ESTONIA

The European Union Affairs Committee focuses on Ukraine at COSAC Plenary in Stockholm

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Liisa Pakosta said that, undoubtedly, the most important debate of the COSAC Plenary Meeting would be on Ukraine. “We will be able to discuss with our counterparts from Europe how to continue and coordinate assistance to Ukraine so that it would ensure maximum benefit. It is also important to continue with sanctions against Russia and Belarus and to establish a special tribunal to bring to justice the leaders and allies of terrorist Russia,” Pakosta underlined.

Deputy Chair of the Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski will also highlight in her speech that it is vital to continue with supporting Ukraine. “It is important that the representatives of the national parliaments agree and are of one mind on what the support for Ukraine should look like, both in the short and long term, and on how to ensure the continued reconstruction of Ukraine. We must not allow war fatigue to emerge, we must support Ukrainians until the end of the war and Ukraine’s victory.”

The agenda of the COSAC Plenary Meeting for today includes the video message by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, overview of the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and a debate on the single market of the EU, where First Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas will deliver a report. Tomorrow, the COSAC Plenary Meeting will be conducted in the presence of Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria. The debates will focus on achieving climate neutrality and on Ukraine.

The Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union is held in Riksdag, the Parliament of Sweden, from 14 to 16 May. Estonia is represented at the Conference by Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Liisa Pakosta and Deputy Chair of the Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski.

COSAC is a cooperation format that brings together the Committees for Union Affairs of the national parliaments of the 27 Member States of the European Union.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The European Union Affairs Committee focuses on Ukraine at COSAC Plenary in Stockholm

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Additional United States infantry members arrived at Taara base in Võru

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —Last week additional United States infantry members arrived at the Taara base in Võru, increasing the number of U.S. servicemembers in Taara camp to over 330 military personnel. The U.S. infantry unit continues to train and serve with the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defence Forces, including participation in …

Source: Estonian Defence Forces

The European Union Affairs Committee supports opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chair of the Committee Liisa Pakosta underlined that the European Union Affairs Committee unequivocally supported Ukraine’s becoming a member of the EU and opening the accession negotiations. “In spite of being in a state of war, Ukraine is implementing the necessary reforms, which on the one hand is admirable and on the other hand encourages to open accession negotiations with Ukraine,” Pakosta said. “Estonia, including the members of the European Union Affairs Committee, is ready to share its experience with members of the Ukrainian Parliament and to seek political support from other Member States for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.”

Deputy Chair of the Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski considers it necessary for the EU accession negotiations with Ukraine to start in the nearest future, provided that Ukraine has made progress in implementing the EU’s seven recommendations.

The European Union Affairs Committee also decided that Estonia would request a statement from the European Commission that athletes from Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to take part in international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games, as they represent aggressor states. The European Union Affairs Committee gave Minister of Culture Heidy Purga a mandate to hold negotiations with the European Commission. The Minister will represent Estonia at the meeting of the European Union sports ministers in Brussels on Monday. It was underlined at the Committee sitting that it is unacceptable for athletes from aggressor states to compete even as neutral athletes.

Photos of the sitting (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The European Union Affairs Committee supports opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine

Source: Parliament of Estonia

95 members of the Riigikogu submitted draft Statement in support of Ukraine’s NATO membership

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu expresses determination to reinforce the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in Europe and to achieve a lasting peace, and expresses its conviction that the politics of spheres of influence in Europe continues to pose a threat to the security of the continent. According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu proceeds from the goal set by NATO member states at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 that Ukraine will join the alliance, and takes into account the application for accession to NATO submitted by the Government of Ukraine last year.

Ukraine submitted the official application to join NATO on 30 September last year. According to the explanatory memorandum of the draft Statement, Estonia, together with the other Baltic States, has always expressed its support to Ukraine in joining NATO and considers it necessary to plan concrete steps for Ukraine’s accession to the organisation at the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11–12 July.

In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu underlines the need to decisively strengthen the security architecture that has served the security of free and democratic Euro-Atlantic countries well, and expresses support for the people of Ukraine who are fighting for freedom. According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu also recognises the fact that Ukraine’s victory over the Russian Federation, which is waging a war of aggression, and Ukraine’s subsequent accession to NATO constitute the only way to ensure the rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe.

The draft Statement says that the Riigikogu considers it vital to formulate the specific and unambiguous steps necessary for Ukraine’s rapid integration into NATO at the Vilnius Summit, and to grant Ukraine an invitation to join the Alliance.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu will discuss the sending of the draft Statement submitted today for debate and voting in the plenary assembly at its Thursday’s sitting.

Since the beginning of the last year, the Riigikogu has adopted a total of five Statements and one Communication to condemn Russia’s activities and to express support to Ukraine. Most recently, on 22 February, the Riigikogu adopted the Statement submitted by 94 members of the Riigikogu to mark the passing of a year from the beginning of the full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to express their respect for the heroic people of Ukraine.

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

Link uudisele: 95 members of the Riigikogu submitted draft Statement in support of Ukraine’s NATO membership

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu discussed points of order

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

The members focused on the question of whether the agenda could be approved on Tuesday’s sitting in so far as, according to the law, the Riigikogu approves the agenda for the working week at the first sitting of the working week of the plenary assembly. When replying to questions, Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi, who chaired the sitting of the Riigikogu, said that, within the meaning of the Act, the Riigikogu approved the agenda at the first opportunity.

The Riigikogu also discussed how to find a compromise between the opposition and the coalition. Kivimägi admitted that, as to the Bill concerning the proposed tax changes, there was a theoretical possibility for the Government to withdraw it and to submit the proposals again as separate Bills in order to discuss every tax separately. In his words, that was highly likely if that helped to end the obstruction in the Riigikogu. Kivimägi also noted that willingness from both sides was needed for a compromise.

Vice-President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas who began chairing the sitting at noon said that in his opinion the situation that had arisen could be overcome through a discussion in the Council of Elders. However, even if the Council were not to convene, the Board of the Riigikogu was due to convene after the sitting to discuss the situation.

According to the draft agenda for this working week, the Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act and to the Act on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act, the Family Law Act and the Employment Contracts Act (17 SE), initiated by the Government, should have been at the first reading at yesterday’s sitting of the Riigikogu.

The interpellations concerning the reduction of benefits to large families (No. 6) and the means-tested basis of family benefits (No. 8), submitted by members of the Riigikogu, should have been on the agenda for today’s sitting according to plan.

The next sitting of the Riigikogu will start at 2 pm tomorrow. The sitting will continue until all items on the agenda will have been dealt with, but no longer than until the beginning of the sitting on Thursday.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed points of order

Source: Parliament of Estonia

At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu did not get to approve the agenda for this working week

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

 In total, 63 Bills and draft Resolutions and 64 interpellations were delivered. In addition, numerous points of order were raised. This lasted from 3 p.m. to midnight when the working hours of the sitting ended.

After the opening of the sitting had lasted for several hours, Tanel Kiik addressed the chair of the sitting and explained the situation that had arisen: “I would like to point out that everyone in the session hall has probably understood that today’s sitting is going to last for a long time and the opposition in the Riigikogu will be doing its best to prevent the cuts to family allowances, and is going to do this, among other things, by delivering interpellations, Bills and draft Resolutions and other possible materials. In view of this, would it not make sense to arrange for the representative of the Government of the Republic to come back on another day when no obstruction will be taking place in the Riigikogu? Then the Riigikogu would be able to continue its work in peace and we would not need to discuss dozens of more points of order here.”

In the meantime, the Council of Elders of the Riigikogu was also convened to discuss the situation that had arisen. The consultation lasted for an hour and a half. Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi who chaired the sitting of the Riigikogu gave the following account of the discussion: “The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere. No decisions were made.”

After the meeting of the Council of Elders, the delivering of Bills and draft Resolutions as well as the submission of interpellations was continued in the same manner.

The working hours of Monday’s sitting of the Riigikogu ended at 11.59 p.m.

Tuesday’s sitting of the Riigikogu will start at 10 a.m. It will begin with opening of the sitting where it will again be possible to deliver Bills and draft Resolutions and to submit interpellations.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu. (Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

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

 

Link uudisele: At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu did not get to approve the agenda for this working week

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Foreign Affairs Committee supports the drafting of a Statement supporting Ukraine joining NATO

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson recalled that, already in 2008, the member countries of NATO had decided that Ukraine would become a member of NATO. Last year, the Government of Ukraine submitted an application to join NATO. “Our Committee is of the opinion that, already at the Vilnius Summit in July, NATO will have to take a step forward and give Ukraine a clear roadmap for post-war accession,” he said.

Mihkelson added that representatives of the parliamentary groups of the Riigikogu would continue working on the text of the draft Statement in the coming days, with the aim of completing the draft and submitting it for parliamentary proceedings this week. A draft statement of the Riigikogu can be initiated by not less than one-fifth of the members of the Riigikogu or at least 21 members of the Riigikogu.

Since the beginning of the last year, the Riigikogu has adopted a total of five Statements and one Communication to condemn Russia’s activities and to express support to Ukraine. Most recently, on 22 February, the Riigikogu adopted the Statement submitted by 94 members of the Riigikogu to mark the passing of a year from the beginning of the full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to express their respect for the heroic people of Ukraine.

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

Link uudisele: Foreign Affairs Committee supports the drafting of a Statement supporting Ukraine joining NATO

Source: Parliament of Estonia

European Union Affairs Committee supports creating a European Disability Card

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, it is a necessary initiative. “People want to live a full life regardless of their disability and deserve equal treatment in all countries. The introduction of a European Union Disability Card would ensure its holder access to benefits when using the services they need in all Member States, and would help ensure that people are treated equally within a country, regardless of where they were diagnosed with a disability,” she said.

It was underlined at the sitting that while the European Union Affairs Committee fully supported issuing of the card in digital format, there was a clear need to create a physical card in addition to the digital one, as not all people with disabilities have access to digital solutions. According to Estonia’s positions, the possibility to link the Disability Card to the EU Digital Identity Wallet should be considered. Estonia also supports the mandatory introduction of a European parking card for persons with disabilities and linking of the two cards, if possible.

In line with the opinion of the Social Affairs Committee, the European Union Affairs Committee decided to support the positions presented by the Government on the European Union Disability Card initiative. Thus, the Committee gave the Government a mandate to follow the positions it has endorsed in the debates held in Europe. The European Commission is currently gathering views through a public consultation and, as far as it is known, plans to come forward with a proposal for a legal initiative on a Disability Card at the end of this year. The introduction of the card could take four or five years.

At the sitting, Kadri Mets, Adviser of the Welfare and Social Inclusion Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs, and Berit Marksoo, Adviser of the European Union Affairs and International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs, gave an overview of the initiative and replied to the questions of the members of the European Union Affairs Committee.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: European Union Affairs Committee supports creating a European Disability Card

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Government of the Republic of Estonia approved a defence readiness exercise Okas for territorial defence units

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —The Government of the Republic of Estonia decided to declare a defence readiness exercise Okas (Quill) with up to 607 members of territorial defence units ordered to participate the snap exercise (SNAPEX). Exercise Okas is of a defensive manner, aimed at practicing national defence activities. There is no immediate security …

Source: Estonian Defence Forces

Hussar is on an official visit to Latvia

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Hussar said that Latvia was Estonia’s closest neighbour and therefore he was happy that his first official visit was to Latvia. “The meetings that will be held in Riga will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss our further cooperation. At this time of many security policy challenges, it is more important than ever that we follow the same course in our actions,” he added.

Strengthening the security of the Baltic States, including the development of defence cooperation and preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July, as well as cooperation in providing comprehensive support to Ukraine will be discussed at the meetings. “We must support Ukraine together in the reconstruction of the country and on its path to NATO and the European Union, as well as continue to work on extending the sanctions against Russia and the creation of a special tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression,” Hussar said.

In Riga, Hussar will have meetings with Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, members of the Latvia-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs. After the meetings, he will visit the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.

The official visit of the President of the Riigikogu takes place on the eve of the Day of the Restoration of Latvian Independence. On the visit, he is accompanied by Chairman of the Estonia-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group Peeter Tali and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Ester Karuse.

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

Link uudisele: Hussar is on an official visit to Latvia

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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