The Foreign Affairs Committee is one of the eleven standing committees of the Riigikogu that deal with legislation and parliamentary supervision. The Foreign Affairs Committee participates in shaping the foreign policy and working out the positions on foreign relations of the Republic of Estonia, and exercises supervision over the foreign policy activities of the Government.
The Foreign Affairs Committee deals with draft legislation concerning foreign relations, ratification of bilateral and multilateral foreign agreements and accession to international conventions.
The Foreign Affairs Committee discusses Estonia's relations with other states and international organisations and maintains contacts with foreign affairs committees of the parliaments of other countries. The Committee regularly meets with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions and non-governmental organisations dealing with foreign policy, and initiates draft Acts and resolutions when necessary.
Twice a year the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee meets with the chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the parliaments of the European Union. There are also regular meetings with the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic states, and between the chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the Nordic countries and the Baltic states (NB8). Traditionally the Foreign Affairs Committee makes two to four working visits a year.
Coordinating the foreign relations of the Riigikogu also falls within the competence of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Committee prepares the draft legislation concerning the formation of the Riigikogu delegations, and coordinates the activities of the delegations and parliamentary groups.
On behalf of the Riigikogu, the Foreign Affairs Committee provides positions and opinions on issues pertaining to the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy, and, if necessary, discusses important topics concerning the European Union with the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu. Approving Estonia's positions before the meetings of the foreign affairs, defence, development and trade ministers of the European Union also falls within the competence of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
As foreign policy also includes security and defence policy, the National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee hold joint meetings. Besides that, regular joint sittings are held at the General Staff of the Defence Forces to get information about the participation of the Estonian Defence Forces in international missions.
The Committee regularly meets with the diplomatic representatives of Estonia to other countries. There are also meetings with the representatives of foreign states and international organisations residing in Estonia. Once during every session the Committee meets with the President of the Republic to discuss topical foreign policy issues.
According to the Foreign Relations Act, once a year, in February, the Riigikogu discusses the main foreign policy objectives of the state and their implementation on the basis of a report from the Government of the Republic. The Minister of Foreign Affairs presents the report of the Government of the Republic, and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee presents the report of the Committee.
Pursuant to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the sittings of the Foreign Affairs Committee are closed, like the sittings of all other committees of the Riigikogu. Minutes of the meeting are the public record of the meeting. It is possible to follow the latest information about the Committee through Twitter (http://twitter.com/valiskomisjon) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rkvaliskomisjon).
