Stoicescu thanked Germany for its commitment to European defence, including for its significant contribution to collective defence on the NATO eastern flank. “German contingent has been positioned in Lithuania, and we are grateful that they are defending the NATO border in all the Baltic states,” he said.

The two defence committees discussed Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and hybrid attacks in Europe, and reiterated the need to continue developing military capabilities, where a close cooperation of defence industry companies also plays an important role. The members of the two committees also stressed the importance of continuing support for Ukraine and of strengthening partnership and allied relations.

In addition to Stoicescu, Deputy Chairman of the Committee Leo Kunnas and member Anti Poolamets were also present at the meeting.

After the Bundestag elections last year, the Defence Committee, headed by Thomas Röwekamp, is on its first foreign visit, which takes in the other Baltic states in addition to Estonia.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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Link uudisele: National Defence Committee discussed enhancing Europe’s defence capability with German colleagues

Member of the National Defence Committee and Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that to support Ukraine, we needed to unite forces with our allies in the European Union to direct Russia’s frozen assets into reconstructing Ukraine, establish an international tribunal for crimes of aggression, and cease doing business with Russia as soon as possible. “We must not underestimate the impact of Russia’s influencing activities and Russian money in capitals around the world. Trade with Russia will first corrupt our business sector, then our public sector, and eventually this corruption might also infect us, the politicians,” he warned.

The delegation of the Committee is meeting the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko, the Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Oleksandr Zavitnevych, and the Head of the Group for Interparliamentary Relations with the Republic of Estonia Arsenii Pushkarenko. The delegation will also visit the Ukraine Ministry of Defence and the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, and meet with security analysts.

Kunnas and Tali are accompanied at the visit by members of the Committee Meelis Kiil and Priit Sibul.

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Link uudisele: National Defence Committee is visiting Ukraine

In the main text of the report, the Committee presents its proposals in nine areas: strategic management and accountability, parliamentary oversight and ethical management, the management culture at the Ministry of Defence and risk-based planning, energy security as part of national defence, defence industry policy and research and development, performance-based assessment, moral responsibility and management culture, regional management level and crisis cooperation, and national strategy coordination. The report also includes an annex presenting the working group’s vision for the organisation of Estonia’s national defence.

According to the document, the National Defence Committee’s report is a contribution of the legislative branch to ensuring that the executive branch can rely on a consistent, analytical, and forward-looking input, and that those who implement comprehensive national defence are strategically guided and supported.

The National Defence Committee will publish the report on its web page in the beginning of December at the latest, after the members of the Committee have presented their reasoned opinions to the annex of the document,

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Link uudisele: The National Defence Committee unanimously approved the national defence report

Stoicescu expressed his hope that the Eduskunta would soon begin discussing amendments that would allow Finland to enter the airspace of other allies if necessary in response to airspace violations. “Decisive strengthening of cooperation in NATO’s joint airspace will send a strong message to Russia that such violations will not go unpunished,” said Stoicescu, and added that more had to be done to deter the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea.

At the working meeting, the committees discussed Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, support for Ukraine, and the increasing of pressure on Russia. They also spoke about the upcoming withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, and the future production and use of anti-personnel landmines, as well as about relations with the United States and the security situation more broadly.

The Defence Committee of the Eduskunta is on a two-day visit to Estonia. Yesterday, the 10-member delegation met with Undersecretary for Defence Capability at the Ministry of Defence Kadri Peeters and Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo, and visited NATO Force Integration Unit in Tallinn. Today the members of the Eduskunta Defence Committee will visit the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) training centre in Nurmsi and get an overview of the activities of the Estonian Defence League.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu and the Defence Committee of the Eduskunta have been cooperating closely and holding annual working meetings since 1993.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

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Link uudisele: The National Defence Committee discussed cooperation and changes related to airspace violations with Finnish colleagues

“With this, we as countries on NATO’s Eastern flank are sending a clear message that we are ready and able to use all necessary means to defend our territory and our people,” Stoicescu stated. He added that before the withdrawal from the Convention, the members of the National Defence Committee would also meet with representatives of several international organisations.

According to the Bill initiated by the Government, Estonia will withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, which entered into force in 1999, and which Estonia acceded to in 2004.

The explanatory memorandum of the Bill points out that since Estonia ratified the Ottawa Convention more than 20 years ago, the security environment in Europe and in the Baltic Sea region has deteriorated significantly and the military threat to NATO member states has increased. At the same time, the Russian Federation is continuing its military aggression against Ukraine and is seriously violating its international obligations, including the standards of international humanitarian law. Russia has not acceded to the Ottawa Convention and is extensively using anti-personnel mines in the war against Ukraine.

According to the explanatory memorandum, withdrawal from the Convention will give the Estonian Defence Forces greater flexibility and freedom to choose the weapons systems and weapon solutions to be used when necessary. Withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will enter into force six months after the date of notification, provided that on the expiry of that period, the withdrawing country is not engaged in an armed conflict.

The National Defence Committee decided to move to include the Bill on Withdrawal from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (642 SE) in the agenda of the plenary sitting on 22 May, and to conclude the first reading of the Bill. The final vote is planned to take place at the second reading of the Bill.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna gave an overview of the Bill and the activities relating to the withdrawal from the Convention at the sitting of the National Defence Committee.

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Link uudisele: The National Defence Committee supports Estonia’s leaving the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

The forum will be held in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu on Thursday. The discussions will focus on collective defence, the increasing of defence spending, and regional defence cooperation, as well as on Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and its implications for the international security architecture. Undersecretary for Defence Policy of the Ministry of the Defence of Estonia Tuuli Duneton and Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia Martin Roger will give an overview of Estonia’s positions. Lieutenant General Bertrand Toujouse, Commander of French Forces Europe/Commander French LANDCOM, who is on a visit to Estonia, will participate in the forum as a special guest.

The leaders of the National Defence Committees will also discuss the priorities and challenges of defence and security policy more broadly and talk about the steps needed to achieve a militarily strong Europe in the shortest possible terms. On Friday, the leaders of the National Defence Committees will visit Ämari Airbase, where one of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing aviation units is located.

Leaders of the National Defence Committees of the parliaments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden will participate in the forum. Chair of the National Defence Committee of the Netherlands will attend the forum as an observer. Representatives of Germany and France will also take part in the forum held in Tallinn.

The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu has held annual working meetings with the National Defence Committees of the Baltic States since 1998. From 2011, the representatives of the National Defence Committees of the of the Nordic Countries, Germany and Poland have also been taking part in these meetings.

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Link uudisele: Leaders of defence committees from nine countries gather for security forum in Tallinn

According to the Act that was passed, a church, congregation or monastery operating in Estonia may not be guided in its activities by a person or association located in a foreign country and having significant influence. Nor may it be linked by statute, contract or other documents, or economically, to a religious association, spiritual centre, governing body or spiritual leader located in a foreign country if they pose a threat to the security or constitutional or public order of the Estonian state. Such a threat may occur, among other things, when a spiritual centre, governing body, spiritual leader, person or association supports or has supported military aggression or has called for war, a terrorist crime, or otherwise unlawful use of armed force or violence.

The Act also specifies who can serve as a minister of religion or be a member of the management board of a religious association in Estonia. A person who is not allowed to reside or stay in Estonia cannot be a minister of religion or a member of the management board of a religious association. In addition, the requirements for the statutes of a religious association are specified and the possibility is created to leave a church whose activities, statutes, or membership of the management board do not meet the requirements established. For this, the congregation or monastery will have to adopt new statutes and after that it will be possible to enter the amendments complying with the requirements into the register without the approval of the governing body of the church, insofar as obtaining such approval may not be realistic.

Churches and congregations that need to bring their statutes, the membership of their management board, or their activities into line with the Act will have two months from the entry into force of the Act to do so.

During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Jaanus Karilaid on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Lauri Läänemets on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group, Anti Haugas on behalf of the Reform Party Group, Ando Kiviberg on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Vadim Belobrovtsev on behalf of the Centre Party Group.

At the final vote, 60 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Act and 13 voted against it.

TH e Riigikogu also  passed the Act on Amendments to the Estonian Defence Forces Organisation Act and the Economic Zone Act (strengthening maritime security) (565 SE),   initiated by the Government. Its aim is to strengthen maritime security in the Estonian maritime area. For this, the tasks of the Defence Forces and the use of direct coercion and military force are specified.

The Act ensures that the Defence Forces have sufficient flexibility to operate at sea so that the Defence Forces would be ready to respond quickly to threats arising from the sea. According to an amendment, the Defence Forces are given the right to respond to threats directed against the infrastructure ensuring the resilience of essential services in the Estonian maritime area, as well as national defence objects, ports and other civil engineering works and equipment.

The Act also specifies the measures that the Defence Forces can use in the performance of its tasks in the Estonian economic zone. Currently, the state supervision tasks of the Defence Forces in the Estonian maritime area are primarily related to guarding the state border.

Meelis Kiili from the Reform Party Group, Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Raimond Kaljulaid from the Social Democratic Party Group and Peeter Tali from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

62 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

A Bill passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Medicinal Products Act (hospital exemption) (532 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading in the Riigikogu. Its purpose is to ensure better availability of medicinal products made by way of the hospital exemption. ‘Hospital exemption’ means the making and use of a custom-made advanced therapy medicinal product, e.g.  a medicinal product intended for gene therapy, for the treatment of an individual patient where the usual authorised medicinal product is not available or there is no suitable clinical trial.

The hospital exemption regulation created in 2022 sets strict restrictions on the manufacture and use of advanced therapy medicinal products but, according to the explanatory memorandum, a need to relax them has become apparent. The bill will eliminate the restriction under which only one holder of authorisation can manufacture an advanced therapy medicinal product under hospital exemption and only for up to 10 patients. The amendments will also reduce administrative burden and shorten the terms for issuing permits.

However, all current requirements for the quality, efficacy and safety of the medicinal products manufactured and used will remain in place, and patient protection and safety will remain the primary consideration when assessing applications for authorisation. The hospital exemption promotes treatment options for patients with rare diseases and supports innovation and the development of high-technology therapies.

Two motions to amend the Bill were submitted in the second reading. Under one of them, the ethics committee will assess the ensuring of the protection of patients’ rights and their safety and well-being, in addition to the State Agency of Medicines. Under the other amendment, before issuing a hospital exemption authorisation, the State Agency of Medicines may involve non-staff experts and the Health Board in assessing the hospital-exemption medicinal product.

Riina Sikkut from the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

Two Bills passed the first reading

The Bill on the Accession to the Statutes of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (559 SE),  initiated by the Government, passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. It provides for accession to the Statutes of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance so that Estonia can formally become a member of the Institute.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization established in Stockholm in 1995. Its objectives are to promote democracy and to improve and consolidate democratic electoral processes worldwide. The Council of the Institute approved Estonia’s accession at the end of 2021 and since then Estonia has participated in Council sessions and events. IDEA has 35 members and two parties who have observer status.

Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.

The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading, but the plenary did not support the motion. Four members of the Riigikogu supported rejection but 38 were against.

The Bill on Amendments to the Identity Documents Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (572 SE), initiated by the Government,  also passed the first reading. It will strengthen measures to ensure that a national identity document is issued only to the person entitled to it.

The bill creates a legal basis according to which an application for a digital identity card of an e-resident will be returned without review if the applicant is a citizen of a country with a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing or with which Estonia has no cooperation relationship in the field of justice, security or law enforcement.

Under the Bill, the Police and Border Guard Board will have the right to request a DNA examination if a person applies for an Estonian citizen’s identity document for the first time and a reasonable suspicion arises that a document to enable the establishment of Estonian citizenship issued in a foreign country is not genuine or the underlying data is incorrect.

In addition, the Bill will create the possibility of verifying identity through the Estonian open data portal mobile application.

Three drafts were dropped from the proceedings

The Riigikogu rejected the Bill on the Repeal of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (592 SE),  initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group. It was intended to repeal the motor vehicle tax which in the opinion of initiators had damaged people’s livelihoods and the competitiveness of businesses.

Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Anti Allas from the Social Democratic Party Group, Andres Metsoja from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart from the Centre Party Group and Toomas Uibo from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

The Finance Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 47 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection and 25 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (566 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group. It was intended to impose an additional income tax liability on extraordinary profits on banks operating in Estonia. In the opinion of the initiators, a higher tax liability would motivate credit institutions to change their interest rate policy and would also bring additional revenue to the state budget.

Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group and Martin Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

The Finance Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 46 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection and 20 were against.

The Riigikogu also rejected the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to temporarily suspend the processing of all plans initiated in connection with wind farms, with a deferral period until an updated methodology for measuring infrasound, and relevant sound pressure level limits will have been established” (569 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group. The draft Resolution was intended to make a proposal to the Government to temporarily suspend the processing of all spatial plans for wind farms and to ban the initiation of new spatial plans until the methodology for measuring infrasound and the limits for sound pressure levels safe for human health would have been updated.

Martin Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Maris Kadastik from the Reform Party Group and Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group took the floor during the debate.

At the final vote, 11 members of the Riigikogu supported the draft Resolution and three voted against. A majority of the votes of the membership of the Riigikogu, that is, at least 51 votes, would have been needed for the Resolution to be passed.

The sitting ended at 8.04 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

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Link uudisele: The Riigikogu passed the Act strengthening maritime security

US-Baltic security cooperation and the increasing of defence spending in NATO countries will be discussed at the meetings. Attacks on underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and other threats from Russia will also be spoken about. “Russia is a long-term threat and it is a reality we have to deal with,” Stoicescu said.

In Washington, Stoicescu will meet with several members of the House of Representatives, and participate in a round table discussion with the think tank the Atlantic Council in the Congress. He also plans to meet with Principal Director for Europe and NATO Policy Alton Buland in Pentagon.

The Chairman of the National Defence Committee will also attend the Baltic Advocacy Days organised by the Joint Baltic American National Committee, including a round table at the think tank the Hudson Institute within the framework of the event.

At the end of the week, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson will also travel to Washington. He will participate in a visit organised by the Polish think tank the Casimir Pulaski Foundation together with MPs from France, Germany and Poland.

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Link uudisele: Chairman of the National Defence Committee starts with meetings at the US Congress

The Conference is one of the most important events of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which lasts from 1 January until the end of June. The main focus of the Polish Presidency is European security and how to strengthen it.

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Link uudisele: Stoicescu and Mihkelson discuss strengthening security in Europe with their EU counterparts

Stoicescu said that at the meetings in Stockholm, the National Defence Committee planned to discuss the current situation of defence and security cooperation and future plans, including the measures for strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Relations with the United States, and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its impacts will also be addressed during the visit.

The delegation of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu will meet with Chair Peter Hultqvist and members of the Committee on Defence of the Riksdag, as well as with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces of Sweden. Members of the National Defence Committee also plan to have a meeting at the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

The delegation of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu consists of Chairman Kalev Stoicescu, Deputy Chairman Leo Kunnas and members of the Committee Meelis Kiili and Peeter Tali.

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Link uudisele: The National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu visits Sweden