Hussar thinks that the exhibition highlights the excellent cooperation between Estonia and Norway in the field of culture. “Numerous joint events organised during the year of the European Capital of Culture, from high-level concerts and shows to exhibitions, are an example of the vibrant cultural cooperation between our countries. Through these projects, we celebrate the friendship between our two countries, together with European values and cultural traditions,” he said at the opening of the exhibition.
The exhibition that was opened at Stormen Library shows books that were published last year by Estonian publishers, and are designed and illustrated by Estonian artists or graphic designers and printed in Estonia. The 25 most beautiful books in Estonia were selected in a competition that has been held since 1998.
In Bodø, which is located north of the Arctic Circle, and this year bears the title of the European Capital of Culture along with Bad Ischl and Tartu, the President of the Riigikogu met with Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen and Deputy Chair of the County Government Marianne Dobak Kvensjø. In the afternoon, he will visit the Norwegian Joint Headquarters to get an overview of the security situation in Northern Europe and the Arctic Region and the development plans of the Norwegian Armed Forces, and also go to the Norwegian Aviation Museum and Nordland Cultural Centre. First Vice President of the Storting Svein Harberg also participates in the visit.
Yesterday, Hussar was in Oslo and met with King of Norway Harald V, President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Storting to discuss the supporting of Ukraine, countering Russia’s aggression and preparations for the oncoming NATO Summit in Washington. Hussar also visited the University of Oslo and the headquarters of Orkla Group, and met with the representatives of the Estonian community in Norway.
The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by Vice-President of the Riigikogu, Chairman of the Estonia-Norway Parliamentary Friendship Group Toomas Kivimägi and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Kristina Šmigun-Vähi.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
NordenBladet —In May, Estonia hosted the NATO Military Intelligence Committee conference, bringing together leaders of military intelligence from allied and partner countries. “This is a significant conference, with both substantive and organizational preparation requiring considerable attention and cooperation within the defence forces, as well as with various national organizations and NATO …
Chair of the Finance Committee Annely Akkermann said that according to the Bill, the government sector deficit would be reduced to under 3 per cent of GDP to comply with the budgetary rules of the European Union. “All ministries contribute to cutting costs, involving their subunits and foundations wherever possible, and save mainly on their operational and running costs. The savings in ministries amount to around 50 million euros,” Akkermann referred to the data set out in the Bill. She added that it was planned to conduct the proceedings on the Bill as a matter of urgency. The supplementary budget helps keep the finances of the state on a sustainable path.
Akkermann said that the Government had agreed upon the supplementary budget measures in the total amount of 183 million euros, which would improve the budget position by 173 million euros, including savings measures in the extent of 115 million euros and revenue measures, like increasing of dividends and supplementary income tax receipts, in the amount of 68 million euros
Member of the Finance Committee Aivar Kokk said that the plan for supplementary budget presented by the Government was too modest. “Actually, they try to save only 50 million euros. It is on the same level as the cost of the Environment Building,” Kokk explained. He added that the supplementary budget would have a far-reaching impact on future tax receipts: grants to foundations and companies would be cut by 6 million, which, according to the explanatory memorandum, would reduce the national tax revenue by the estimated amount of 20–30 million euros next year.
Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev explained that the Government did not plan to cancel major investments, but budgetary position would be influenced by the postponement of some investments. The Government has set a target that 70% of approved investments have to be committed by August this year, in order to meet the investment budget to the maximum extent by the end of the year.
Võrklaev said that funding for national defence, as the highest priority sector, would not be reduced by a negative supplementary budget. However, the area of government of the Ministry of Defence, in solidarity with others, will also find ways to save on labour and management costs. The freed-up budget will be channelled into improving defence capability. In the area of government of the Ministry of the Interior, the savings will be made at the expense of one-off costs, in the amount of around 3 million euros.
This time, the economy measures of the budget do not concern the foundations of museums, theatres and concert institutions, as well as the legal persons governed by public law.
The state budget does not mention hospitals, but they, too, have been instructed to improve the budgetary position, reducing their operational expenses at the level of 1%.
According to the budget, the amount of dividends of the State Forest Management Centre has been increased, and the supplementary dividends of Elering AS have also been taken into account by an order of the Government of the Republic. In addition to that, the reserve of the Government of the Republic will be reduced, this applies to both the non-assigned reserve and the special-purpose reserve.
The Bill justifies that the reduction of the state budget deficit is also a preparatory step for drafting the next year’s state budget, where it has to be ensured that 80% of the economy measures are of a permanent nature and meet the budget deficit reduction target for future years.
The Finance Committee decided to send the Bill on the State’s Supplementary Budget for 2024 (456 SE), initiated by the Government, to the first reading at the plenary sitting on 10 June, with the motion to conclude the first reading of the Bill. The deadline for submission of motions to amend was set at 4 p.m. on 12 June.
Today, Hussar will meet with King of Norway Harald V, President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Storting in Oslo to discuss the development of cooperation, supporting of Ukraine and preparations for the oncoming NATO Summit that will be held in Washington in July. Hussar will also visit the University of Oslo and the headquarters of Orkla Group, and meet with the representatives of the Estonian community in Norway.
From Oslo, Hussar will travel to Bodø with First Vice President of the Storting Svein Harberg. Bodø is located north of the Arctic Circle, and this year bears the title of the European Capital of Culture along with Bad Ischl and Tartu. In Bodø, the President of the Riigikogu will meet with Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen and Deputy Chair of the County Government Marianne Dobak Kvensjø, and open the exhibition of the most beautiful Estonian books in Stormen Library. He will also visit the Norwegian Joint Headquarters to get an overview of the security situation in Northern Europe and the Arctic Region and the development plans of the Norwegian Armed Forces, and go to the Norwegian Aviation Museum and Nordland Cultural Centre.
The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by Vice-President of the Riigikogu, Chairman of the Estonia-Norway Parliamentary Friendship Group Toomas Kivimägi and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Kristina Šmigun-Vähi.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo replied to the interpellation concerning the Platform Work Directive (No 629), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Lauri Laats, Andrei Korobeinik, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Aleksei Jevgrafov and Vadim Belobrovtsev.
The interpellators wished to know the essential reasons why Estonia had not supported the Platform Work Directive at the first voting and what meetings there had been with representatives of Bolt and what had been discussed at the meetings.
Riisalo explained that the public schedule of the meetings of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications included the meeting of the former Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Development with Bolt on 6 June 2023 to discuss the Platform Work Directive and the EU’s Mobility Strategy. The Deputy Secretary-General of Labour, who at that time had been within the structure of the Ministry of Social Affairs and not the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, had also participated in the meeting. Two experts from the Department of Business had also participated. “As far as I know, no more meetings on this issue with Bolt have taken place,” Riisalo said.
He explained that Estonia’s positions on the platform work initiative had been approved at a Government meeting, in the Social Affairs Committee and in the European Union Affairs Committee about two years ago.
The general approach of the draft had been approved in the EU on 12 June 2023. Its text had set out the criteria to be met in order that a person working via a platform would be categorised as an employment contract employee and those criteria had been very easy to meet. Estonia had abstained already at that point according to positions that had been approved earlier, in so far as Estonia’s aim had been that it would be impossible to presume a contract of employment in unjustified cases.
According to Riisalo, Estonia had not been convinced that the conditions for the establishment of a legal precondition for a contract of employment would have guaranteed sufficient legal certainty.
Riisalo said in justification that Estonia had supported the Platform Work Directive at the second voting in the Council of the European Union in connection with the fact that throughout the entire process a compromise had been sought and various articles of the directive had been changing. “The countries who had abstained from voting earlier wished greater legal clarity and there was a possibility in the air that on France’s initiative certain further specifications regarding the legal precondition for a contract of employment would be included in the text which would have reduced legal ambiguity,” Riisalo explained. He added that by the time of the voting in March it had been clear that they would not go through because the parliament had not wished to open the text again. “We supported the proposal that platform work would be more clearly regulated across the European Union and clear and dignified working conditions would be ensured to the increasing number of platform workers.”
The Riigikogu passed a Resolution
The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic not to recognise the results of the presidential election in the Russian Federation” (395 OE), submitted by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, made a proposal to the Government not to recognise the results of the presidential election in Russia.
During the debate, Ester Karuse and Jaak Valge (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
62 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and one was against.
Three draft Resolutions were rejected at the first reading
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to implement effective measures to protect minors from coming into contact with pornography” (409 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government to ensure that the offering of works which contain pornography would have to be organised in a manner which would prevent examination of such works by minors as is provided for in the Act to Regulate Dissemination of Works which Contain Pornography or Promote Violence or Cruelty.
16 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Resolution and 34 were against. The draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to revoke the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on closing down the Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in San Francisco“ (396 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, made a proposal to the Government to revoke the decision on closing down the consulate of Estonia in San Francisco.
The Resolution was not passed, because 13 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour but the support of at least 51 members would have been needed. The draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to obligate all reservists to permanently keep at home firearms with a sufficient amount of ammunition, and to provide financial assistance to reservists for this where necessary” (331 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group. The explanatory memorandum justified the proposal by pointing out that Estonia’s primary defence capability should be increased in view of the recent terrorist attack against peaceful citizens in Israel which Israeli citizens had managed to counter because they had protective equipment at home, as well as having regard to Estonia’s aggressive eastern neighbour and its conquering activities.
The Resolution was not passed, because 13 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour but the support of at least 51 members would have been needed. The draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings.
The Riigikogu discussed a written request to express no confidence in Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo, submitted by 22 members of the Riigikogu. The request was not supported.
23 members of the Riigikogu supported the vote of no confidence in Riisalo and 53 voted against it. At least 51 votes would have been needed to express no confidence in the minister.
Rain Epler took the floor during the open microphone.
Hussar pointed out that the story of the Estonian flag was unique – we were among the few countries whose first flag, with such a long history, had survived to this day.
“As long as we, as a nation, are able to preserve our relic, the mighty people of the ancient hero Kalev will always prosper,” the President of the Riigikogu said.
“As a nation, we have been through a lot, and it has not been easy for us to become free. To be free, you must have the courage to fight for it, and we have that courage. United as free people, let us do together our utmost to ensure that freedom will never again become just a dream for us and will remain a legacy for our children and grandchildren for long years to come,” Hussar said.
Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma said a blessing at the flag raising ceremony. Chairman of the Estonian Flag Association Jüri Trei delivered a speech.
Uku Aaron from Laagri School and Aivi Jürgenson from the Estonian National Museum assisted at the raising of the flag, and the Riigikogu and the Estonian Flag Association thanked them by giving them ceremonial flags.
Representatives of the family of Konstantin Päts, the first President of the Republic of Estonia, also attended the flag rising ceremony. They were presented the flag that had been flying at the Tall Hermann Tower on 23 February this year. 23 February 2024 was the 150th anniversary of the birth of Konstantin Päts.
The national flags of Estonia that have flown at the Tall Hermann Tower are given as presents by a decision of the Board of the Riigikogu on the occasion of particularly noteworthy events and for outstanding services. Over the years, this honour has been granted to our Olympic winners, to Estonian organisations abroad for preserving Estonian identity, to the Estonian Flag Association and to villages that have been awarded the title of Village of the Year.
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 in the morning of 4 June. Tallinn Police Orchestra and the choirs of schools and the Estonian Female Song Society performed the music 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 140th anniversary of the consecration of the national flag of Estonia.
In the draft Statement, Members of the Riigikogu point out that despite widespread protests, calls from the EU and Georgia’s allies and a veto by the President of Georgia, on 28 May the Parliament of Georgia, with the votes of the ruling party Georgian Dream, passed the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which is inspired by the Russian Federation’s so-called Foreign Agents Law that the Putin regime uses to repress civil society, the press and political opposition. According to the explanatory memorandum of the draft Statement, the EU, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and Georgian civil society have declared the law to be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as it violates the principles of the rule of law, legality and proportionality, as well as non-discrimination.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu condemns the activities of the government and the parliamentary majority of Georgia in passing the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence and abandoning what had been agreed upon with the EU, and calls on the Parliament and government of Georgia to immediately repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. The Riigikogu also calls on the government of Georgia to stop using violence against demonstrators, civil society and opposition politicians, to carry out legal investigations in regard of the authorities and individuals who have used violence against peaceful protesters, to uphold its promise to promote the rule of law and protect human rights, and to implement the reforms that are demanded by the overwhelming majority of the citizens of Georgia and are a precondition for the accession to the EU.
Until the government and parliament of Georgia have not started to resolve the democratic crisis in a way that respects the rule of law and civil rights, have not returned to the reform and democratisation programme agreed upon with the EU, and have not repealed the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, the Riigikogu considers it necessary for Estonia to block all further processes relating to Georgia’s accession in the EU, freeze development cooperation with Georgia’s state agencies and use the funds released to support Georgian civil society.
In the draft statement, the Riigikogu deems it necessary to impose government sanctions, including an entry ban into Estonia, on Bidzina Ivanishvili, members of the government of Georgia, the leaders of the Parliament of Georgia and the leadership and Parliamentary Group of the Georgian Dream party. The Parliament of Estonia also calls on imposing government sanctions on the representatives of the power and law enforcement agencies of Georgia who have been involved in the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations and the repression of Georgia’s opposition and civil society, and submitting the relevant list to the EU.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu expresses support to the freezing of the visa waiver agreement between Georgia and the EU until the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence is repealed. “The Riigikogu expresses its respect to the brave Georgian people who stand for Georgia’s democratic and pro-European future,” the draft Statement says.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu will discuss the sending of the draft Statement to the plenary assembly for debate and vote on Tuesday.
Riisalo pointed out that strong communities, that is, people, made strong societies. The Minister said that all Estonian people, regardless of where they were in Estonia or what their background was, contributed in one way or another to their community, to our society. “And the strength of a community depends on how much each individual member is supported and involved, “Riisalo emphasised.
The Minister explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs mainly operated in two different result areas. These are health and well-being. “Our aim is both to reduce inequalities and to support people throughout their life-course. Today, the most important thing for us is to ensure a sustainable population and well-being, to make the organisation of social protection effective and responsive to people’s personal needs, and to enhance the long-term care system,” Riisalo said.
Speaking about children and families, the minister said that, statistically, people in Estonia considered an average of 2.35 children per family to be ideal. “Our aim is to build on the same principles, putting the well-being of today’s children and families first, and to target public resources in a diversified and sensible way to support families and to create a more favourable environment for future generations,” Riisalo confirmed. She added that, in recent years, Estonia had indeed moved steadily along a path of support for children and families that was as diverse as possible. “This means that, alongside financial support, we will increasingly pay attention to services that would be designed to support the management of current and future families as well as parenting,” the minister said. She gave examples from the system of social benefits.
Riisalo highlighted the importance of transferring the funding of support services for foster, guardianship and adoptive families to the state budget, which previously had been operating as a project-based activity. “This change will provide greater certainty and better support for families raising a child deprived of parental care in their family and will contribute to the creation of new foster families,” the minister said.
Riisalo highlighted the “Estonia 2035″ objective of keeping the population size stable, which had been met thanks to positive immigration that compensated for the negative natural birth rate. “The increase in immigration was particularly marked due to the arrival of war refugees from Ukraine in 2022 when the population increased by 2.6%,” the minister admitted. She noted that the low birth rate was not however a problem only in Estonia, but across Europe, affected by the COVID crisis, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the cost of living, and rising prices. In periods of instability, birth rate has always fallen, and in Eastern European countries this has also been exacerbated by the smaller generation born in 1990. “This is why we have to analyse how to ensure confidence for families and to understand exactly what support families need from the state. However, this support will certainly be multifaceted and created through a skilful interweaving of different areas of life,” Riisalo said.
She said that, in November 2023, the legislative intent to amend the Social Welfare Act and other Acts had been completed with the aim of creating a system of a rehabilitation service based on a person’s need for assistance. One of its key objectives is the provision of rehabilitative individual services and interventions for people with special needs, integrated with health services.
Speaking about the elderly, Riisalo explained that, on the part of the state, it is important to ensure that people’s old age is secure and that the necessary support is also available where necessary. In order to strengthen social protection, it is important that people be healthy, active, and financially secure and have financial knowledge and skills in later life as well.
Riisalo noted that, in comparison with other European Union countries, Estonia’s pensioners were, among other things, at the forefront in terms of employment. A number of socio-economic factors can be seen behind this: increasing average age, a longer healthy life expectancy and certainly also self-fulfilment. Statistics show that Estonian people are at the top in Europe in terms of the employment of the elderly.
The Minister pointed out that population ageing was nevertheless a reality, and it was therefore important as a country to contribute to ensuring that our people remain healthy and fit and feel that their participation and presence in decision-making processes is valuable. Within the framework of strategic partnership, we have also developed the document “An Age-Friendly Estonia”. These principles give different agencies an overview of the way to best involve the elderly in their activities.
Riisalo said that, according to the data of the European Institute for Gender Equality, Estonia’s Gender Equality Index score would be 60.2 points in 2023, placing us 17th in the European Union. The average score is 70.2% but we still remain below it. The main reason for this is a setback in the areas of the use of time and power. Compared to women, men have more flexibility in their working hours as well as more personal free time. Although the gender balance in politics has improved, in particular thanks to women’s equal representation in government, the share of women in economic decision-making, including on the boards of major listed companies, remains very low.
Riisalo explained that, among other things, in cooperation with other European Union countries, we are committed to making pay systems more transparent and reducing the gender pay gap through the Pay Transparency Directive.
In the opinion of the minister, one of the most acute problems however remains the deficiency of legal aid. There are shortcomings in legal regulation. “For example, the limited scope of application of the Equal Treatment Act leaves people with disabilities and several other minority groups without effective protection in areas outside working life, including the availability of goods and services. On the other hand, effective legal protection also requires the monitoring of compliance with the law and the provision of free primary legal aid and assessment by the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner. This is why it is important to ensure that the Commissioner’s institution has the mandate as well as the resources needed to function effectively,” the minister said.
Riisalo said that, going forward, we are committed to the modernisation and effective implementation of the legal framework for gender equality and equal opportunities. “I hope that in the future we will see a widening of the circle of people protected from discrimination, which means an increased number of people with better opportunities to participate in the labour market and society at large. This will improve their economic livelihoods and opportunities for self-fulfilment and increase their capacity to contribute to society and thereby to stimulating the economy,” Riisalo said.
During the debate, Riina Solman (Isamaa), Lauri Laats (Centre Party), Irja Lutsar (Estonia 200), Õnne Pillak (Reform Party) and Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.
Minister of Climate Kristen Michal replied to the interpellations concerning the extent of the licence to drive category B vehicles (No. 327) and the renovation of Estonian housing stock (No. 592), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo replied to the interpellations concerning the need to protect children’s right to life before birth (No. 554), the collection of data regarding post-abortion complications (No. 550) and the situation in care homes (No. 571).
The interpellators withdrew from the proceedings the interpellation concerning the need to protect children’s right to life before birth (No. 521), submitted to Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo.
Before today’s sitting, President of Finland Alexander Stubb made a speech before the plenary.
Rain Epler took the floor during the open microphone.
The sitting ended at 7.57 p.m.
Photos: /Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu/
The Act on Amendments to the Building Code and Other Acts (acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy) (308 SE), initiated by the Government, establishes the superficies licence for offshore wind farm as a new type of licence for offshore wind farms. While so far electricity producers have had to apply separately for a superficies licence, an environmental permit for special use of water, and a building permit, the amendment consolidates the requirements for these permit-granting procedures into one.
Application for a superficies licence for offshore wind farm will be more extensive than each separate process but at the same time it will be quicker because on the whole there will be less submission of documents and performance of various acts. Obtaining a superficies licence will give the right to start the construction of an offshore wind farm, and the special use of water needed for that. In the future, a single administrative act will be issued which will also reduce the number of court actions.
The amendment also simplifies the renewal of wind turbines and solar farms and establishes a state fee for proceedings for new applications for a superficies licence, and a state fee for proceedings for those who wish to transfer to integrated permit proceedings. In addition, a directive is transposed into Estonian law to enhance the development of the trans-European transport network.
During the debate, Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group took the floor. Jaak Aab took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group.
55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 18 were against it.
The Riigikogu also passed the Act on Amendments to the Customs Act (350 SE), initiated by the Government. It will simplify customs control of postal items both for customs authorities and for postal service providers and enhance the prevention of sending prohibited and restricted goods to Estonia.
The amendment specifies the procedure for preparing the minutes for the examination of postal items. It is provided that no minutes for the examination of a postal item will be prepared where the postal item is examined in the presence of the postal service provider and no circumstances indicating a violation are discovered in the course of the examination. Under the procedure that was in force up until now, a report must always be prepared regarding every examination of a postal item. In the case of examination, a postal item is opened and closed by an accountable employee of the postal service provider in the presence of a customs official, and a report is prepared regarding every opening of a postal item under the Postal Act regardless of whether a breach is identified or not. After the amendment of the Customs Act, the obligation to prepare a report will be maintained for customs only in the case a breach of law is identified.
As a result of the amendment, time will be saved both for customs authorities and for postal service providers and it will be possible to direct this resource to enhance supervision so that as few as possible prohibited goods, such as tobacco products, psychotropic substances and falsified medicinal products, would reach Estonia. As customs controls will be carried out more quickly the person placing the order will receive the goods faster.
77 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 7 were against it.
A Bill passed the second reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (416 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading. It stipulates that, from the beginning of 2025, the tax allowance of people who reach old-age pension age will be 9,312 euro per year, or 776 euro per month. The aim of the amendment is to increase tax revenue and to simplify the calculation of tax allowance.
Although, under the Bill, the tax allowance for old-age pensioners will no longer rise in line with the average old-age pension, according to the explanatory memorandum, it will still remain higher than the general tax allowance which will be 700 euro per month next year. In the future, the tax allowance for people of pension age can be raised in the same way as the general tax allowance, by a separate decision.
The amendment will particularly affect pensioners whose pension is equal to or higher than the average pension in Estonia. As of 1 April this year, around 149,400 people, or 48 per cent of all pensioners, receive at least an average pension.
During the debate, Andrei Korobeinik and Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Centre Party Group, Rain Epler, Martin Helme and Helle-Moonika Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Urmas Reinsalu, Aivar Kokk and Helir-Valdor Seeder from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and the Centre Party Group moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. 25 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion, 52 members were against and there was one abstention. Thus, the motion to suspend was rejected.
The deliberation of three drafts was deferred
The deliberation of three drafts was deferred from the agenda for today’s sitting of the Riigikogu due to the end of the working hours. The first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Land Tax Act (437 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Child Protection Act and Other Acts (427 SE) and the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Supporting the adoption of nuclear energy in Estonia” (431 OE) will be deferred.
The declarations adopted at the plenary sitting focus on the priorities of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington in July, and the long-term support for Ukraine. Among other things, the members of the Assembly call on the member states to increase their defence spending, recognising the fact that it might be necessary to set the sights higher than the current goal of spending two percent of the GDP on defence. In the declaration on supporting Ukraine, countries are encouraged to speed up the provision of military aid that Ukraine needs to win the war and continue providing long-term help. The members of the Assembly also enjoin the countries who have provided weapons to Ukraine to abandon the restrictions that ban Ukraine from using these weapons to attack military targets in Russia.
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg spoke at the beginning of the Spring Session. The Head of the Estonian Delegation to the NATO PA Raimond Kaljulaid asked Stoltenberg to explain his statement a few days prior, when he spoke against shooting down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine from the territory of the Western countries, seeing this as a risk of escalating the situation through the intervention of the NATO allies. He also asked the Secretary General’s opinion on the option discussed in individual countries about sending units to Ukraine to help with training, for example. Stoltenberg explained that he did not see the point in discussing steps that did not enjoy the full support of the allies, and repeated his position that the intervention of the NATO countries in the war in Ukraine had the potential of leading to a broader war between NATO and Russia in Europe.
“The positions expressed by Stoltenberg and many other allies show that the fear of escalation continues to play an important role in decision making, and this serves as the basis for drawing red lines this way or that. Throughout the war we have witnessed these red lines being eventually crossed anyway,” Kaljulaid said. “Just recently, the Western countries proved that they were able to successfully defend Israel from missiles and drones launched by Iran—and we are talking about NATO countries here. For some reason, this was not seen as a risk of escalation. It would be interesting to learn what makes Ukraine different and why it cannot receive the same help as Israel.”
At the Spring Session, the representatives of Estonia met the Portuguese delegation whose Head is planning to run at the elections for the President of the NATO PA at the end of the year. The two delegations discussed both support for Ukraine as well as the priorities of the Assembly. Kaljulaid will also take part in the meeting of Nordic and Baltic heads of delegations and visit the Novo Selo Training Area with the Defence and Security Committee.
The Estonian delegation at the Spring Session held in Sofia, Bulgaria, is made up of Raimond Kaljulaid and Marko Mihkelson.