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Source: Estonian Defence Forces
Riigikogu: The European Union must increase its defence capability faster and invest more in supporting Ukraine
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“The Council will discuss European defence, in particular the defence initiative of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which would mean contributing EUR 800 billion to defence. The Council will also discuss the channelling of a EUR 150 billion loan to the growth of the defence industry,” Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said.
“We no longer have the time to sit back and wait for the implementation of the next long-term budget of the EU in 2028, we need to act now, quickly and decisively. For Estonia, military defence is crucial, as well as the development and security of critical infrastructure,” he underlined, adding that the biggest war since the Second World War was going on in Europe and we must do more to support Ukraine who was fighting the aggressor.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson, who participated in the sitting, expressed concern that mobilising such a large amount of money would take a long time, and suggested that there were platforms through which investments in the defence industry could be made immediately if there was a political will for that. “The possibility of channelling European assistance funds to Ukraine to fill the gap left by the Americans should be considered. In addition to supporting Ukraine, we also need to think about how to support Moldova and Georgia so that this region would not become Russia’s zone of influence,” Mihkelson pointed out.
It was noted at the sitting that it was important to put pressure on Russia, including through the use of frozen assets, to increase military assistance to Ukraine and to maintain relations with the United States. It is expected that the Council will decide that in order to cover the gap left by the United States, the European Union has to assume a more ambitious role in assisting Ukraine. Estonia expects the EU to send a message of support for the efforts Ukraine, who is waging a war, has made in moving forward with the EU accession process. The willingness of large member states to raise defence spending was also discussed.
The positions of the Government for today’s special European Council meeting in Brussels were presented by Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The positions of the Government were approved by consensus.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Riigikogu: The European Union must increase its defence capability faster and invest more in supporting Ukraine
Source: Parliament of Estonia
Hussar in France: Europe needs to do more to support Ukraine
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“Europe must do its utmost to fill the gap left by America in supporting Ukraine and strengthening its defence capability,” Hussar underlined. “Europe can do more and must do more. Europe needs to understand that it is not just a Single Market, it is and it must start to behave as a military force,” Hussar said at the meeting with President of the Senate of France Gérard Larcher.
“Our common aim is to provide Ukraine a position of strength for the negotiations that must guarantee a just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian people. In doing so, we need to exert maximum pressure on Russia, which means military assistance to Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and urgent actions to use Russia’s frozen assets,” Hussar said.
The discussions also focused on strengthening the defence capability of Europe. At the meeting with the representatives of the French Parliament, it was pointed out that Europe needed to invest significantly more into defence, and hope was expressed that important decisions would be made in this regard at the European Council on Thursday. “Estonia is doing its part – currently our defence spending is 3.4% of GDP, and we are heading towards 5%,” Hussar noted.
The President of the Riigikogu said that France was an important partner and ally for Estonia, and acknowledged the contribution of France to collective defence, especially their participation in NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Tapa, Estonia
Hussar met with President of the National Assembly of France Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the Senate of France Gérard Larcher and several members of the French Parliament, including members of the France-Estonia parliamentary friendship group. Yesterday, Hussar visited a sitting of the National Assembly, and today, a sitting of the Senate of France. Further support to Ukraine and the security of Europe were discussed at both sittings. He also visited MBDA, one of France’s largest defence industry companies, and participated in a discussion on the relations between the United States and France together with experts. At the Embassy of Estonia, Hussar had a meeting with Estonians living in France.
The President of the Riigikogu was accompanied on the visit by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Estonia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Andres Sutt and member of the Estonia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Tõnis Lukas.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Hussar in France: Europe needs to do more to support Ukraine
Source: Parliament of Estonia
President of the Riigikogu starts two-day visit to France
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Hussar underlined that France was a very important partner and ally for Estonia. “We highly appreciate France’s contribution to collective defence of the Baltic region. Close cooperation between the allies is more important now than ever before,” said Hussar, adding that Estonia wished to continue good cooperation with France also in the field of defence.
In Paris, Hussar will meet with President of the National Assembly of France Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the Senate of France Gérard Larcher and members of the French Parliament, including members of the France-Estonia parliamentary friendship group. The main topics of the meetings will be support for Ukraine, increasing defence readiness and strengthening security in Europe, as well as relations with the United States. On Tuesday, the President of the Riigikogu will also visit the sitting of the Senate where a declaration regarding Ukraine will be discussed.
Hussar will also visit MBDA, one of France’s largest defence industry companies, and participate in a discussion on the relations between the United States and France together with experts. At the end of the visit, he will meet with Estonians living in France at the Embassy of Estonia.
The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Estonia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Andres Sutt and member of the Estonia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Tõnis Lukas.
Photos (will be added in accordance with the programme; (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
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maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: President of the Riigikogu starts two-day visit to France
Source: Parliament of Estonia
European Union Affairs Committee supports more flexible state aid rules in aviation
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The Committee sees a need to review and modernise the current state aid guidelines for aviation because the sector has undergone significant changes since their adoption in 2014. The current guidelines are valid until 2027, and the purpose of the public consultation is to collect the opinions of stakeholders, Member States, airports, airlines, and organisations of the industry on the relevance and application of the current state aid guidelines.
The Chairman of the EUAC Peeter Tali stressed the importance of the smooth functioning of Estonia’s main airport in Tallinn, as well as our regional airports. “Living on the edge of Europe in the logistical sense gives us insight about how difficult it is to keep and introduce new flight connections from Tallinn. Therefore, there is all the more reason to give more state aid to regional airports in Pärnu, Tartu, Kärdla, Kuressaare, Kihnu, and Ruhnu,” the Chairman said in sympathy of the government’s position that the EU aviation state aid rules should be amended to allow countries to quickly intervene and support connections in the Member States on the outskirts of the EU if the market is unable to ensure their stability and quality. “We must be able to continue supporting regional airports after 2027 as well,” he insisted.
The current three-year support programme for successfully launching new routes is insufficient and the start-up aid could last for four years in the future to make sure the companies are interested in keeping up the flights. The Committee would like to see the state aid system for airports to become more flexible, to allow quick intervention in case of market failures or crises—such as the past Covid crisis. The state aid rules are so complicated that both businesses and the state find these difficult to follow; yet these should allow for a quick intervention without months of deliberation. The EUAC amended Estonia’s positions at the sitting, adding the proposal that the state aid rules should be indefinite in duration.
The Ministry of Climate Deputy Secretary General for Transport Sander Salmu and DG of the Aviation Department Taivo Linnamägi gave an overview of the positions of the government at the sitting. Member of the Economic Affairs Committee Tarmo Tamm expressed the position of his Committee.
In its further work, the European Commission will proceed from the responses received through public consultations and might introduce changes in the state aid guidelines. The state aid guidelines in aviation industry are in the exclusive competence of the European Commission, with Member States only playing a consulting role.
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: European Union Affairs Committee supports more flexible state aid rules in aviation
Source: Parliament of Estonia
The Riigikogu did not support the vote of no confidence in Minister of Climate Yoko Alender
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21 members of the Riigikogu supported the vote of no confidence in the Minister of Climate. At least 51 votes would have been needed to express no confidence.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, who represented the initiators of the motion of no confidence, said at the sitting that Alender should take political responsibility and resign from office. “We find it unacceptable that the public has been repeatedly and knowingly lied to regarding the plan to support the offshore wind farm in the amount of EUR 2.6 billion. These huge allocations have been accompanied by misleading claims, confusion and secrecy. We consider it necessary to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the entire plan and, if necessary, to initiate criminal proceedings,” she said.
According to Kovalenko-Kõlvart, the initiators of the motion of no confidence could see signs of corruption in the minister’s activities, and thus, the entire Government had lost its credibility. “Yoko Alender said at a government press conference that the Ministry of Climate did not wish to share accurate data relating to the support for wind farms with the public. We do not think it is right that on the basis of classified data, the state imposes such a heavy financial burden on taxpayers for decades. While causing the whole energy chaos, the minister has constantly lied to the public and provided false data. Overall, the Ministry of Climate led by Yoko Alender has failed to do its job,” she said.
In her speech before the Riigikogu, the Minister of Climate said the Ministry had published all the materials regarding the acceleration of renewable energy developments in Estonia, and on the basis of those materials, a Bill was being prepared. She noted that the decision regarding the support for offshore wind farms was up to the Riigikogu to make, and her proposal was to do so during the next stages, once it was clear how to perform it in the most favourable way for the Estonian consumers.
In her presentation, Alender explained the Government’s energy policy and pointed out that, as the Western world was freeing itself from Russia’s fossil energy shackles, major changes were taking place in the energy sector. “Initial investments are often costly. The society wants to have a say on the changes in question, and I find it absolutely fair,” said the Minister, confirming that she was ready to continue the work.
“We also have very dedicated and competent people working at the Ministry of Climate and we will definitely try to further strengthen the Energy Department, as the challenges are considerable. And I call on all of you to cooperate in resolving these important issues and in making these important strategic decisions that we certainly have to make,” Alender said before the plenary.
Martin Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Igor Taro from Estonia 200 Group and Vadim Belobrovtsev from Estonian Centre Party Group took the floor during the debate.
Due to the end of the working hours of the plenary sitting, the first reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Riigikogu committee of investigation to investigate the facts relating to the termination of the activities of Nordica” (543 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group, was cancelled.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: The Riigikogu did not support the vote of no confidence in Minister of Climate Yoko Alender
Source: Parliament of Estonia
The Riigikogu discussed three Bills
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The Bill on Amendments to the Farm Animals Breeding Act (551 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading. It will re-transpose the relevant European Union directive and establish a regulation for horse competitions which was mistakenly omitted when the new version of the Act was adopted.
According to the Bill, the conditions for competitions for equidae and the requirements for prior notification of the organisation thereof will be established. The conditions for competitions may not discriminate between equidae which are registered in Estonia and originate in Estonia and equidae of another Member State. The requirement will not apply at competitions for the improvement of the breed and at traditional events. According to the bill, by December 15 at the latest, the organizer of a competition will have to inform the Agriculture and Food Board of a competition planned for the following year.
A Bill passed the first reading
The Organisation of Research and Development and Innovation Bill (554 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading. It will provide for the first time the general principles and obligations of research ethics at the level of law, as well as the tasks of the Estonian Research Council in the organization thereof. A research ethics committee will be set up at the Research Council to coordinate, for example, the conduct of human research.
The bill will streamline public funding for research. The current baseline funding will be transformed into activity support which will be divided into baseline funding and performance funding. When granting baseline funding, the last three years’ funding of the institution will be taken into account, while for performance funding, the results of the institution will be taken into account. As an important amendment, the payment of activity support will be divided between two ministries in the future. The Ministry of Education and Research will continue to pay the activity support for state and public research and development institutions, while the payment of the activity support for private sector research and development institutions will be transferred to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
All research and development institutions must be positively evaluated in order to receive activity support and national research grants. In the future, the evaluation of the quality of the research work of evaluated universities and institutions of professional higher education will be carried out within the framework of institutional accreditation in order to reduce the burden and bureaucracy related to the evaluations of educational institutions.
The strategic management of research and development and innovation will be updated. Innovation policy will be brought more clearly to the desk of the Research and Development Council which advises the government. A supra-ministerial steering committee on research, development and innovation will be set up to replace the Research Policy Committee and the Innovation Policy Committee advising the ministers responsible for research and development and innovation. The Government Office will be given the task of coordinating public sector innovation activities. The tasks of ministries in planning, organizing, and financing research and development activities and innovation activities in their areas of government and in transmitting the relevant information to the Ministry of Education and Research will also be specified.
The Act provides for the Centre for Applied Research as a new actor in the national organisation of research and development.
The Act is planned to enter into force on 1 September 2025.
Heljo Pikhof (Social Democratic Party) took the floor during the debate.
A Bill was dropped from the proceedings
The Bill on Amendments to the Hunting Act (567 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler, Arvo Aller, Mart Helme, Varro Vooglaid and Rene Kokk, was intended to introduce an amendment to the Hunting Act, according to which a person holding a hunting certificate can kill a problem individual and game that damages the property owned by the person or directly endangers the life and health of the person and his or her close ones. According to the bill, a person will not need a hunting permit in such a situation.
Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.
The Environment Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading; 34 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 15 were against. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.
The deliberation of a Bill was cancelled
Due to the absence of the presenter, it was impossible to deliberate the Bill on Amendments to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act (552 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler, Kert Kingo and Arvo Aller. The purpose of the Bill is to lay down more clearly in the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act the rules for meeting the obligations of members of the Government and other persons to appear before a committee of the Riigikogu and to present documents, as well as sanctions in the event of failure to meet such obligations.
Under the current Act, committees of the Riigikogu have the right to summon members of the Government and other persons to appear before the committee and to require the presentation of documents. However, at the same time, the current Act does not clearly provide for the obligation of persons to comply with the requirements of the committees of the Riigikogu.
The Bill provides that failure to appear before a committee of the Riigikogu without a valid reason following a summons from the committee, failure to present data or documents, or refusal to provide explanations or to reply to questions is punishable by a fine of up to 300 fine units. If a minister does not comply with a request of a committee of the Riigikogu within two working weeks of the Riigikogu from the submission of the request, the procedure of expressing no confidence in the minister will automatically begin.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed three Bills
Source: Parliament of Estonia
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill restricting the right to vote
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The Bill on Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (536 SE), initiated by 61 Members of the Riigikogu, provides that Estonian citizens and stateless residents as well as citizens of the EU and NATO countries will be able to participate in municipal council elections. At present, in addition to Estonian and EU citizens, the right to participate in local elections extends to aliens who reside in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or the permanent right of residence, who have attained 16 years of age by the election day and whose permanent place of residence is located in the corresponding rural municipality or city.
According to the initiators of the Bill, the amendment will give the right to vote to citizens of countries that share democratic values and have overlapping security interests with the Estonian state, as well as to stateless people residing in Estonia who have no loyalty or other obligations to any other country.
Before the second reading, the Constitutional Committee had decided to support the motion to amend submitted by 43 Members of the Riigikogu to omit from the bill, in order to avoid repetition, the sentence according to which the conditions and procedure for entering stateless persons and aliens with the right to vote on lists of voters would be provided for by law. The committee had not accepted another motion to amend the Bill submitted by 23 Members of the Riigikogu. It was intended to revoke the right to vote in local elections for third-country nationals as well as stateless persons residing in Estonia.
Helle-Moonika Helme, Rene Kokk, Mart Helme, Evelin Poolamets, Anti Poolamets, Rain Epler, Martin Helme, Kert Kingo, Siim Pohlak, Varro Vooglaid and Arvo Aller from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Riina Solman, Mart Maastik, Urmas Reinsalu and Tõnis Lukas from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Ando Kiviberg, Peeter Tali and Kalev Stoicescu from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Eduard Odinets and Madis Kallas from the Social Democratic Party Group, Vladimir Arhipov, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart and Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Centre Party Group and Jaanus Karilaid, Henn Põlluaas, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Kalle Grünthal and Ants Frosch took the floor during the debate.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and the Estonian Centre Party Group moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The result of voting: 17 in favour, 61 against. The motion was not supported.
The second reading of the Bill was concluded and the deadline for motions to amend was set for 5.15 p.m. on 11 March.
After the second reading of the Bill, members of the Riigikogu can submit motions to amend the bill again if at least one fifth of the members of the Riigikogu, that is, at least 21 members of the Riigikogu submit them. The third reading of a Bill amending the Constitution where the method of amending the Constitution is also decided can take place when at least a month has passed since the second reading.
At the beginning of the sitting, the Riigikogu changed the working schedule according to which the sitting would last until the end of the proceedings on Bill (536 SE).
The sitting ended at 3.09 p.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
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gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill restricting the right to vote
Source: Parliament of Estonia
Speakers underlined the importance of joint efforts in supporting Ukraine
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The Speakers note in the Statement that despite the efforts of Ukraine and the international community to end the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the Russian Federation is not backing down from its criminal goals of occupying the entire territory of Ukraine, as well as destroying the statehood and national identity of Ukrainians. “It is more important than ever to maintain transatlantic unity and coherence of joint actions to defeat the aggressor and prevent the spread of chaos and war throughout the world,” they said.
The Speakers called on the nations of the world, their parliaments and governments to work towards a further increase in military, political, economic, financial and humanitarian assistance and support to Ukraine. They also called on intensifying joint efforts to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation, its military-industrial complex, energy sector, financial networks and digital infrastructure and the so-called ‘shadow fleet’, and on imposing sanctions on entities involved in the circumvention of these sanctions by the Russian Federation.
The Speakers promised to encourage further support and investment in the recovery and reconstruction, reforms and modernisation of Ukraine. “This includes providing emergency assistance to meet urgent needs, implementing early recovery projects, creating an attractive business environment to facilitate private sector investment in Ukraine, as well as enabling local communities to participate fully in the recovery and civil society to be actively involved in the reconstruction process,” they said, and underlined the need to support increased foreign investment in the Ukrainian defence industry.
“We appreciate that the Ukrainian fight against the aggressor contributes to the security of the European continent and therefore agree to continue to make joint efforts to support Ukraine’s European integration and extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization when Allies agree and conditions are met,” the Speakers emphasised in the joint statement made on the third anniversary of the full-scale war of aggression.
The joint statement was signed by the Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Ukraine, and the European Parliament.
Full text of the joint statement
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Speakers underlined the importance of joint efforts in supporting Ukraine
Source: Parliament of Estonia