Reklaam

ESTONIA

European Union Affairs Committee in Ukraine: Onset of war fatigue is unacceptable

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

“All meetings were very emotional and moving. Our Committee’s first visit in Europe was to Ukraine, and it was highly appreciated there. In spite of the war, the Ukrainian officials and members of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) have been meeting the recommendations of the European Commission with unprecedented speed and enthusiasm. We also discussed the issues where Ukraine still has to do homework in order to start the EU accession negotiations,” Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Liisa Pakosta said.

In her opinion, the plan for reconstruction of Ukraine and the possibility to do this, among other things, with Russia’s frozen assets are very important. “We shared, and we will continue to share our experience and solutions both in the accession process with the European Union and in our current activities. It is also very important that Estonia’s representatives persistently convince other countries of the need to understand the importance of a fair and swift trial of Russia’s war criminals. Estonia can also convince others of how the onset of war fatigue would be wrong from the moral aspect and for our European values,” she added.

Member of the European Union Affairs Committee Tanel Kiik noted that the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people in defending their country and their nation were amazing. “We saw it at the meetings with civil servants, voluntary associations and leaders of local governments who are real patriots of their home region. It is the duty of Estonia and the free world to unwaveringly support Ukraine in winning the war, restoring its territorial integrity and rebuilding the country,” he said,

The Estonian delegation was in Ukraine from Monday to Wednesday. In Kyiv, they had meetings with Chair Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and Deputy Chair Vadym Halaichuk of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Integration of Ukraine to the EU, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevhen Perebyinis, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Counsellor of the Deputy Prime-Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic integration Ivan Nagornyak, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Chairman of the Ukraine-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group Arsenii Pushkarenko. The members of the European Union Affairs Committee also met with the European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas and Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Ukraine Jarno Habicht. Human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as well as further possibilities for Estonia to assist Ukraine in the civil society sphere were discussed with the representatives of the Centre for Civil Liberties, the Crimean Platform and the NGO Truth Hounds.

After meeting with Governor of Zhytomyr Oblast Vitaliy Bunechko and Mayor of Malyn Oleksandr Sytailo, the members of the Riigikogu saw the bridge in the centre of Malyn that was damaged in a bombing. Estonia is supporting the restoration of the bridge. In the city of Ovruch, they visited the kindergarten with a shelter that was built by Estonia and children’s centre for creativity, and met with Mayor of Ovruch Ivan Korud. The delegation of the European Union Affairs Committee also visited the memorial to children killed in war in Kyiv, and met with the Director of the Museum of the Second World War and saw a detailed exhibition on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and removing of red symbols from city space.

Besides Pakosta and Kiik, members of the European Union Affairs Committee Arvo Aller, Maido Ruusmann, Luisa Rõivas and Kristo Enn Vaga participated in the visit.

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

Link uudisele: European Union Affairs Committee in Ukraine: Onset of war fatigue is unacceptable

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Riigikogu Rural Affairs Committee supports drought assistance to farmers

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee Urmas Kruuse pointed out that the long drought period had caused many problems. In order to implement national assistance measures, it is necessary to assess the extent of damage caused to the farmers and on this basis, make a decision on support measures. “It is important to give the farmers confidence regarding the compensation of damages in their economic activities through the EU support measure and the possible national assistance added to it,” Kruuse said.

Deputy Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee Rene Kokk considers it necessary that the Government should give clear guidelines to the Tax and Customs Board and negotiate with financial institutions about extending the payment period of taxes, grant interest relief on tax payments for a certain period and facilitate loan terms. “If the Government decides that currently there is a crisis in the sector, and there clearly is in the agriculture sector, then it is a clear guideline for these agencies and a message to the sector that the state has recognised the nature of the problem,” Kokk said.

It was agreed at the Committee sitting that in order to ensure the sustainability of agriculture, it is necessary to add the state assistance to the aid package provided by the European Union.

Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas and representatives of the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce and the Estonian Farmers’ Federation participated in the sitting of the Rural Affairs Committee.

Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas agreed that it was necessary to support the sector and he hopes that explanations about potential measures will come in August.

Riigikogu Press Service
Eleen Lindmaa
+372 631 6356, +372 5551 4433
eleen.lindmaa@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Riigikogu Rural Affairs Committee supports drought assistance to farmers

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Hussar and Rinkēvičs discussed supporting Ukraine on its path to NATO and EU

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Hussar said that after 24 February last year, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and the role of parliaments had grown. According to him, the meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine, which took place in Riga today, and the Joint Statement made together with the Speaker of Bundestag, which called on the Allies to undertake the commitment that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, were excellent examples of cooperation between the parliaments of the region. “Parliaments have a lot to do and explain in supporting Ukraine and increasing the security of the region,” he said.

At the meeting, Hussar and Rinkēvičs also discussed the objectives of the NATO Summit, which will start tomorrow in Vilnius, Lithuania. Among other things, they spoke of Sweden’s accession to NATO, approving of regional defence plans and reaching a defence spending agreement that would be more ambitious than before. The need to strengthen internal security and to deal with psychological defence, particularly to increase the media competence of society, were discussed as well. The situation of cross-border cooperation projects and the possibilities for closer cooperation between the two countries were also addressed at the meeting.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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

Link uudisele: Hussar and Rinkēvičs discussed supporting Ukraine on its path to NATO and EU

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Speakers of six countries: NATO must establish a path for Ukraine to join

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

“In light of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius we call on the Allies to undertake the commitment that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and the Alliance will establish a path for Ukraine to join NATO,” the Speakers of the six countries say in the Joint Statement, and add that Ukraine should be invited to join NATO as soon as conditions allow through a political decision similar to Finland.

They welcomed the broad support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO, as reflected in the Chair’s Conclusions, expressed at the High-Level Meeting of Speakers of Parliaments of NATO countries held in Vilnius at the beginning of June, as well as in the statements of support by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament and the Parliaments of Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Ahead of the upcoming Vilnius Summit, the speakers called on the Allies to work closely to develop security commitments for Ukraine which will in no way be an alternative to Ukraine’s membership in NATO and should not slow down Ukraine’s progress towards membership in NATO. They also called on supporting the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Speakers of the six countries think it is necessary to continue taking coordinated measures to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs for military and defence equipment, focusing directly on air defence systems, long-range artillery and necessary ammunition, tanks and combat aircrafts. They call on assisting Ukraine in strengthening its defence capabilities and potential, including land, sea and air components, until Ukraine fully restores its territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders of 1991.

They also consider it essential to establish a crisis consultation mechanism with Ukraine to conduct consultations in the event of a threat to the territorial integrity, political independence or security of Ukraine or any of the NATO member states, and to provide NATO’s practical assistance to Ukraine by further strengthening the Comprehensive Assistance Package, aimed at achieving full interoperability of Ukraine with the Alliance and a comprehensive transition to NATO standards. In their opinion, the NATO-EU strategic partnership should be taken to the next level and the cooperation between NATO and EU should be focused on achieving truly tangible results on transatlantic security priorities.

The Joint Statement was signed by Lauri Hussar from the Parliament of Estonia, Edvards Smiltēns from the Parliament of Latvia, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen from the Parliament of Lithuania, Elżbieta Witek from the Parliament of Poland, Bärbel Bas from the Parliament of Germany and Ruslan Stefanchuk from the Parliament of Ukraine. The Speakers made the Joint Statement after the two-day meeting of the Baltic, Polish and Ukrainian Speakers in Riga. Yesterday, the Speakers visited the Latvian Song and Dance Festival and met with President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, with whom they discussed supporting of Ukraine.

Text of the Joint Statement in Estonian and in English

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

Link uudisele: Speakers of six countries: NATO must establish a path for Ukraine to join

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Hussar participates in the meeting of Baltic, Polish and Ukrainian Speakers in Riga

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to Hussar, strong support for Ukraine will be at the heart of both the meeting of the Speakers and the NATO Summit that will start in Vilnius on Tuesday. “We must do everything we can to give Ukraine all the help and support they need to win the war. As the Speakers of the Parliaments of five countries, we will discuss how our countries, as well as the wider international community, could support Ukraine even more effectively in the fight against Russian aggression as well as on the road to the EU and NATO,” he said.

Hussar underlined that the countries participating in the meeting were convinced that in order to achieve lasting peace, Ukraine had to become a member of both the European Union and NATO. In mid-May this year, the Riigikogu passed 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 the Statement, the Riigikogu said that it was important to formulate the steps necessary for Ukraine’s rapid integration into NATO at the Vilnius Summit, and to grant Ukraine an invitation to join the Alliance.

At the meeting, the Speakers will also discuss raising the cost of aggression to Russia. “We have to impose new sanctions and consistently enforce those already in place, as well as move forward with using Russia’s frozen assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” Hussar said, and added that the establishing of a special international tribunal is also high on the agenda of the discussions. In mid-June, the Riigikogu was the first parliament that 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.

Besides Hussar, Edvards Smiltēns from the Parliament of Latvia, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen from the Parliament of Lithuania, Elżbieta Witek from the Parliament of Poland and Ruslan Stefanchuk from the Parliament of Ukraine participate in the meeting of the Speakers. At the end of the meeting, the Speakers plan to adopt a Joint Statement.

Today, Hussar together with other Speakers will meet with the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs and attend the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.

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

Link uudisele: Hussar participates in the meeting of Baltic, Polish and Ukrainian Speakers in Riga

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Mihkelson goes on a visit to Uzbekistan

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Mihkelson said that Uzbekistan was an important country in a strategically important region which was influenced by the interests of China and Russia as well as the events in Afghanistan. “Stability in Central Asia is also in the interests of the security of Estonia,” he underlined.

During the visit, which will take place from Sunday to Tuesday, the Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees wish to get an overview of the current situation in the country and its political and economic developments. In Tashkent, Mihkelson and Kols will meet with First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan Sodiq Safoev, First Deputy Speaker of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis Akmal Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bahtiyor Saidov and Minister of Higher Education and Innovation Ibrohim Abdurakhmanov. They will also have meetings with Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov.

The Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees plan to meet with the leaders of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan and the International Institute for Central Asia. Mihkelson and Kols will also have meetings with the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan on Afghanistan and the Mayor of Tashkent.

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

Link uudisele: Mihkelson goes on a visit to Uzbekistan

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Committees of the Riigikogu expect Vilnius Summit to give Ukraine a clear NATO perspective

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

According to Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu, it is now crucial to closely associate Ukraine with the Euro-Atlantic institutions, as the restoration of peace in the whole Europe depends on it. “Russia is an aggressor state and it is necessary to stand against them decisively. At the Summit, the Alliance must underline the continued threat from Russia and the need to bring to justice all those responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. We also expect the Vilnius Summit to make decisions to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and to increase defence investment,” he said.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson thinks that the main objective of the Summit is to achieve strong support for Ukraine, including reaching an agreement on giving Ukraine a clear perspective of joining NATO. “The Riigikogu has given its message in the Statement made in mid-May: we expect the NATO Summit to issue an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance and to formulate concrete actions that would enable the country to integrate quickly into NATO,” he added.

The National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu discussed preparations for the NATO Summit, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the joint off-site sitting at the Government Office. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas gave the Committees an overview of Estonia’s positions.

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

Link uudisele: Committees of the Riigikogu expect Vilnius Summit to give Ukraine a clear NATO perspective

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Estonian Defense Forces joined the “Walking Blood Bank” programme in Iraq

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —Estonian Defense Forces unit Estcoy-18, on deployment in Iraq, have joined the Walking Blood Bank, a medical program of the United States Armed Forces that has saved many lives over decades. Estonia became the first allied nation to join, registering their soldiers in Erbil Air Base who would immediately come …

Source: Estonian Defence Forces

National Defence Committee: Ukraine deserves an invitation to NATO

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

“Estonia will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, because the war is not over and Ukraine must win. Counter-offensive is a very difficult task, but Russia’s lines of resistance will eventually be broken,” Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu said.

The representatives of the National Defence Committee were in Ukraine from Wednesday till Friday. In Kiev, they met with Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov, Deputy Minister of Defence Volodymyr Havrylov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevhen Perebyinis as well as the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). During the meetings, the members of the Riigikogu were given a detailed overview of Ukraine’s counter-offensive and the state of national defence. According to Stoicescu, the Ukrainians are moving forward slowly but steadily, fighting fiercely for the liberation of every metre of Ukrainian territory.

The options for dealing with Russia after Ukraine’s victory were also discussed at the meetings, as well as bringing of Russia’s war criminals to justice and the payment of reparations to Ukraine.

On the Constitution Day of Ukraine, the members of the National Defence Committee had meetings with First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko and Chairman of the Ukraine-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group Arsenii Pushkarenko. The discussions focused on achieving Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO as soon as possible. The delegation of the National Defence Committee also visited the city of Ovruch in Zhytomyr Oblast, where they saw the kindergarten built by Estonians and met with the officers of the 115th Territorial Defence Brigade. One battalion of the Brigade was moving to the southern front to liberate Bahmut.

Besides Stoicescu, members of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Meelis Kiili, Ants Laaneots, Priit Sibul and Peeter Tali also participated in the visit.

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

Link uudisele: National Defence Committee: Ukraine deserves an invitation to NATO

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu delegation attends the OSCE PA Annual Session in Vancouver

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Head of the Estonian delegation Mati Raidma said that this year’s Annual Session of the OSCE PA would focus on Russia’s war in Ukraine. “It is of utmost importance that the international community shows the greatest possible unity and commitment to global security,” Raidma emphasised. “The war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine must be punished and they must be investigated by a special international tribunal. The resolutions adopted by the Assembly must form a united front of support for Ukraine.”

The Annual Session of the OSCE PA will also focus on the challenges faced by the organisation itself in terms of membership, governance and future. “It is extremely worrying that the boycotting actions of Russia and Belarus have partly paralysed the organisation’s capacity to function,” Raidma said.

Member of the Estonian delegation Heljo Pikhof participates in the work of the Assembly’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, where the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is on the agenda. “The aggressor’s brutal violations of human rights, the fate of thousands of deported Ukrainian children, the continuous missile attacks on civilian infrastructure, schools and hospitals are examples that describe the current situation. Russia’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as violations of international human and humanitarian rights, have to get a just punishment,” Pikhof underlined.

Besides participating in the main programme of the Annual Session, it is planned to hold a consultation of the delegations of the NB8 region and a bilateral meeting with the German delegation. The Estonian delegation will also meet with Honorary Consuls of Estonia in Vancouver.

The Annual Session will focus on strengthening regional security by fostering democratic and inclusive societies. The Annual session will be livestreamed on the OSCE PA YouTube channel.

The aim of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is to increase the involvement of its participating states in resolving European political and security issues, to enhance civilian control over military affairs and to strengthen the responsibility and influence of members of parliament.

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 delegation attends the OSCE PA Annual Session in Vancouver

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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