The members of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the next plans of NATO and allied countries as well as the major challenges in strengthening the collective defence on the Eastern flank of the Alliance at the meeting with Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer today. Chairman of the Committee Raimond Kaljulaid said that Estonia wanted to see rapid and specific progress in implementing the decisions of the Madrid Summit.
At the meeting with Admiral Bauer, Kaljulaid emphasised the high will to defend of the Estonian people and their support for the presence of NATO allies in Estonia. He assured that in these complicated times, there was a consensus among the members of the Riigikogu on the issues of national defence and the need to increase investments in the field of defence.
“National defence and strengthening of security are very important topics for the Estonian public today. Therefore, we want to see very rapid and specific progress in implementing the decisions of the Madrid Summit. We are naturally ready to contribute and, among other things, to undertake additional spending on national defence also in the current very difficult economic situation. We also remain highly committed to contributing to the success of NATO and allied military missions,” Kaljulaid underlined.
At the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the National Defence Committee Leo Kunnas drew attention to the need to strengthen NATO command structure so that it would correspond to the changed threat picture and would ensure effective collective defence. Member of the Committee Mati Raidma raised the question of whether the target of spending two percent of gross domestic product on defence as agreed upon between NATO member states was still sufficient in the current security environment, or whether it was time to give a signal that allies should spend more on defence in the future.
Besides the plans and challenges of NATO and allied countries, the possibilities for jointly supporting Ukraine were also discussed at the meeting. The importance of cooperation between parliaments, defence forces and the private sector, including defence industries, in ensuring the sustainable defence capabilities of NATO allies was spoken about as well. Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Bauer is in Tallinn to attend the Conference of the NATO Military Committee on 16 to 18 September.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has focused NATO’s attention more than ever on strengthening deterrence and defence posture. At the NATO Summit held at the end of June in Madrid, it was pointed out that Russia was the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security, and the heads of state agreed to significantly strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.
Today, the Riigikogu passed the Act that will enable household consumers to buy electricity at a controlled production price, that is, as a universal service. In addition, the Parliament concluded the first reading of one Bill.
The Act on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act and the Competition Act (655 SE), initiated by the Government, will enable the price of the production of electricity to be delimited and electricity to be sold to household consumers as a universal service. The Act imposes an obligation on the national company Eesti Energia to sell electricity to Estonian household consumers and all electricity resellers also as a universal service from this October to 30 April 2026. In addition, upon the entry into force of the Act, 63 sellers of electricity in Estonia will have an opportunity to begin selling electricity within the framework of a universal service.
The Act does not set out the price of the universal service but establishes the principles for price formation. The Competition Authority will set the price, taking into account production costs and a reasonable profit of the electricity producer. Sellers of electricity may factor in selling costs. The base price will be the production price of Enefit Power approved by the Competition Authority, to which the justified costs and reasonable operating profit of the universal service provider will be added. Electricity sellers will have to publish the price of the universal service on their websites.
Electricity sellers who provide a universal service will have an obligation to offer their clients automatic transfer to universal service if the price of the electrical energy sold to the consumer thus far is higher than the price of the universal service The consumer will not need to do anything to agree to the offer. However, in order to reject the offer, the consumer will have to inform the seller of their wish at least two days before the entry into force of a new contract. Consumers will be able to reject at any time the universal service that has already been launched.
Until 30 September 2023, consumers will be able to transfer to the universal service without paying a contractual penalty for the termination of a contract in force.
During the debate, Taavi Aas (Centre Party), Priit Sibul (Isamaa), Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kalvi Kõva (Social Democratic Party) and Kristen Michal (Reform Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions.
60 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, nobody was against and nobody abstained.
One Bill passed the second reading
Under the Bill on Amendments to the Mental Health Act and the Health Services Organisation Act (600 SE), initiated by the Government, coercive psychiatric treatment will be on the list of health services of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund and it will begin to be funded from the budget of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
Under a contract, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund is already now checking all treatment bills submitted for coercive psychiatric treatment and emergency psychiatric care. It is also paying for the provision of emergency psychiatric care, including the involuntary emergency psychiatric care to people not covered by health insurance. In order to harmonise the funding of health services, the service of coercive psychiatric treatment imposed by a court will be included among the health services funded from the budget of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. At present, the costs of coercive psychiatric treatment are covered from the state budget through the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Before the first reading, the Social Affairs Committee made amendments to the Bill that will give clinical psychologists the right to act as independent specialists, or to provide psychological treatment under a licence, separately from general or specialised medical care.
A legal person or a sole proprietor who employs a person having the qualification of a clinical psychologist or equivalent qualification can apply for the licence. The licence requirement will help ensure that independent providers of psychological treatment meet the qualification requirements, that their activities and the interventions they apply meet at least the minimum level of psychological interventions and that the treatment is provided with the level of care normally expected of providers of health care services.
The amendments will give the Estonian Health Insurance Fund the right to enter into contracts with service providers approved by the Health Board for the provision of psychological treatment, and family physicians will be able to refer all patients in need of psychological treatment to the contract partners of the Health Insurance Fund.
Before the second reading, the Social Affairs Committee made amendments to the Bill to also include speech therapists and physiotherapists in the category of independent specialists. They will also be subject to licence requirement. Physiotherapy, speech therapy and psychological therapy may be provided for therapeutic purposes without a licence until 30 June 2024.
At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, a Bill specifying the Farm Animals Breeding Act passed the first reading. It will make clearer the provisions relating to breeding programmes in order to avoid the possibility of narrow interpretation of the Act.
A narrower interpretation of the Act may give rise to the misconception that a breeding programme can be approved even if it does contain the required objectives and activities but provides descriptions that are not in accordance with the set requirements. The provisions proposed in the Bill on Amendments to the Farm Animals Breeding Act (624 SE), initiated by the Government, will help better understand that, when describing the content of a breeding programme, the relevant requirements must also be taken into account and, in the event of a violation of the requirements, it is possible to refuse to approve a breeding programme.
The amendments are of a technical nature and no new requirements will be placed on breed societies.
Another Bill passed the first reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (587 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, is intended to give municipal councils an opportunity to organise binding referendums and to allow local residents to initiate referendums on public initiative.
According to the Bill, a municipal council or at least ten percent of the electorate of a municipal council will be able initiate a local referendum, and the result of a referendum will be binding if at least 40 per cent of the eligible residents of the municipality take part in the referendum.
Affairs of the state and issues in the case of which the result of the referendum may be in conflict with the law cannot be put to local referendums. According to the Bill, the municipal council will establish the organisational conditions for a referendum.
During the debate, Mart Helme took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, Toomas Jürgenstein on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction and Mihhail Lotman on behalf of Faction Isamaa.
The first reading of a Bill was adjourned
The Bill on Amendments to the Aliens Act (561 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa, will create a legal basis for the revocation of the residence permits of public supporters of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and the issue of new residence permits and visas to them will be precluded.
At the opening sitting of the Riigikogu autumn session, President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas and President Alar Karis made speeches.
The Riigikogu passed an Act
The Act on Amendments to the Police and Border Guard Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (532 SE), initiated by the Government, makes the amendments necessary to adopt the Entry/Exit System (EES). The objectives of the EES are to enhance the management of the external borders of the European Union, to reduce irregular immigration and to contribute to the prevention and disruption of terrorism and other serious crime.
The system is established for the recording of the date, time and place of entry and exit of third-country nationals crossing the external borders; the calculation of the duration of the authorised stay of such third-country nationals; and the generation of alerts to Member States when the authorised stay has expired. The EES is also for the recording of the date, time and place of refusal of entry of third-country nationals whose entry for a short stay has been refused, as well as the authority of the Member State which refused the entry and the reasons therefor.
The establishment of the system was provided by a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2017. Although it is a directly applicable EU legal act, Member States have been given the right to specify the provisions of the Regulation in some issues. So the Act specifies authorities’ rights of access to EES data, the rights to enter data into the EES, the tasks of the central access point, the authorisations to access EES data for law enforcement purposes, and issues relating to access to, rectification, completion and erasure of the data in the EES, and restriction of the processing thereof.
79 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of two Bills
The Bill on Amendments to the State Fees Act (598 SE), initiated by the Government, will make it simpler for Ukrainian war refugees who are health care professionals, pharmacists and dispensing chemists to take up employment in their area of specialisation. According to the Bill, when they receive international protection, they will be released for one year from the obligation to pay a state fee upon their registration with the register of the Health Board and review of their professional qualifications. This way, an opportunity will be created for war refugees to continue work in their area of specialty and to avoid a situation where lack of funds could hinder this. At present, health care professionals, pharmacists and dispensing chemists who have acquired their profession in a foreign country must pay a state fee of 195 euro for the review of their application for registration as well as their application for the recognition of their professional qualifications.
During the debate, Kert Kingo (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Hele Everaus (Reform Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa) and Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The result of voting: 19 votes in favour and 42 against. The motion was not supported. The second reading was concluded.
The Bill on Amendments to the Working Conditions of Employees Posted to Estonia Act, the Employment Contracts Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act (599 SE), initiated by the Government, will bring Estonian law into conformity with the Posted Workers Directive. The Working Conditions of Employees Posted to Estonia Act will be amended by adding a provision prohibiting unfavourable treatment, which will protect posted workers who turn to a court or administrative authority to protect their rights.
The Bill will also give a construction sector worker an opportunity to require remuneration not only from his or her employer but also from the person who commissions subcontracting from his or her employer. It will be possible to do this in the case when previously he or she has turned against his or her employer with a remuneration claim and the claim has not been satisfied within four months from the commencement of enforcement proceedings. If the total remuneration can be claimed from the employer, the liability of the person who has commissioned subcontracting will be limited to the minimum remuneration, which is currently 654 euro per month. The person who commissions subcontracting will be able to avoid the payment of remuneration if the person can prove that he or she has acted with due diligence.
In addition, the Bill will amend the dates for the establishment of the rates of unemployment insurance premium in the Unemployment Insurance Act. The Government will approve the rates of unemployment insurance premium for four years on the proposal of the supervisory board of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.
The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of two Bills
The Riigikogu continued proceedings on the Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act (619 SE), initiated by 54 members of the Riigikogu. The second reading had been suspended at the review of motions to amend at the end of the spring session.
According to the Bill, the child allowance for the first and second child will rise from 60 euro to 100 euro, that is, to the same level as the child allowance for the third and subsequent children. According to the Bill, the allowance for families with many children will rise from 300 euro to 700 euro per month for families with three to six children, and from 400 euro to 900 euro for families with seven or more children. In order that the allowance for families with many children would continue to be proportional to the rise in the standard of living, and that the amount of the allowance would not need to be changed every year, according to the Bill, the allowance will be indexed by 1 April of each year. The value of the index will depend to the extent of 20 per cent on the annual increase in the consumer price index and to the extent of 80 per cent on the annual increase in the receipt of the pension insurance part of social tax.
At present, the payment of the allowance for families with many children stops when the first child attains the age of majority. In the future, however, according to the Bill, it will be paid in the full amount for as long as the family is raising at least three children who are minors. In the case of families with many children, the allowance will be paid to the extent of two thirds of the allowance if two of the children are minors, and to the extent one third if one child is a minor. Before the second reading, the Social Affairs Committee had amended the Bill by adding a provision under which, in the case of a multiple birth, the allowance for families with many children would be paid until the children attain the age of 21 years. The committee had also made the amendment to the Bill under which the single parent’s child allowance would rise to 40 euro.
During the second reading, a number of motions to amend had been withdrawn, as a result of which less time was required to review them. After the motions to amend had been voted on, the Social Affairs Committee moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill.
The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (548 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa, initially provided for lowering the rate of excise duty on unleaded petrol to the minimum level of the European Union, that is, to 359 euro per 1000 litres. The lowering of the excise duty was proposed for one year, that is, from 1 May this year to 1 May 2023.
Before the second reading, the Finance Committee had incorporated into the Bill an amendment involving the entire text of the Bill according to which the excise duty rates on unleaded petrol and diesel fuel would be lowered to the minimum level of the EU. According to an amendment, the excise duty rates on the components of such fuels will also be lowered to the same level. The excise duty rates on fuels comparable to diesel fuel will be adjusted as well. The excise duty on light heating oil will be reduced to a rate equal to the excise duty on diesel fuel, and the excise duty on diesel-like heavy fuel oil and shale-derived fuel oil will fall proportionally to the excise duty on diesel fuel. In addition, according to an amendment, the increases in the excise duty rates for these fuels that have been published but have not entered into force will be cancelled.
During the debate, Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Jaak Aab (Centre Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Alar Laneman (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Rene Kokk (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
On the motion of the Finance Committee, the second reading of the Bill was suspended.
The sitting ended at 7.47 p.m.
Photos (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Early morning on Monday Danish Leopards 2A7 tanks and other vehicles rolled onto Estonia soil in Paldiski harbor. The arrival forms part of the rotation of the Danish contribution to the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup.
”This deployement demonstrates the strong cohesion of the alliance to deter any aggressor, and reassures our Estonian friends and allies that we stand together in the preservation of their territorial integrity,” senior Danish National representative Lt Col C. E. Poulsen said.
The main force of eFP team six is the 2nd tank squadron from I Tank Battalion, The Jutland Dragoons Regiment. The Danish contribution also consists of a Logistic Detachment and a National Support Element. Whilst Danish troops have been in Estonia for a while, this is the first time the Leopard 2A7 will be on Estonian soil.
“The main asset of Rotation 6 is the Leopard 2A7, which is one of the most – if not the most – modern and advanced main battle tank and it will add substantial combat power to the eFP Battle Group in Estonia,” Lt Col C. E. Poulsen said. “The entire team Six is looking forward to train and integrate with our Estonian, British and French allies in the upcoming months.”
The Danish tank teams have been training in Denmark in order to be certified and fully prepared for the coming task in Estonia.
The Leopard 2A7 tank is the “state of the art” in modern warfare. The Main Battle Tank is the latest version of the famous Leopard family built by the German Krauss-Maffei. The Danish Leopards 2A7 are an upgraded version of the 2A5DK.
The V12 twin turbo diesel engine accelerates the 62-ton tank up to 60 km/ hour in terrain, and with a new digitalized aiming system and a full-stabilized 120 mm gun, Danish troops present a powerful player on the arena.
The Danish eFP team 6 will be accommodated in Tapa Barracks along with the UK and French Allied forces within the British-led NATO eFP Battlegroup in Estonia. The international NATO eFP Battlegroup rotates regularly and during the coming period new fresh British and French Troops will arrive to Estonia.
At the opening sitting of the autumn session, President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas called on the members of the Riigikogu to continue a dialogue with the Estonian people, because only in dialogue can the people’s problems be solved, and problems be prevented.
“A year ago, when opening our previous autumn session, I said that our work must be even more geared towards a dialogue with every person living in Estonia. This goal has not changed. We must continue a dialogue with the people of Estonia about how our people cope, about security, about both mental and physical health, education, economy, and the international situation,” Ratas said. He called on making more effort this year to reach every person. “The people are willing to have more say in the national decisions, and I think that, if we want to strengthen democracy, it is inevitable that the state turn its face more and more towards the people. Only in dialogue can we solve the people’s problems and prevent problems.”
President of the Riigikogu also urged not to be afraid to amend the issues that needed changing in the light of new knowledge. “The world around us is changing fast, and parliament must be the pioneer in the necessary innovations. “We must act smartly and courageously both domestically and in the international arena,” he said, emphasizing that, in the changed security situation, cooperation was paramount. “I am glad that we have been abiding by the principle of consensus in the foreign and defence policy. There is never too much of security, and the war has forced us to contribute more into national defence and to have an active foreign policy.”
He said that the main goals also needed to overlap when taking life forward in Estonia. Among other things he pointed out that the availability and sustainability of public services had become even more critical due to successive crises. “We must make sufficient contributions to healthcare, the social sector and education, as well as to ensuring internal security and national defence. It is the task and responsibility of the Riigikogu to ensure the revenue base and develop the tax policy necessary for this. We should not be afraid of a tax debate, but boldly speak out our ideas and proposals. In dialogue with the people we will be sure to reach the best solutions,” President of the Riigikogu added.
The meeting of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council in Iceland focuses on the war in Ukraine. In addition to Ukrainians, representatives of democratic opposition from Russia and Belarus are also sharing their experiences and seeking solutions. The Deputy Head of the Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly (BA) Sven Sester and Member Anti Poolamets will speak on behalf of Estonia.
Sven Sester emphasised that as Ukraine is preparing for the winter ahead, it absolutely must win the war and that all the like-minded countries must also make every effort. “Winning the war is the only way to stop the Putin regime. What Ukraine currently needs the most is military aid and training, and because the winter is coming, also warm clothing. Military and humanitarian aid are needed until the last Russian soldier leaves the Ukrainian soil,” Sester stressed. “At the same time, the whole of Europe must continue pressuring Russia with sanctions, for example starting with visa sanctions against Russian citizens,” he added.
Member of the Estonian Delegation to the BA Anti Poolamets underlined that on the one hand, Ukraine needs urgent military aid, and on the other hand, inclusion into European cooperation formats. “The Ukrainians are fighting for all of us. Their fight for territorial integrity and independent democratic rule of law is also Estonia’s fight. It makes sense for Estonia and the other Baltic states to act as the bridge to help the Nordic countries towards a better understanding of Ukraine as well as the oppositions in Belarus and Russia, to make sure that the aid provided to them is as efficient as possible,” Poolamets said. He added that he was in favour of continuing to involve both the oppositions from Belarus and Russia as well as representatives of Ukraine in the meetings of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council in the future.
Representatives of the Nordic and Baltic parliaments are also discussing the region’s energy security and energy cooperation at the meeting, which takes place on 4–7 September.
The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States which discusses issues of mutual interest. Estonia is represented in the Assembly with a 12-member delegation of the Riigikogu.
Photo – the delegation also visited the residence of the President of Iceland on Sunday. Photo: Chancellery of the Riigikogu
The Chairman of the National Defence Committee Raimond Kaljulaid and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson have taken part in the EU Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy in Prague, Czechia, yesterday and today. Members of the EU national parliaments met in Prague to discuss supporting and rebuilding Ukraine, enhancing European security, and the best ways to develop political relations to promote the EU enlargement process.
The head of the Estonian delegation Raimond Kaljulaid gleaned from the exchanges a strong unity in supporting Ukraine but deplored a frequent lack of decisiveness and clarity of message. “The Ukrainians are not fighting only for themselves but for the freedom and peace of the whole Europe, where they see their future. Europe will be instrumental in supporting Ukraine after the war. But all this rests on the presumption that Ukraine wins the war; for this to happen, we must provide Ukraine urgent help in the form of weapons and exercises, and take much stronger steps in exerting pressure on Russia, which goes without saying. One of the first steps should be visa sanctions against the citizens of the Russian Federation. We would like to see more decisiveness and clearer messages,” Kaljulaid said.
In his speech, Marko Mihkelson described the EU policy on Russia so far as too responsive and adapting. “Today, Europe is facing an existential threat caused by the terrorist and fascist regime in Russia. For deflecting this and securing a strategic victory over the fascist Russia, it is important that the EU Member States act more proactively and with a clearer strategic goal in sight. Stopping the granting of tourist visas to Russian citizens and closing our borders to recreational travel by citizens of the aggressor state is a step that the EU should approve at the earliest opportunity. However, this is only one step towards a strategic goal – Ukraine’s victory and Russia’s defeat in the war they themselves started,” he said.
The participants of the conference also discussed ways to improve the cyber defence of democratic countries and their ability to fight against disinformation and hybrid threats, and explored the best ways for the EU national parliaments to contribute towards fending off hybrid threats.
The EU Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy is taking place in the framework of the Czech Presidency of the European Union, which started on 1 July and runs until the end of the year.
At the extraordinary session of the Riigikogu, two Bills relating to the electricity market passed the first reading.
If the Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act and the Competition Act (655 SE), initiated by the Government, is passed, it will enable the price of the production of electricity to be delimited and electricity to be sold to household consumers as a universal service.
The Bill will impose an obligation on the national company Eesti Energia to also sell electricity as a universal service to Estonian household consumers and all electricity resellers from this October to 30 April 2026.
The Bill will not provide for a price of the universal service but will set out the price formation principles. The Competition Authority will set the price, taking into account producer input prices, environmental charges and a reasonable profit from generation. Sellers of electricity may factor in selling costs. Household consumers will be able to transfer to the universal service without paying a contractual penalty for the termination of a contract in force. Consumers will be able to step out of the universal service at any moment.
The price of the universal service will also begin to apply automatically to all household consumers who are using the universal service now. This means the people who have not yet entered into a contract for purchase of electricity and are therefore consuming electricity from the power exchange. According to plan, the price of the universal service will become clear in mid-September when the amendments to the Act will have been adopted and the Competition Authority will set the price after a process of coordination with sellers of electricity.
During the debate, Taavi Aas (Centre Party), Rene Kokk (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa), Mart Võrklaev (Reform Party) and Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.
Aas said that the measures that had been in place the previous winter needed to be implemented at once. All the more so as those measures also included indoor heating, those measures also included gas, because electricity was not the only energy carrier that had become expensive. In his view, the Bill completely excluded businesses, which was one of the greatest problems with it.
Kokk also underlined that household consumers were no doubt very important. Today it is necessary to help people and to bring the price of electrical energy as low as possible. However, if we fail to think of how to support entrepreneurship and businesses, our approach will be totally unbalanced. If we do not have entrepreneurship, soon our people will no longer have jobs, we will have no one to pay taxes to the country and we will have no employers. In his opinion, Estonia should exit the power exchange Nord Pool at once.
Seeder noted that the need to respond quickly was indeed understandable to everyone, and the abnormal electricity prices, abnormally high inflation, the people’s insolvency due to high prices, and the loss of economic competitiveness were unfortunately a reality that was to force all of us to take urgent action. The electricity market reform will more broadly encompass the regulation of other energy carriers as well. It will also concern gas and it will concern district heating. The only difference will be that gas and district heating will be regulated at the level of Government and minister, and there will be no need to amend the Act for that. Indeed, the reimbursement for gas price, as well as the regulations and district heating – all this will come as well, and its price level will be probably even lower than the price of the universal service for electricity regulated as a result of an electricity market reform. In a long-term perspective, we still see that the solution will lie in the functioning of the market and the creation of additional generation capacities, but in the current extraordinary situation an intervention is justified.
Võrklaev recalled that, in previous spring, they had taken a step that had enabled to enter into long-term electricity contracts on more favourable terms. Many have in fact used that opportunity. Those who have entered into a fixed-price contract have understood that it has been the right decision. The Reform Party faction supports the application of electricity as a universal service for home consumers. The Bill will create an option where the Competition Authority sets the price, and it will be based on the most efficient oil shale plants of Eesti Energia. It will be an interim measure for four years in order to offer relief to household consumers in the electricity price crisis until cheaper renewable energy solutions will be available on the market again and the price will possibly have fallen enough. In the heating season from 1 October to 1 April, household customers will receive additional support in the case of electricity price, a discount of 50 euro per MWh, regardless of whether they are using the universal service or have entered into any other contract. Household gas consumers will receive a reimbursement to the extent of 80% for a gas price exceeding 80 euro per MWh in the case of a consumption of up to 2,600 KWh per month. In district heating, we will also support home consumers and we will reimburse 80% of a price exceeding 80 euro per MWh.
Saar said that the current situation was harsh. It is in parliament’s power to mitigate the situation for household consumers. Gas and district heating users need to be given an assurance against a high price level. He pointed out that the Government would also provide help with an additional allowance upon consumption of high-price energy. We are presuming that the future price will be lower than the price in the fixed-price contracts at the present moment, but it will depend on various factors and among other things on what price the Competition Authority will set after this Act will have been adopted. The state has however proactively agreed and earmarked funds for this, so that starting from a certain price the state would come to help in any case.
The deadline for submission of motions to amend the Bill was set as 5 September.
The Bill on Amendments to the Energy Sector Organisation Act (656 SE), initiated by the Government, is intended to change the target for the share of renewable electricity so that, by 2030, renewable electricity would account for at least 100 per cent of total electrical energy consumption instead of the current 40 per cent. Renewable energy will have to account for at least 65 per cent of total energy consumed, instead of the current 42 per cent.
In order to meet the target, additional reverse auctions for renewable electricity in a total amount of at least 1 TWh are planned to be conducted in 2024-2025. In addition, the implementation of a wind turbine charge and faster processing of the authorisations for the establishment of offshore wind farms should contribute to the achievement of the target. Additional funding has also been allocated for the updating of electricity grids, and opportunities to simplify the connection to the network of new generation capacities are being sought.
During the debate, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski (Centre Party), Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Annely Akkermann (Reform Party), Aivar Kokk (Isamaa) and Kalvi Kõva (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 16 votes in favour and 48 against. The motion was not supported. The first reading of the Bill was concluded.
The deadline for submission of motions to amend the Bill was set as 14 September.
NordenBladet —President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Matti Vanhanen who is on a working visit to Tallinn.
The meeting focused on interparliamentary cooperation and opportunities for enhancing this in the new economic and security situation. The two speakers discussed cooperation both within the European Union and NATO, with the member states of the latter currently in the process of ratifying the accession of Finland and Sweden. The agenda also included the environmental protection of the Baltic Sea. Ratas and Vanhanen agreed on the need to intensify cooperation between countries to protect the Baltic Sea.
Ratas and Vanhanen then opened together a discussion panel on the challenges and protection of the Baltic Sea on the occasion of the Baltic Sea Day in Port Noblessner.
In his opening address, Ratas described the Baltic Sea as a beautiful and unique sea by virtue of its extraordinary ecosystem and the surrounding landscape. It is also one of the youngest seas on our planet and joins together nine countries. However, its geographical, oceanographical, and climatological peculiarities also make it exceedingly fragile. The Baltic Sea, being extremely susceptible to the impact of human activities, is among the most polluted seas in the world.
“There is no doubt that the Baltic Sea is our shared joy and common concern. Today we are facing a stormy sea. There are serious risks and challenges on the horizon,” Ratas acknowledged.
He listed agriculture, industry, and shipping and maritime transport as the economic sectors that exert the greatest impact on the Baltic Sea. “Although these are important sectors for our economy and the quality of life of our people, we must not turn a blind eye to the environmental problems these bring along,” Ratas stressed. He added that it was now the right time to move forward and put our heads together to devise joint actions for the benefit of the Baltic Sea. “Water knows no country borders – the consequences of every country’s actions will reverberate throughout the whole region,” he said.
Ratas highlighted the fact that a lot of valuable work has already been done to prevent pollution and protect the Baltic Sea, and to improve its condition. The current action plan includes nearly 200 agreed activities that require cooperation in the Baltic Sea region; the application of these in the near future should considerably improve the environmental condition of the Baltic Sea by 2030.
“The ever increasing traffic on the Baltic Sea is a growing problem. We are concerned about the situation on the Gulf of Finland where a large number of ships, including tankers, are anchored in Estonia’s economic zone, waiting for entry into Russian ports. The concern is mostly linked to maritime security because a large number of ships in a small area massively increases the risk of accidents. And yet the effects of the pollution would remain to be dealt with by Estonia and Finland. We are ready to take the necessary steps in cooperation with Finland on the international level to reduce the pressure on the Gulf of Finland,” Ratas declared.
“Cooperation, green mindset, and state-of-the art solutions are the key words. The Baltic Sea has been here long before us and will remain here after we are gone,” Ratas said. He emphasised that jeopardising the wellbeing of the Sea was a crime both against the present and the future generations.
“By changing our habits and making green choices we can contribute to the protection and improvement of the marine environment,” Ratas said.
This morning, the President of the Riigikogu and the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland also visited the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe and laid flowers at the foot of the monument.