to economic, social and cultural life. This proves the central role of information.”
Information warfare and hybrid war were also in the focus of the RiTo conversation circle, where Peeter Tali (Estonia 200), Andre Hanimägi (Social Democratic Party), Varro Vooglaid (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Karmen Joller (Reform Party), Ants Frosch (Isamaa) and Vadim Belobrovtsev (Estonian Centre Party) participated.
In a few months’ time, the people of Estonia will be electing local government councils. As the experience of elections in other countries shows, no democracy is today immune to external influences, to electoral manipulation. In the latest issue of RiTo, Master’s Student of political science at Tallinn University Oleksii Shpak addresses the main threats of propaganda and disinformation in the context of the 2025 local elections. He identifies social media, artificial intelligence, dark enlightenment and the polarisation of young people as key risks. Shpak points out that Estonia can successfully counter these risks, for example, by drawing on the Swedish model.
“People love stories, have loved stories for thousands of years. Therefore, spreading of stories, or to be more precise, spreading of narratives is one of the weapons of information warfare. Narratives are the ammunition of propaganda machine,” Himma says. Therefore, it is important to study which narratives Russia has used in history and which narratives it is using today to manipulate the minds of people.
Professor of political and sociosemiotics at University of Tartu Andreas Ventsel, and researchers Holger Mölder and Vladimir Sazonov, who study the manifestations of hybrid war, write on these topics.
Both in kinetic warfare and in hybrid warfare, many other everyday things take place alongside it – and it is also so in RiTo. In RiTo 51, you can find a number of articles that discuss our everyday lives. For example, young assistant physicians write about the obstacles and risks they face in their work due to the language barrier. Mare Ainsaar, Associate Professor in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Tartu, analyses trust in the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR). She points out that the largest group that does not trust the ERR is among the Russian-speaking residents, who do not trust other state institutions either.
Education researchers Katrin Saks and Äli Leijen give an overview of the results of PISA 2022 regarding the learning strategies, motivation and mindset of our students. Prominent economic and social experts paint a rather sobering picture of Estonia’s energy strategies. All articles of the RiTo are available on the Riigikogu Toimetised web page.
You can exchange ideas with the authors and editors, and hold the fresh issue of RiTo in your hands at the presentation on 11 June at 11 a.m. in the Art Gallery on the first floor of Toompea Palace, where Junior Research Fellow of the University of Tartu Kaarel Lott will give a talk about the radicalisation of young men.
In the RiTo panel discussion, Henrik Praks, Researcher at the International Centre for Defence Studies and hybrid warfare researcher, and Peeter Tali, Member of the Riigikogu with strategic communication expertise, will discuss hybrid warfare and information manipulation. The panel will be moderated by Editor-in-Chief of RiTo Marju Himma.
The presentation can also be watched live online and later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Toimetised (“RiTo, Proceedings of the Riigikogu) is a parliamentary journal that has been issued since 2000. It covers various topics that are of importance for society. The journal is meant for all those who are interested in politics and society, and it is published twice a year.
For more information, please contact:
Marju Himma
Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised +372 5341 0997 marju.himma@ut.ee
The Foreign Affairs Committees underline in their Statement that Ukraine’s victory over russia’s aggression and Ukraine’s membership in NATO would consolidate a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine but also in all of Europe and help to preserve the rules-based international order globally. According to them, Ukraine’s NATO membership would also provide a more effective and enduring framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security.
In the Statement, the Foreign Affairs Committees commit to support Ukraine until its full victory, including the liberation of all temporarily occupied territories, accountability for war crimes, and full implementation of international justice. They also reaffirm their support to Ukraine’s membership in the European Union, with the goal of concluding accession negotiations and welcoming Ukraine as a full member of the European Union by 1 January 2030.
The Committees promise to support Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership, in line with the decisions of the Bucharest, Vilnius and Washington Summits, which clearly affirmed that Ukraine’s future is in NATO. “We call on the upcoming 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague to take concrete political steps that would pave the way for Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance,” they say in the Statement.
The Foreign Affairs Committees welcome the growing practical defence cooperation between Ukraine and like-minded partners and encourage an invitation for Ukraine to join the Joint Expeditionary Force. They also promise to continue diplomatic and political efforts to isolate russia and its supporters in the war within international organisations, to expand and tighten sanctions regimes, and to ensure full legal and political accountability for the crimes committed against Ukraine.
“We call upon the Foreign Affairs Committees of other national parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, governments, and responsible institutions to endorse this statement and to adopt corresponding actions that would ensure continued and determined support for Ukraine’s victory, reconstruction, and full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community,” they Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania say in their Joint Statement.
The Foreign Affairs Committees made the Statement at their annual meeting, which this year was held in Birštonas, Lithuania. The Statement was signed by Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of Lithuania Remigijus Motuzas.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson said that the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the three countries was an annual tradition to coordinate positions and plan further activities. According to him, the relations between the Committees are characterised by intensive and close cooperation towards common goals, the most important of which are the victory of Ukraine in the war of aggression launched by Russia, and the strengthening of deterrence and defence capabilities in Europe.
The meeting will be opened by Remigijus Motuzas, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of Lithuania. After that, geopolitical challenges will be discussed with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys. The second part of the working meeting will be dedicated to discussing strengthening security and defence, and the situation of defence industry in the European Union. Simonas Šatūnas, Head of the Cabinet of European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, will be the keynote speaker at this discussion.
At the end of the meeting, the delegations of the Foreign Affairs Committees will visit Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf together with Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Dovilė Šakalienė.
The Estonian delegation to the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic States consists of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Henn Põlluaas and Juku-Kalle Raid.
The Minister of Infrastructure opened up on the current state of Rail Baltica, emphasizing that the completion of the construction of the Baltic rail link was a national priority. “To date, construction activities have begun or are about to begin this year on 100 kilometres of the route. The goal is to have work ongoing along the entire main route by the end of 2026. To this end, almost two weeks ago we signed the largest infrastructure contracts in Estonian history, worth almost a billion euro,” Leis said. Leis also addressed the issue of the financing of Rail Baltica, pointing out that it was a phased financing. The total cost of the link is EUR 3.07 billion, of which Estonia’s contribution is around EUR 600 million. “Estonia has used a number of sources, mainly the Connecting Europe Facility as well as CO2 quota revenue, the recovery instrument, and the structural funds. And we are working to ensure that European funding is also secured for the coming years,” the minister confirmed.
In his speech, Leis also discussed the development of the local road network. According to the Minister of Infrastructure, more investment will be made in roads that advance entrepreneurship and increase safety. To this end, an additional EUR 70 million will be allocated to improving the road network. “We have made a decision to start the construction of 2+2 highway sections in the Tallinn-Pärnu direction this year. Next year we will continue with the Tallinn-Tartu route,” Leis gave some examples. “We will also increase investments in smaller roads, with a focus on improving access to industrial areas and ports and on increasing the carrying capacity of bridges. We will also allocate additional funds to resurface gravel roads. We must ensure that infrastructure supports life and the economy in every corner of Estonia and in every situation. A new investor will not come where there is a gravel road,” the Minister of Infrastructure stated.
According to the Minister of Infrastructure, one of the most important steps in the area of circular economy is the implementation of waste reform. “The goal is to create a functioning and fair system where waste no longer goes to landfill or incinerators, but is transformed into new raw materials and industry,” Leis said. In the area of circular economy, the minister confirmed that there were plans to create a producer responsibility scheme for textile waste, to facilitate the recycling of bio-waste, to support the wider use of reusable containers and to allocate EUR 14 million in support for the development of the recycling industry.
In the field of housing, the minister highlighted the provision of state support for the renovation of apartment buildings and for obtaining home loans as key aspects. “We are facing a huge challenge: to renovate a large part of the building stock built in the last century. Apartment buildings are in the most difficult condition – around 14,000 houses need renovation by 2050,” Leis said. The Minister of Infrastructure said that it had been agreed that stable funding would be ensured for the sector, based on the CO2 quota revenue system. “We are also negotiating with the European Commission to direct the money from the Social Climate Fund to where it is most needed, that is, to housing for lower-income households.” According to Leis, the national housing loan guarantee will also be increased, and its validity will be extended to various market failure areas to help young families and people outside major centres where purchasing a home is more difficult due to market conditions. According to the Minister, the procedures for building permits and permits for use will also be updated to reduce duplication and to speed up the authorisation of minor changes. The state is also updating building regulations to emphasize energy efficiency, better quality of street space, and accessibility.
In the field of maritime affairs, the Minister of Infrastructure highlighted the issue of security in maritime areas and the functioning of interconnections even in difficult circumstances. “We are working to mitigate the risks arising from the shadow fleet and violations of international law. Shadow vessels are like cars that have not undergone a roadworthiness test and have no insurance – no one knows if they are safe or what damage they can cause.” Leis said that a new multifunctional icebreaker would be built, which, in addition to its ice breaking capabilities, would also have the ability to repair submarine cables. “Perhaps then there will be no repetition of the recent example where the repair of Estlink 2 took more than half a year and nearly EUR 60 million because the repair vessel and crew came from far away,” the minister said.
Kuldar Leis concluded his presentation with the message that change in infrastructure does not happen overnight and that many sectors need to be able to work together. “But we have clear goals, a plan to achieve them is on the table, and several critical decisions have already been made,” Leis confirmed.
Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group, Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Ando Kiviberg from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Anti Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Maido Ruusmann from the Reform Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate. Andres Hanimägi made a speech on behalf of the Social Democratic Group.
“Our Parliament, the Riigikogu, is currently debating possible amendments to the list of days of national importance and flag days, but we already know that everyone has the opportunity and the right to decorate their home with the national flag every day if they so wish. Many citizens make use of that possibility. And they do so without any national campaign carried out by the Government. They do this simply because their heart tells them to do this. However, there are many places where homeowners and public authorities do not reach, and this is particularly true for our public spaces: town squares, avenues, and highways,” the President of the Riigikogu said.
Hussar pointed out that soon we would celebrate the Song and Dance Festival, where, in addition to our national costumes and cornflowers, our flags could also be prominently displayed. “I know that Estonian people do not accept state-run patriotism and strained campaigns. This is why today I do not want to put pressure on the Government or the Riigikogu to promote our flag culture at state level in any way. On the contrary, my speech today is meant for all of us, to ourselves. So that we could think about it in our spare moments and perhaps come up with some beautiful results. Happy Flag Day, and may there be blue-black-whiteness in your hearts,” Lauri Hussar wished.
Bishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Ove Sander said a blessing at the flag raising ceremony. Chairman of the Estonian Flag Association Jüri Trei delivered a speech.
Jan Eduard Piigli and Loore Aruste from Kadriorg German Gymnasium and Adrian Georg Zurbuchen and Reiu Pärnamäe from Tallinn French School assisted at the raising of the flag. The Riigikogu and the Estonian Flag Association gave ceremonial flags to both schools.
The flag guards of the Guard Battalion, the Estonian Defence League, Women’s Home Defence, Young Eagles, Home Daughters, Scouts, Guides, as well as schools and academic and patriotic organisations attended the ceremony in the Governor’s Garden today morning. The Military Orchestra played and the choirs of the Estonian Female Song Society, the Women’s Home Defence and schools sang at the ceremony.
The National Flag Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the consecration of the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Students’ Society. The first blue, black and white flag was sewn in spring 1884. It was blessed and consecrated at Otepää parsonage in South Estonia on 4 June 1884. This year we celebrate the 141st anniversary of the consecration of the national flag of Estonia.
NordenBladet – Südamekodud, the largest provider of elderly care services in Estonia, is expanding its operations into Latvia and Lithuania. The expansion is being carried out in collaboration with EfTEN Capital, a real estate fund manager with whom Südamekodud has already developed a successful partnership in Estonia.
The goal is to invest in the elderly care sector in both Latvia and Lithuania, including the construction of new care homes and the renovation of existing facilities. The initiative also includes the development of service providers to improve the overall quality of care.
Currently, Südamekodud operates 12 care homes across Estonia, offering over 1,200 care places and employing more than 500 people. Additionally, approximately 500 new care places are planned in Estonia. Construction is also underway in Tallinn’s Hiiu district, where the new Nõmme Südamekodu will be built to accommodate 170 elderly residents.
EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS is the first real estate fund in the Baltics to have invested in care home infrastructure for over five years. Today, the fund owns four care home properties in Estonia in partnership with Südamekodud.
Both Südamekodud and EfTEN Capital see strategic potential in their joint expansion — to develop modern and secure care facilities that meet the growing needs of aging populations and support local economies through job creation and infrastructure investment.
