European Union Affairs Committee - Riigikogu

The Riigikogu made the Government’s positions on the European Union’s drone action plan stricter

Maris Meiessaar — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:17:34 +0000

According to Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali, the European Union must act immediately and decisively to establish credible drone capabilities. “In the long term, this is of key importance for both Europe’s competitiveness and its defence capabilities. The rapid development of drone-related curricula, the introduction of engineering and robotics education at the earliest possible stage of schooling, and cooperation among Member States in shaping educational models are of great importance,” Tali said.

“That is why the European Union Affairs Committee added a clause to Estonia’s positions stating that it must be possible to apply for financing for the development of drone-related curricula, centres of excellence, and regional testing capabilities from the existing European Union programmes as well as from the funds of the next budget period, 2028–2034,” explained the Chairman.

Tali also believes that the opportunity to participate in the development of testing capabilities of counter-drone measures is of significant importance to Estonia. “The European Union wishes to support the creation of testing centres for drone and counter-drone technologies in Eastern Europe. This initiative is very important to us, considering the overall security situation, and especially the events of the past six months, not to mention that it would be a great opportunity for our defence industry companies. However, we believe that the testing centre should definitely be located not in Eastern Europe, but in countries on the European Union’s eastern border, that is, in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, or Romania. We actually have drones flying, and Putin’s regime is actually using electronic warfare tools,” he explained.

Regina Tagger, Adviser of public sector innovation at the Strategy Unit of the Government Office, presented the Government’s positions on the European Union’s Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security at the sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee. The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions by consensus, taking into account the opinion of the National Defence Committee.

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President of the Riigikogu to the Speaker of Albania: Our cooperation for security will continue

Merilin Kruuse — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:37:35 +0000

President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said at the meeting that Estonia and Albania were good allies in NATO. He acknowledged that Albania had contributed significantly to European defence and support for Ukraine. “Our cooperation for security will continue,” Hussar said. He noted that Albania had also made significant progress towards joining the European Union. “Like-minded countries must stand together. Estonia supports Albania’s accession to the EU. Albania’s membership would strengthen the European Union’s internal market and security.”

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that in order for Albania to join the European Union, it was important to continue with implementing reforms. He added that he was happy to see the country’s commitment and rare consensus regarding integration with the EU. “Albania’s plan is to close most of the chapters in its negotiations with the European Union by the end of next year and achieve full membership by 2030. This requires the support of all 27 member states,” he said. “Enlargement is a political decision, but consensus is always easier to achieve when the candidate country has done its homework perfectly.”

Bilateral relations, cooperation – particularly in the fields of defence industry and digital skills – as well as the situation in the Western Balkans, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and transatlantic relations were also discussed during the meetings. Member of the European Union Affairs Committee Urve Tiidus also participated in the meeting of the Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee with the Speaker of the Parliament of Albania.

In the morning, Peleshi met with President of the Republic Alar Karis and visited the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe. The Speaker of the Parliament of Albania will also meet with Chairman of the Estonia-Albania Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu Eerik-Niiles Kross and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Andrei Korobeinik later today.

Photos ( (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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The Riigikogu supports the EU Programme for defence innovation

Merilin Kruuse — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:18:23 +0000

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that Estonia supported the objectives of the AGILE Programme, like the acceleration of innovation cycles, development of breakthrough technologies and cost-effective technologies, and the role of smaller enterprises in defence innovation.

“While 115 million euros is not a huge sum, we have to start somewhere, and it will go to the right place. It is positive that the initiative encourages the cooperation between smaller companies and large defence industry companies, and production specifically within the European Union, so that our independent production capacity in the defence industry could grow. This is undoubtedly necessary for strengthening European security and also useful in every way for Estonian defence industry companies,” Tali added. “High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius have done and continue to do excellent work.”

According to the positions, we support the adoption of new technologies and innovation in the defence sector. We also support the continuation of the programme in the next European Union budget period. We find that the programme should support solutions based on the defence needs of the countries of the eastern flank of Europe and the lessons learned from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We are of the opinion that Ukrainian companies should also be able to submit proposals.

At today’s sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee, Director of the Defence Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Defence Miiko Peris gave an overview of the positions of the Government on the Programme for agile and rapid defence innovation (AGILE). The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions by consensus, taking into account the opinion of the National Defence Committee.

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Riigikogu committees discussed foreign policy with High Representative of the EU Kaja Kallas

Merilin Kruuse — Thu, 14 May 2026 19:07:25 +0000

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said as he summed up the discussion that the focus had been on Ukraine. “To achieve lasting peace, we must act on several fronts: we must support Ukraine, continue to impose sanctions on the aggressor, reform Europe’s defence sector, and work towards the enlargement of the European Union. Europe’s strength lies in unity, and together with new Member States, we can be even stronger,” Tali added. “It is also important that we cooperate more closely in Europe to increase our defence capabilities and promote the defence industry. We can promote cooperation in the defence sector in both management and arms procurement.”

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the discussions at the joint sitting of Riigikogu committees had been substantive and frank and had focussed on Ukraine. “Estonia as a border country is well aware of the situation. We recognise that in order to achieve a just and lasting peace, it is necessary to continue with supporting Ukraine and exerting pressure on Russia. Only when the aggressor realises that continuing the war will not bring the desired result, it will be ready to hold real negotiations. We cannot begin talks with Russia in the near future, but Europe can work towards this goal and continue to strengthen its own security,” Mihkelson said.

At the sitting, Kallas gave an overview of current issues in the European Union’s foreign and security policy, noting that the greatest attention was currently focused on Ukraine and the Middle East.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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The Riigikogu supports more flexible emission standards for EU car manufacturers

Karin Kangro — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:47:02 +0000

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali noted that under current rules, all passenger cars manufactured in the European Union should be low carbon by 2035. “To support the sustainability of the European Union’s automotive industry and flexible transition, it is appropriate to review the standards. In doing so, it is necessary to take into account technological developments and the readiness of the infrastructure,” Tali said.

Last year, electric vehicles formed 27 per cent of new cars in the European Union. “It is important to promote the production of new electric vehicles in the EU so that we would be less dependent on fuel from third countries. It also helps mitigate the pressure that cheap electric cars produced in China have put on our car manufacturers – this is a serious problem for the European economy,” Tali underlined.

It was found at the sitting that car manufacturers had already made investments to transition to the production of low-emission vehicles, so it would not make sense to consider further lowering of the target. It was also noted that countries with automotive industries had not proposed a significant reduction in emission targets. The rules apply to new vehicles manufactured in the EU, not to those already on the market.

According to the approved positions, Estonia considers it important that the introduction of flexibilities would not impose an additional administrative burden on Member States. Flexibilities must support, and not limit or hinder, the availability of vehicles, including electric vehicles, on the European Union market. Therefore, solutions must be designed in a way that simultaneously supports the achievement of climate targets and the continuation of a functioning and competitive vehicle market in the EU.

The Government’s positions regarding the initiative to amend the CO₂ emission performance standards for passenger cars and vans were presented by Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Kristi Klaas. The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions, taking into account the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee and the Environment Committee.

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Tali is on a visit to Madrid with other MPs of Baltic Sea countries in support of Ukraine

Merilin Kruuse — Tue, 05 May 2026 04:50:04 +0000

“We need to talk more with our colleagues in Europe because the war that autocratic regimes started in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East constitute a threat to our European, free, and wealthy way of life in the long term. The security situation is not improving; quite the contrary,” he said. “This is exactly why the MPs from the Baltic Sea countries want to convey a strong and united message in support of Ukraine to the representatives of the Spanish parliament, government, and think tanks, affirming their commitment to democratic values and discussing European security.”

The delegation plans to meet members of the upper and lower houses of the Spanish parliament, Joint Congress-Senate Committee for the European Union, Defense Committee of the Congress, and parliamentary groups. There will also be meetings with the Director General of the Department of European Affairs in the Office of the President of the Government Maider Makua García, and State Secretary for the European Union Fernando Sampedro Marcos. Meetings have also been planned in think tanks.

On the visit that lasts until Thursday, Tali is joined by the heads of the European and Foreign Affairs Committees and MPs of the parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.

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The European Union Affairs Committee is visiting Romania

Merilin Kruuse — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:51:59 +0000

“Estonia and Romania are firm allies in the European Union and NATO,” Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said. “During the visit, we hope to discuss the future of the enlargement of the European Union, continuing support for Ukraine, and contributions to defence at our meetings with representatives of the Parliament and Government of Romania.”

Tali added that they also planned to discuss Russia’s information war and interference in elections, as well as digital security, and negotiations on the European Union’s long-term budget for 2027–2034, as this nearly two-trillion-euro budget would determine Europe’s development.

Today, the Estonian delegation will first meet with Sorin-Dan Moldovan, Secretary of State for Defence Policy at the Ministry of National Defence. After that, they will have meetings with Chair of the Committee for European Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies Diana Stoica and members of the Committee for European Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as members of the Committee for Defence, Public Order and National Security of the Chamber of Deputies at the Parliament of Romania.

The delegation of the European Union Affairs Committee will also meet with Head of the Delegation of Romania to NATO Parliamentary Assembly Vasile-Daniel Suciu and with members of the Romania-Estonia parliamentary friendship group, as well as with Ambassador of Estonia to Romania Aune Kotli.

The delegation of the European Union Affairs Committee consists of Chairman Peeter Tali and members of the Committee Arvo Aller, Rain Epler, Katrin Kuusemäe, Maido Ruusmann, Kadri Tali and Luisa Värk.

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Riigikogu supports significant facilitation of military mobility in European Union

Merilin Kruuse — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:55:30 +0000

The Chairman of the Committee Peeter Tali said that Estonia supported the goal of the regulation, which is aimed at promoting the movement of equipment, goods and people within the European Union, and to do this in a way that disrupts civilian transport as little as possible. “From Estonia’s point of view, the most important is the North-South connection, which means the construction of the European-gauge Rail Baltic rail line and the four-lane Via Baltica motorway. These tie us to the free world and our allies,” Tali said. “We also support more efficient dual-use connections with EU candidate countries, such as Ukraine and Moldova.”

Tali believes that the peace-time style bureaucratic organisation of the mobility of weapons, equipment, and servicemen has long ago fallen behind the military needs of the allies in the deteriorating security situation, which is why it would make sense to use new smart and innovative digital solutions. Estonian businesses have already developed completely new and efficient digital solutions.

Estonia promotes the use of existing EU solutions, harmonising border crossing formats, and separation of land, sea, and air formats only in accordance with the needs of NATO. Estonia also supports shortening the proceeding time of permits to three working days and creating a cyber secure and sovereign digital system that is compatible with the EU and NATO solutions.

The regulation also includes information exchange between the Member States and the European Commission, as long as data protection is assured and there are restrictions on sharing sensitive data—and Estonia supports this; what we do not support is giving European Commission access to the register of military vehicles. Estonia believes that this access and knowledge must remain in the defence forces of the Member States.

The positions of the Government on the regulation on introducing a framework of measures to facilitate the transport of defence equipment, military goods, and servicemen within the Union was presented by the Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions, taking into account the opinion of the National Defence Committee.

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Chairs of European Union Affairs Committees expressed support to Moldova’s becoming a member of the European Union

Merilin Kruuse — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:10:45 +0000

“Estonia fully supports Moldova’s European ambitions and will be sharing its experience and best practices,” Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Peeter Tali said at the press conference held in Moldova. “We will closely monitor the upcoming elections in Hungary, but at the same time, the European Union is also discussing possible alternative solutions to ensure that the veto of a single Member State would not halt the enlargement process. The European Union must enlarge and become stronger by doing so.”

In the Joint Declaration, the Chairs of European Affairs Committees express strong and unwavering support for Moldova on its path to the EU membership. They emphasise that in the current geopolitical context, the accession of Moldova, as well as of Ukraine, to the European Union would make a tangible contribution to enhancing peace, security, stability and prosperity, as well as democratic resilience.

The Chairs of European Affairs Committees urge the Member States of the European Union to take the necessary decisions to enable the formal opening of accession negotiations on all clusters with Moldova, as well as with Ukraine, and allow the accession process to advance in a timely and predictable manner and maintain the positive momentum in reform efforts and accession process.

The Declaration was signed by the Chairs and members of delegations of the European Union Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Sweden. Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Peeter Tali signed the Joint Declaration on behalf of Estonia.

Joint Declaration in English

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Tali attends meeting of Chairs of European Union Affairs Committees in Moldova

Merilin Kruuse — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:16:30 +0000

“The meeting will focus on Moldova’s ambition to accede to the European Union, as well as on Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, and Europe’s geopolitical challenges more broadly,” Tali said.

During the visit, it is planned to meet with President of the Parliament of Moldova Igor Grosu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov. The Chairs of European Union Affairs Committees will also meet students of Moldova State University.

The meeting is a follow-up to the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), which took place in January in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, and where EU enlargement was one of the topics discussed.

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