Reklaam

ESTONIA

Riigikogu began its working week with continuing stand-off

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Today’s sitting of the Riigikogu started with the raising of points of order again which lasted for two hours.

President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar stopped the raising of the numerous points of order by members of the Riigikogu with the following justification: “I do agree that members of the Riigikogu cannot be deprived of their right to raise points of order that is guaranteed by law, but this does not mean that the chair of the sitting has to answer the questions asked by members of the Riigikogu endlessly. The chair of the sitting has the right to assess points of order and has the right to stop accepting them because points of order should not prevail over the performance of the constitutional functions assigned to the Riigikogu, that is, legislative activities,” Hussar explained.

The chair of the sitting also held a vote on the issue of stopping the raising of points of order concerning the agenda. 52 members of the Riigikogu supported that motion and there were no votes against.

Thereafter the Riigikogu approved its nine-item agenda for this working week. 51 members of the Riigikogu were in favour, with 37 against. 

After that, the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions and the submission of interpellations started again. After numerous documents had been delivered, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar declared a recess for deliberation.

After the Board of the Riigikogu had deliberated for 50 minutes, the chair of the sitting, Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi gave an overview of the discussion that had been held in the Board.

“The Board held a discussion in order that the Riigikogu would be able to perform one of its fundamental roles which is to adopt laws and Resolutions, under § 65 of the Constitution,” Kivimägi said.  He noted that, throughout the past week, the Riigikogu had been unable to deliberate any Bills and therefore, at the meeting, members of the Board Lauri Hussar and Toomas Kivimägi had proposed to stop the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations for that day.

“The initiation of Bills and draft Resolutions and the submission of interpellations is a particularly important right of a member of the Riigikogu which is guaranteed by the Constitution. At the same time, the right to submit interpellations must not hinder the Riigikogu from performing other work,” Kivimägi said. He pointed out the recently published commentaries to the Constitution that stated the following: “At the same time, however, it must be taken into account that the exercise of the right to submit interpellations should not develop into a deformity that has no place in the parliamentary system. This means that the right to submit interpellations must not bring along an opportunity to overwhelm parliament with interpellations so that the parliament is unable to perform other functions assigned to it by the Constitution.”

Kivimägi referred to the fact that, for a full week, as a result of the exercise of the right to deliver Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations, the Riigikogu had been unable to perform its other functions at its sittings, including to discuss the items on its agenda for the sitting. According to him, in such a situation it was justified, in the interests of the Riigikogu as a whole, to take steps to strike a balance between different rights and to enable the Riigikogu to perform all its functions.

He emphasised that the Board of the Riigikogu arranged the work of the Riigikogu, and clause 18 of subsection 2 of § 13 of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act gave the Board of the Riigikogu the right to decide on the procedural issues not regulated in Acts. Therefore, two members of the Board had decided to move to stop the accepting of Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations for that day under clause 18 of subsection 2 of § 13 of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act. Two members of the Board had agreed to the decision while the third member Jüri Ratas had not agreed to holding a vote on this issue.

As there was no consensus in the Board, the motion of the two members of the Board had to be put to a vote. The result of voting: 53 votes in favour, no votes against and no abstentions.

During the opening of today’s sitting, members of the Riigikogu were able to deliver 12 Bills and 11 interpellations.

Opposition members protested strongly against the decision. After numerous protests had been submitted to the chair of the sitting and the chair had rejected them, the Riigikogu started to deliberate the Bill on its agenda.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of a Bill

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, is planned to increase the amount of maintenance allowance and reduce the allowances for families with many children that were agreed upon less than a year ago.

According to the Bill, the maintenance allowance paid to a child when the person obligated to pay maintenance does not pay maintenance or does not pay it in the required amount will increase from 100 euro per month to 200 euro per month from 1 January 2024. In Estonia, single-parent families are the poorest compared to other family types – a third of single-parent households are at risk of poverty.

According to the Bill, from 1 January 2024, the allowance for families with many children will be 450 euro per month for three to six children, and to 650 euro per month for families with seven or more children.

The Bill is intended to repeal from 1 July 2023 the regulation on gradual termination of the payment of allowance for families with many children, according to which the allowance for families with many children is paid until the youngest child of the family attains 19 years of age. As the regulation has been in force for just a few months, this change will not affect many families.

The indexing of the allowance for families with many children with the pension index, which was due to enter into force from 1 May 2024, will also be abandoned.

Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo presented the Bill and Karmen Joller gave an overview of the discussion that had been held in the Social Affairs Committee.

During the debate, Jürgen Ligi (Reform Party), Irja Lutsar (Estonia 200) and Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.

The deadline for submission of motions to amend is 5.15pm on 29 May.

During the open microphone, Igor Taro took the floor.

The sitting ended at 9.45pm.

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: Riigikogu began its working week with continuing stand-off

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Kivimägi to his Czech counterpart: We have to win the war so that pressure on European economy would end

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

At the meeting, the Vice-Presidents thanked each other’s countries for their contribution to helping Ukraine in the war of aggression waged by Russia. Kivimägi pointed out that the most important for Estonia was that Ukraine would win the war with Russia.

“Ukraine is also fighting for our freedom. I thank Czechia, who has kindly received Ukrainian war refugees – in this, we are in a similar situation with you,” Kivimägi said to his Czech counterpart. The Vice-President of the Riigikogu underlined that it was important to win the war as soon as possible also because it had affected and was still affecting the entire European economy, and high inflation and a deficit in the state budget were painfully felt by the people.

Kivimägi said that unlike Czechia, Estonia had a common border with Russia, and therefore we felt the impacts of the war more directly. For example, the fact that the citizens of third countries have the right to vote at local elections is causing concern. “I find it hard to accept that Putin’s voters can also vote in Estonia. I think it is fair to suspend the right of Russian citizens to vote in Estonian elections,” he stated.

The Vice-President of the Czech Senate underlined that it was necessary to continue helping Ukraine until the war had been won and the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine had been restored.

The delegation of the Czech Parliament is on a visit to Estonia until Thursday and will also meet with the Estonia-Czechia Parliamentary Friendship Group. The delegation will visit NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, the National Library of Estonia, media companies and educational establishments, and meet with the Government, the President and representatives of the Academy of Sciences.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
E-mail: maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

 

Link uudisele: Kivimägi to his Czech counterpart: We have to win the war so that pressure on European economy would end

Source: Parliament of 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
-

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

1...727374...166Page 73 of 166