Hussar and Kulbergs also discussed the issue of the timely completion of Rail Baltic. “It is very important to us that Rail Baltic be completed on schedule,” Hussar affirmed Estonia’s commitment to the joint infrastructure project. “We must stand united to secure funding for the railway’s construction under the European Union’s new multiannual financial framework,” he said.

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Peeter Tali and President of the Baltic Assembly Timo Suslov also participated in the meeting.

During his two-day visit to Tallinn, Kulbergs will also meet with Prime Minister Kristen Michal and President of the Republic Alar Karis, and attend the meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States (NB8).

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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

Link uudisele: Hussar to the Prime Minister of Latvia: We are committed to the timely completion of Rail Baltic

Due to the exercise, a recess was declared in the sitting of the Riigikogu. During the exercise, guests cannot enter the Riigikogu buildings.

The purpose of a sheltering exercise is to assess how quickly and smoothly everyone in the castle can reach the shelters located within the building on a typical workday, and to identify any shortcomings in the current sheltering plan that may need to be addressed.

“Conducting this exercise does not mean that Estonia’s security situation has recently deteriorated sharply. This is an exercise that has been planned long in advance,” President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said. “I very much hope that we will never actually have to experience such sheltering or such a situation. But at the same time, we must under no circumstances become so comfortable, lazy or indifferent that we would not think through and practice for such situations and would not be prepared for them if necessary.”

The nationwide comprehensive defence exercise ILVES 2026 takes place across Estonia from 8 to 12 June, and thousands of people from more than 150 organisations are participating in it. The exercise involves state agencies, local governments, companies and volunteers, and its goal is to practice leadership and cooperation in resolving various crisis situations and ensuring the continuity of the state and society.

Preparations for ILVES 2026 have been ongoing for almost a year. The exercise will focus on how to successfully deal with influence activities by a hostile state, including situations like information operations, large-scale public disorder, sabotage, explosions and drone threats. The Emergency Act provides for the regular organisation of such exercises and drills, and states that nationwide crisis-management exercises must be carried out at least once every four years.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu/

Riigikogu Press Service
Urmas Seaver
+372 631 6350, +372 503 9907
urmas.seaver@riigikogu.ee

Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: ILVES 2026 sheltering exercise started in the Riigikogu

Nearly a hundred parliamentarians from more than 30 national parliaments will observe the parliamentary elections in Armenia as a part of the OSCE PA election observation mission. On the election day, the observers will monitor the election procedures, the counting of votes and the legitimacy of conducting the elections. The purpose of the mission is to make sure that the elections adhere to the democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.

Election observation missions have been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The OSCE mission is observing elections in Armenia for the 12th time since 1995.

The observers’ preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference on Monday, 8 June. The press conference can be followed on the website of the OSCE PA.

For more information, please contact:
Mati Raidma +372 507 4112
Heljo Pikhof +372 511 9637
Kersti Sarapuu +372 503 9113

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Members of the Riigikogu observe parliamentary elections in Armenia

“This anniversary marks a significant milestone in the history of the Republic of Estonia and holds a special place in the history of European Jewish communities as well. The Law on Cultural Autonomy of Ethnic Minorities, which was passed in 1925, gave Estonian Jews the opportunity to establish their own cultural self-government – a step that earned international recognition and affirmed that the young Republic of Estonia was committed to freedom, equality, and respect for the rights of minorities.

When Estonia gained independence, that brought about a fundamental change in the lives of the local Jews. The Jewish community, who had lived under various foreign powers over the centuries, was granted full civil rights and the opportunity to freely develop their culture, education, and community life in the Republic of Estonia. Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia became a model that attracted interest in many other countries as well.

Already one hundred years ago, relations began to develop between Estonia and the builders of the Jewish national home in Palestine, which was under the British Mandate at that time. The Republic of Estonia was the first country to be entered into the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund in recognition of the cultural autonomy granted by Estonia to the Jewish community.

The occupations that began in 1940 led to a violent disruption of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia. The occupation by the Soviet Union destroyed the cultural self-governance of ethnic minorities and an independent civil society. The Nazi German occupation that followed sought to destroy the Estonian Jewish community itself.

When the Republic of Estonia was restored in 1991, the Jewish community was given the opportunity to continue where the development of free Estonia had been interrupted half a century earlier. Today, the Estonian Jewish community is a viable, visible, and valued part of Estonian society and an important bridge between Estonia and Israel and the entire wider Jewish world.

The active cultural, educational, and social activities of the Estonian Jewish community demonstrate that the tradition established a century ago continues to live on today. The state of Estonia considers it important to ensure that the Jewish community can continue to safely and freely maintain and further develop its identity, culture and religious life.

The current friendly and close relations between Estonia and Israel are based on shared values – democracy, the rule of law, freedom and respect for human dignity. These relations are also built on the significant contribution of the Estonian Jewish community to the development of our society over many generations.

As we celebrate the centenary of Jewish cultural autonomy, we proudly recall a significant achievement of Estonian democracy and tolerance, and we pay tribute to the Estonian Jewish community for its contribution to our shared history and present day. Together, we look confidently to the future.

Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia!

Am Yisrael Chai!“

The Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu is composed of Chairman Eerik-Niiles Kross and members Vadim Belobrovtsev, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Juku-Kalle Raid, Riina Sikkut, Aivar Sõerd, Peeter Tali, Vilja Toomast and Kristo Enn Vaga.

For more information, please contact:
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Chairman of Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group
eerik-niiles.kross@riigikogu.ee

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group celebrates the 100th anniversary of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia

Cyber security and e-governance expert Andres Kütt writes that although Estonia has built a powerful system or registers, these had been mainly intended for state administration instead of creating social value. “Data is not a natural resource that can be mined and processed. It is more like a social infrastructure,” Kütt emphasises.

University of Tartu research fellow of health informatics Sulev Reisberg sees an untapped potential to save lives and improve treatment quality in Estonia’s health data. Yet, much needed solutions get caught in red tape and disjointed systems. “Data needs to be made available for use,” Reisberg stresses, advocating a simplified legal space and quick test projects to improve the health care system.

Sille Sepp along with her co-authors analyses how Estonia’s digital governance could progress towards human-oriented data management. The article highlights that technological capability alone does not inspire trust: people need to know how their data is being used and how that benefits them.

In the research section, Rein Murakas and his co-authors highlight that Technology 4.0 does not mean exclusively new technologies but a deep technological and cultural transformation in Estonian businesses. Success does not depend solely on equipment or software; instead, the clinching factor is whether people and organisations are capable of going along with the changes.

Mai Beilmann and Anneli Kährik examine the critical social problem of the invisibility of NEET youth —i.e. youth who are not in employment, education or training. Particular attention is given to the so-called “good girls” —students who perform well in school and whose problems often go unnoticed until they drop out of the system. The authors warn that late problem recognition can lead to long-term marginalisation both in education and labour market.

All these data-related challenges, but also future opportunities, were discussed in the RiTo debate by Lea Danilson-Järg (Isamaa), Andrei Korobeinik (Centre Party), Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party), Stig Rästa (Estonia 200), Madis Timpson (Reform Party), and Varro Vooglaid (Estonian Conservative People’s Party).

The 53^rd issue is presented today, 3 June, at 11 a.m. in the Riigikogu Art Gallery.

The presentation will include a panel discussion with the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Deputy Secretary General of Digital Affairs Lauri Luht and cyber security and e-governance expert Andres Kütt. The presentation can be watched online or later in the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

The latest articles are already accessible on RiTo web page.

Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo, Proceedings of the Riigikogu) is a parliamentary journal that has been published since 2000 and covers various important topics for the society. The intended audience of the biannual journal is everyone interested in politics and society.

For more information, please contact:
Marju Himma
Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised
+372 5341 0997
marju.himma@ut.ee

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee   

Link uudisele: 53rd issue of Riigikogu Toimetised asks whether Estonia’s digital governance can actually put its data to work

The raising of the flag will be accompanied by national anthem of Estonia. Rain Posti and Karl Evert Esko from Tallinn Mustamäe State Upper Secondary School, and Emma Rebane and Mihhail Semiyanov Kohtla-Järve Upper Secondary School will assist at the raising of the flag.

The Estonian Military Orchestra and the choirs of the Estonian Female Song Society and schools will perform at the ceremony. The choirs will sing “Hoia, Jumal, Eestit” (“God Save Estonia”; Juhan Aavik, lyrics Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp) and “Eesti lipp” (“Flag of Estonia”; Enn Võrk, lyrics Martin Lipp). The orchestra will be conducted by Samuel Jalakas, and the choirs by Linda Kardna and Sirje Vasmann-Perend. 

The flag guards of the Guard Battalion, the Estonian Defence League, the Women’s Home Defence, Young Eagles, Home Daughters, Scouts, Guides, as well as schools, academic associations and patriotic organisations will attend the ceremony in the Governor’s Garden. 

The Tall Hermann Tower will be open for visiting from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tours will start every full and half hour. The Tall Hermann Tower is a historical building, and therefore group sizes are limited. The tours offered on the Fienta ticketing platform are already full. However, a limited number of free tickets to the tower will also be distributed today from 2 p.m. in the Governor’s Garden on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend to get your tickets as early as possible to secure a place on the tour at the time suitable for you.

A flag wall for taking festive photos will be put up in the Governor’s Garden.  

The first blue, black and white flag was sewn in spring 1884. It was blessed and consecrated at Otepää parsonage in South Estonia on 4 June 1884. This year we celebrate the 142nd anniversary of the consecration of the national flag of Estonia.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu invites to the National Flag Day ceremony and to the Tall Hermann Tower

He considered it important to quickly move forward with the development of the defence industry as well, without which NATO collective defence is unthinkable.  “We must be able to increase production volumes while at the same time moving forward with the development of innovative and advantage-giving technologies, for which initiatives such as NATO’s Diana are crucial,” Kaljulaid explained. 

“A turning point has occurred in the war in Ukraine; Russia can no longer rely on time working in its favour.  Based on this, it is even more important that member states do not reduce support for Ukraine, but on the contrary, find ways to increase it,” he emphasized.

The members of the Estonian delegation are focusing on discussions in the Assembly committees, which take place before the plenary session of the Assembly.  At the standing committee bringing together heads and deputy heads of delegations, the focus is on supporting a quantum leap in deterrence and defence, and the parliamentary agenda for a stronger NATO, on which a joint declaration is planned to be adopted at the plenary session. In addition to the standing committee, Kaljulaid is a member of the Defence and Security Committee, Mihkelson is a member of the Assembly’s Political Committee, and Reinsalu is a member of the Committee on Democracy and Security. 

On Monday, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Marcos Perestrello, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, the Speaker of the Parliament Juozas Olekas, the Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO Radmila Shekerinska and the European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius will deliver speeches at the annual session of the Assembly.  A joint declaration will be adopted at the annual meeting.

Within the framework of the Assembly, members of the Estonian delegation will also participate in a separate meeting with the delegations of the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as Poland and Germany.

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

Link uudisele: The NATO Parliamentary Assembly discusses strengthening deterrence and the alliance’s collective defence

On his visit lasting today and tomorrow, Hussar will meet the President of the Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, Chair of the Chamber Commission for Simplification Francesco Saverio Romano, and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Maurizio Gasparri. He will also take part in a discussion organised by the Guido Garli Association with think tanks, members of the press, and students, and deliver a speech at the NATO Defense College.

Photos (will be added in accordance with the programme; Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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

Link uudisele: President of the Riigikogu to visit Italy

In response to the question of the President of Montenegro, Hussar stated that Russia did not wish to end the war in Ukraine but was instead escalating the conflict. “Russia does not want peace, but wishes to continue its military operation because it believes it can achieve its objectives,” the President of the Riigikogu noted, pointing out that Russia had not even kept the ceasefire agreed upon for 9 May. “Russia does not keep its promises. Our only option is to continue comprehensive support to Ukraine and exerting pressure on Russia.”

Milatović’s participation in the Lennart Meri Conference, the EU-Western Balkans Summit and strengthening bilateral cooperation in different fields were also discussed at the meeting.

During his two-day visit, Milatović also meets with President of Estonia Alar Karis and Prime Minister Kristen Michal and will be a panelist at the Lennart Meri Conference.

Photos: Merje Meisalu / Chancellery of the Riigikogu

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar to the President of Montenegro: Pressure on Russia must continue

The first session of the conference will address defending democracy beyond borders in a situation where democracies are affected by several hybrid threats, such as the spread of disinformation, and where the people’s trust in institutions is being eroded. The discussion will focus on how the experiences of the Baltic States can be used to strengthen Europe’s resilience.

The second session of the event will look back on 35 years of cooperation between the Baltic States and the lessons learned. Future opportunities for cooperation to meet emerging geopolitical, economic, and security challenges both in the Baltic region and the whole of Europe will also be discussed.

Before the conference, meeting of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers will be held to discuss improving cooperation between the legislative and executive branches in the Baltic States.

The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which discusses issues concerning the Baltic region at its sessions and the meetings of its Presidium and committees, as well as at other events. This year, Estonia holds the Presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers. The priorities of Estonia’s Presidency are building a secure and resilient Baltic region, strengthening connectivity and promoting competitiveness.

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: The Baltic Assembly conference focuses on building resilience and defending democracy