Hussar describes Germany as the largest economy in Europe, one of the most influential Member States of the European Union, and an important ally in the NATO, with whom Estonia has a close cooperation in several fields. Hussar is looking forward to discussing the future cooperation of the parliaments, but also economic and defence cooperation, and continued support to Ukraine.
Today in Berlin, Hussar will meet the President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas and the President of the Bundesrat Manuela Schwesig and will talk at a seminar for honorary consuls of Estonia, where the topics mainly concern economic diplomacy and promoting Estonian culture in Germany. In the evening, the Estonian embassy will hold a reception to celebrate the 106th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, where the President of the Riigikogu will award citizen diplomacy diplomas and deliver a speech.
Tomorrow, Hussar is taking part at a round table organised by the Bavarian Industry Association in Munich, where he will discuss topics ranging from development of economic relations between Estonia and Germany to energy, green transition, and defence industry with entrepreneurs. Hussar will also meet the President of the Bavarian State Parliament Ilse Aigner and the Bavarian State Minister for European and International Affairs Eric Beißwenger. The visit will conclude with the opening of an Estonian honorary consulate in Munich and a meeting with the local Estonian community.
The President of the Riigikogu will be accompanied on his visit by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and the Chairman of the Estonia-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group Andres Sutt.
The Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Liisa Pakosta explained that the collective proposal is being discussed publicly so that everyone could shape their own opinions while following the sitting. The Chairman referred to the huge amounts of misinformation that has recently been circulating with regards to the negotiations of the WHO pandemic treaty and International Health Regulation, which has even caused some threats to be made against her.
“We have invited experts to the sitting so that they can comment on the proposal more broadly. I hope for a well-argumented public discussion on the actual significance of the dates of the negotiations,” Pakosta said. She added that the discussion would take place in Kuressaare Hospital which received incomparable experiences during the pandemic. The invited speakers are communications expert Ilmar Raag, Adviser on Strategic Communication and Information Operations of the Strategic Communication Department of the Headquarters of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant Colonel (in Reserve) Jaanus Sägi, Head of the World Health Organization Country Office in Estonia Kristina Köhler, Member of the Riigikogu and research scientist Irja Lutsar, member of the Management Board of the Kuressaare Hospital Foundation Edward Laane, Minister of Regional Affairs and former head of a local government Madis Kallas, and representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The second item on the agenda at 11.30 a.m. is the hearing on the funding from the European Union Cohesion and Internal Security Policy Funds to knowledge transfer, and the regional policy aspects of the funding. This item is discussed in TalTech Kuressaare College. A closer look is given to the new initiative of the European Union to bring the opportunities of knowledge transfer to smaller locations and not only to bigger centres. Kuressaare College has recently received the necessary funding for knowledge transfer, and the Head of the Marine Technology Competence Centre Villu Vatsfeld will be sharing his experiences.
Other guests at this discussion will be Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas and Deputy Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Estonia Elis Paemurd.
Members of the press, there is an opportunity for interviews after the first item on the agenda, around 10.30 a.m., and after the end of the sitting, around 1 p.m.
The public sitting starts at 9 a.m. and can be followed online on theRiigikogu web page. Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
For more information, please contact: Liisa Pakosta, phone +372 502 6191
In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna focused for a large part on the war in Ukraine. He said that Ukrainians had been determined in their resistance to the aggressor and we had been determined in our support to Ukrainians, but the aggression had not ended. “Russian forces remain on Ukrainian territory, sowing dread and killing people. Putin has not given up on his goals and hopes to reach his aims by wearing out Ukrainians and their supporters. This must not happen, too much is at stake. To prevent this, our own goal must be certain and clear, we must know what we mean by victory because we can afford nothing else,” he emphasised.
According to Tsahkna, the European Union and NATO are and must remain the foundations of European security because both organisations have been established to preserve and uphold the interests of the free world – democracy, rule of law, the rights of people and the way of life based on freedom. “Ukraine must become a member of NATO and the European Union; it is a guarantee that makes the aggressor doubt the effectiveness of its militant and destructive objectives. It gives confidence to Ukrainians to move forward on their chosen path, it gives confidence to us that the aggressive and imperialist ideas sprouting somewhere do not become objectives and are kept under control,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs added.
In his speech, the minister also pointed out the massive terror attack of Ḩamās against Israel and the principles of the free world. He said that Israel had the right to defend itself within international law. “We must move towards a solution that would end the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and conclude with two states that can exist side by side,” he said.
In conclusion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the greatest lesson we had learnt from our history was how the security and prosperity of a small state and nation could actually come into being, how it became established and grew, as well as the importance of a free – inclusive, caring, forward-looking, sound – society on that path. According to Tsahkna, we have felt this price of freedom on our skin and in our bones all too painfully. “Therefore, we cannot just stand by and watch as forests burn. We care about our planet and the environment. We do not wish for any people to be subjected to destruction, fear, hunger, poverty, and suffering. This is why we are taking steps and showing an example. Swimming against the tide, if necessary,” he said.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson also focused on the war in Ukraine but not only on that. According to Chairman, Russia is not fighting only for the destruction of Ukraine but the changing of all the principles, standards, and lines of influence that have shaped the whole Western world. “This has remained obscure for many because Ukraine, events in Middle East, developments in Sahel, and the potential rise of tensions in Eastern Asia are still seen as separate affairs,” he said.
Mihkelson pointed out in his speech that the constantly and publicly expressed fears about escalating the current wars ourselves were just grist to the mill of the enemies of the West. “The recent warnings reverberating around Europe about Russia’s possible attack against NATO hint, on the one hand, to a deficient defence readiness and the need for new defence investments but, on the other hand, these in itself create the perception that there is nothing the West can do to avoid this,” he said. According to Chairman, for Estonia, the spreading of this narrative and it becoming the received idea is extremely dangerous because this might make the allies used to the idea that submitting to Russia’s ultimatums just might keep their world safe. “Moscow receives the impression that the West is reluctant to fight for its interests. We have fuelled this impression together by withdrawing from Afghanistan, Sahel, and now maybe also from the Middle East, but also by providing Ukraine military aid too slowly and acting too cautiously,” Mihkelson emphasised.
According to Mihkelson, the fear to escalate the war with Russia sadly gives the opposite effect. “This only makes Russia even more confident and creates a fantasy that it could win the war against the West without spilling too much blood,” he added. The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee also said that, for Estonia, the most dangerous scenario was the spreading political doubts and strategic indecisiveness among our allies. “This is why it makes complete sense that the main attention of our foreign policy in the near future must be directed into supporting Ukraine, keeping the unity in the allied space that is vital for us, as well as contributing to shaping the broader victory strategy of the West, and putting this to practice,” he added.
In conclusion Mihkelson said that, in its activities, the Foreign Affairs Committee had mostly concentrated on taking political and diplomatic steps to bring about Ukraine’s victory, on keeping the unity of our allied space, and on defining the key international topics in light of Estonia’s interests.
During the debate, Henn Põlluaas from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group, Andrei Korobeinik from the Estonian Centre Party Group, Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Raimond Kaljulaid from the Social Democratic Party Group, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski from the Estonian Reform Party Group, Kalev Stoicescu from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Member of the Riigikogu Ester Karuse took the floor.
The Riigikogu appointed Vadim Belobrovtsev as a new member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council
At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among the Members of the Riigikogu” (372 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee. Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council Andre Hanimägi was removed because he had left the Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group. Under the Resolution, Member of the Riigikogu Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Centre Party Group was appointed as a new member of the Council.
The Estonian Public Broadcasting Council consists of members of the Riigikogu and acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting. On the proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee, the Riigikogu appoints one representative from each parliamentary group of the Riigikogu until the date of termination of the authority of the composition of the Riigikogu, and four acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting whose authority continues for five years.
The membership of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council includes Members of the Riigikogu Priit Sibul, Marek Reinaas, Valdo Randpere, Varro Vooglaid, Raimond Kaljulaid and the new member Vadim Belobrovtsev as well as experts in the field Rein Veidemann, Peeter Espak, Viktor Trasberg and Sulev Valner.
39 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution.
In Metsola’s opinion, no big or small powers exist in our Europe, and this is nowhere better proven than in Estonia. “Where despite its own security concerns never scaled back from its warnings about Russia. Where despite sharing a 300km border with an aggressor and a former occupying power, took bold and quick decisions to decouple itself from Russian energy. [Estonia is] a country that has consistently, and let me say, admirably, put its money where its mouth is for Ukraine and in defence of our values and strategic priorities.” Metsola said, and added that it had been Prime Minister Kaja Kallas who just two weeks after Putin’s brutal invasion had addressed the European Parliament to outline our first steps as one united Team Europe in response to Russia’s invasion. “Because Estonia knows what is at stake.”
According to Metsola, the debate on the our strategic autonomy of Europe must move from the theoretical to the practical. “That is true when it comes to our competitiveness, our energy supplies, trade and of course, defence. Europe needs to step up in its own capabilities and create a new security and defence framework that complements – not competes – with NATO. The proposals from Estonia on strengthening European defence industry are important. We cannot wait,” she said.
Metsola assured that the European Parliament’s political, economic, military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Ukraine had remained steadfast, and it would remain steadfast. “We will continue to condemn Russia’s aggression and impose hard-hitting sanctions to impede the financing of Russia’s war machine. These must be fully implemented and any loopholes closed. We will continue to call for Russian assets to be used to re-build Ukraine. We will continue to hold culprits of war crimes to account. And we will continue to do whatever we can to assist Ukraine in the process of European integration,” she said, and added that Ukrainian security was European security, and Ukraine’s place was within the EU.
In her speech, Metsola also spoke of the crises of recent years and the decisions relating to them in a wider context, noting that the world was changing and Europe must change with it. “The last years have not been easy. But as the saying goes: the strongest steel is forged in the hottest of fires. That is why I argue that Europe is stronger than it has been in the last decades. That the crises we faced made us more resilient, more determined and more united than we have ever been before,” she said.
She also underlined that when changes were made, it was necessary to be better able to cushion the economic and social impact of decisions, to better explain the decisions, and to listen to people more and harder. “As someone once put it to me, there is an invisible line that people cannot be pushed beyond. People must have confidence in the process. Our processes are sometimes very difficult to explain and navigate through. And they must be able to afford the transitions we are making. Otherwise they will not succeed,” Metsola said. In her opinion, that is the challenge we are facing before the European Parliament elections on 9 June.
Metsola said that, together with MEPs, they had made it their mission to burst through the Brussels bubble and bring Europe closer to the citizens they represent. “We are here to speak to the Estonian people – young people in particular, who I will meet later on today at Tallinn University – to explain our achievements, to listen to their concerns and to invite them not to miss being able to vote for who they want to represent them,” Metsola stated, and called on the Riigikogu to transmit to the European Parliament the sentiments, the feelings, the frustrations, the concerns, the questions of their citizens, and join the European Parliament in convincing the Estonian people to cast their vote.
Metsola is on a one-day visit to Estonia today. She also had meetings with President of Estonia Alar Karis, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Her visit will conclude with a meeting with young people at Tallinn University.
In Metsola’s opinion, no big or small powers exist in our Europe, and this is nowhere better proven than in Estonia. “Where despite its own security concerns never scaled back from its warnings about Russia. Where despite sharing a 300km border with an aggressor and a former occupying power, took bold and quick decisions to decouple itself from Russian energy. [Estonia is] a country that has consistently, and let me say, admirably, put its money where its mouth is for Ukraine and in defence of our values and strategic priorities.” Metsola said, and added that it had been Prime Minister Kaja Kallas who just two weeks after Putin’s brutal invasion had addressed the European Parliament to outline our first steps as one united Team Europe in response to Russia’s invasion. “Because Estonia knows what is at stake.”
According to Metsola, the debate on the our strategic autonomy of Europe must move from the theoretical to the practical. “That is true when it comes to our competitiveness, our energy supplies, trade and of course, defence. Europe needs to step up in its own capabilities and create a new security and defence framework that complements – not competes – with NATO. The proposals from Estonia on strengthening European defence industry are important. We cannot wait,” she said.
Metsola assured that the European Parliament’s political, economic, military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Ukraine had remained steadfast, and it would remain steadfast. “We will continue to condemn Russia’s aggression and impose hard-hitting sanctions to impede the financing of Russia’s war machine. These must be fully implemented and any loopholes closed. We will continue to call for Russian assets to be used to re-build Ukraine. We will continue to hold culprits of war crimes to account. And we will continue to do whatever we can to assist Ukraine in the process of European integration,” she said, and added that Ukrainian security was European security, and Ukraine’s place was within the EU.
In her speech, Metsola also spoke of the crises of recent years and the decisions relating to them in a wider context, noting that the world was changing and Europe must change with it. “The last years have not been easy. But as the saying goes: the strongest steel is forged in the hottest of fires. That is why I argue that Europe is stronger than it has been in the last decades. That the crises we faced made us more resilient, more determined and more united than we have ever been before,” she said.
She also underlined that when changes were made, it was necessary to be better able to cushion the economic and social impact of decisions, to better explain the decisions, and to listen to people more and harder. “As someone once put it to me, there is an invisible line that people cannot be pushed beyond. People must have confidence in the process. Our processes are sometimes very difficult to explain and navigate through. And they must be able to afford the transitions we are making. Otherwise they will not succeed,” Metsola said. In her opinion, that is the challenge we are facing before the European Parliament elections on 9 June.
Metsola said that, together with MEPs, they had made it their mission to burst through the Brussels bubble and bring Europe closer to the citizens they represent. “We are here to speak to the Estonian people – young people in particular, who I will meet later on today at Tallinn University – to explain our achievements, to listen to their concerns and to invite them not to miss being able to vote for who they want to represent them,” Metsola stated, and called on the Riigikogu to transmit to the European Parliament the sentiments, the feelings, the frustrations, the concerns, the questions of their citizens, and join the European Parliament in convincing the Estonian people to cast their vote.
Metsola is on a one-day visit to Estonia today. She also had meetings with President of Estonia Alar Karis, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Her visit will conclude with a meeting with young people at Tallinn University.
“Ukraine must be able to count on Europe,” Hussar said. He pointed out that the more we supported Ukraine today, the lesser would be the cost of war for all of us. Hussar added that Russia must get no respite. Metsola noted that the European Parliament’s support for Ukraine continued to be strong.
Taking into use of Russia’s frozen assets to cover the damages caused to Ukraine and rebuild the country was also discussed at the meeting.
Hussar and Metsola expressed hope that the European Parliament elections to be held at the beginning of June would matter to the people and people would be interested in the elections. Hussar noted that often people did not perceive how many positive things the accession to the EU had brought along. He mentioned the phone roaming service abroad as well as the free movement of goods and people. “We have to accept that the European Union is the best thing that has happened to us in the last 70 years,” he said. “Estonia stands firmly for European values and is working to make the European Union visible and effective on the international arena.”
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa also participated in the meeting. Metsola signed the Riigikogu guest book and delivered a speech to the Riigikogu.
The President of the European Parliament is on a one-day visit to Estonia. She also had meetings with President of Estonia Alar Karis and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as well as young people at the Tallinn University.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
The Motor Vehicle Tax Bill (364 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for the introduction of a motor vehicle tax from 2025. The tax will consist of two parts. The first part will be paid annually by motor vehicle owners on vehicles registered in the motor register. The motor vehicle tax rate on passenger cars will be made up of the base component, the specific CO2 emissions component and the gross vehicle weight component. The second part will be the motor vehicle registration fee, which will be paid before the registration of passenger cars and vans in the motor register.
Chair of the Finance Committee Annely Akkermann said that the aim of the motor vehicle tax was to curb the increasing motorisation and gradually make the Estonian car fleet more sustainable. “The implementation of the Bill will also have an important impact on improving the state of public finances to cover increased defence spending,” Akkermann explained.
The motor vehicle tax is expected to contribute 236 million euro per year to the state budget in the first full year of the implementation of the tax.
Akkermann added that the tax was aimed at making a more environmentally friendly choice when buying a new vehicle. The purpose of the motor vehicle tax is not to remove old vehicles from the road, and it supports the consumption of old cars until the end of product life. The tax will make the purchase and owning of passenger cars 5–15% more expensive in comparison to today. The specific change for car owners will depend on the type of car they own or plan to buy. The tax burden on more polluting and heavier cars will be higher. As the vehicle gets older, the tax burden will become lower.
Member of the Finance Committee Aivar Kokk thinks that the introduction of motor vehicle tax is unjustified. “The motor vehicle tax reduces people’s economic security and the competitiveness of businesses. Introducing a new tax in the context of an economic downturn is not the right move, and it will not help make the economy grow,” Kokk said. He added that a car tax was not the right way to raise the revenues of the treasury.
According to the Bill, the motor vehicle tax will be collected by the Tax and Customs Board. The registration fee will be collected by the Transport Administration and it will be paid before the making of register entry on the motor vehicle, and be a precondition for making of entry. The Tax and Customs Board will develop a new motor vehicle tax registry under the register of taxable persons. The Transport Administration will make the relevant amendments in the database of the motor register. The alarm vehicles, the vehicles rebuilt to accommodate people with disabilities and, on the basis of international agreements, the vehicles of foreign missions will be exempt from the motor vehicle tax and registration fee.
Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev and the officials of the Ministry gave explanations about the tax at the sitting of the Finance Committee.
The members of the Riigikogu point out that the deliberate and systematic deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia and Belarus is a war crime and genocide under international law. They say that the aim of Russia and Belarus is to destroy the Ukrainian nation and identity by killing, wounding, traumatising and relocating Ukrainian children. During the war of aggression started by the Russian Federation in 2014, hundreds of thousands of children have been taken from the territories of Ukraine to Russia.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the deliberate and systematic deportation of children from Ukraine by Russia and Belarus in violation of international law, as well as Russia’s decision to grant citizenship to Ukrainian children under a simplified procedure, with the aim of forcibly changing their identity and assimilating them into Russia’s society.
The Riigikogu demands that Russia and Belarus release the children deported from Ukraine and ensure their safe return to Ukraine, and calls on all states to assist in the return to Ukraine of the children deported to Russia and Belarus and to cooperate in this effort.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu expresses support to the 10-point peace plan proposed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which includes the return of the persons deported to Russia and Belarus, and acknowledges the establishment of an international coalition focusing on the return of the children. The Riigikogu also acknowledges the work of the International Criminal Court in fighting against impunity, in particular the arrest warrants issued in March 2023 against the President of the Russian Federation and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights on charges of illegal deportation and resettlement of Ukrainian children.
Exhibition of pictures drawn by Ukrainian children will be opened at the Riigikogu
In order to draw attention to Russia’s war crimes against Ukrainian children, Pakosta and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia Maksym Kononenko will open an exhibition of drawings and toys made by Ukrainian war refugee children staying in Estonia in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu today. Representatives of the Ukrainian community will also participate in the opening ceremony, which will start at 1 p.m., and there will be a musical performance by pupils of the Freedom School of Estonia.
The exhibition features Ukrainian children’s drawings on wooden plates, depicting their pets who had to be left back home because of the war. Anatoly Lyutyuk, founder of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Tallinn, offered the children the opportunity for art therapy, and also made wooden figures of the pets to help the children feel a connection with their homeland and keep alive the hope of returning home.
The exhibition “Tallinn’s Ark – Drawings and Toys by Ukrainian Refugee Children” will be open in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu until 22 February.
The Riigikogu has issued seven statements in support of Ukraine
Since the beginning of 2022, the Riigikogu has adopted seven Statements and one Communication to condemn Russia’s activities and to express support to Ukraine. The Riigikogu has also recognised the actions committed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the military aggression against Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation, and has declared Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terrorism, whose actions must be confronted together. The Riigikogu has also supported the establishment of a centre for investigating Russia’s crime of aggression by the European Union in The Hague, called on the countries of the world to contribute in every way to the activities of the centre, and to continue with efforts to set up an international special tribunal.
In May last year, the Riigikogu adopted the Statement in support of Ukraine’s wish to join NATO as the only way to ensure a rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe. In June, the Riigikogu adopted a Statement in which it demanded holding to account individually those involved in planning, preparation, launching and committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and called on establishing for this a special international tribunal under the auspices of the UN.
The Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia consists of a Chairman, representatives of the parliamentary groups of the Riigikogu and specialists of the field. The principle to govern the forming of the Supervisory Board is that each parliamentary group of the Riigikogu nominates one of its members and the Chairman of the Board nominates four specialists of the field.
The membership of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia includes Members of the Riigikogu Anti Allas, Aivar Kokk, Andres Sutt, Igor Taro, Jaak Valge and the new member Lauri Laats as well as experts in the field Ivi Proos, Krista Jaakson, Karin Jõeveer and Toomas Tamsar.
64 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution and one was against. There were three abstentions.
Pikhof said that the aim of the observers was to monitor whether the presidential election adhered to democratic principles, and that transparent voting procedures and a fair campaign atmosphere were ensured. “Most probably the current President Ilham Aliyev will be re-elected for his fifth term of presidency, but we will observe that all candidates are treated equally,” Pikhof explained. She will be observing the election in Salyan District.
Odinets added that during the presidential election in Azerbaijan, it was also important to monitor media accessibility, and the accurate reporting of results. “We will observe the opening of polling places, voting, counting of ballots as well as the reporting of results. And we will certainly monitor whether journalists are able to do their work freely, as is appropriate in democratic elections.” Odinets will be observing the election in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
This is the first election in Azerbaijan that will be held on its entire internationally recognised territory. More than 80 members of 27 national parliaments will observe the presidential election in Azerbaijan within the framework of the mission organised by the OSCE PA. The purpose of the mission is to make sure that the elections adhere to the democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.
Deploying of election observation missions has been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The missions monitor whether the elections are conducted legitimately and respect the democratic standards. This is the tenth time the OSCE PA has observed elections in Azerbaijan since 1995.
For more information, please contact:
Heljo Pikhof +372 511 9637
Eduard Odinets +372 501 8934