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Work of the European Union Affairs Committee
The European Union Affairs Committee (EUAC) is a standing committee of the Riigikogu that has a deciding and coordinating role in topics linked to the European Union in the Riigikogu. The EUAC differs from the other committees of the Riigikogu in that it has at least 15 members, including representatives from all other standing committees. Members of the Board of the Riigikogu may also be members of the EUAC. The Government of the Republic takes the positions of the EUAC in European Union affairs as the basis for its own.
Working process
The Committee’s work leads to two main outputs: shaping the position of the Riigikogu (giving a mandate) for a position of the Government of the Republic on proposed European Union legislation and for Estonia’s positions at the meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and the European Council.
In case of the EU draft legislation, the Government of the Republic forwards its positions to the Board of the Riigikogu who appoints one or several specialised committees to provide an opinion on them to the EUAC. The EUAC forms a position on behalf of the Riigikogu on the basis of the opinions of other standing committees. The primary task of the EUAC is to observe that the positions of the Riigikogu take into account both the general context of the EU—political situation, relations, and agreements between the Member States—and Estonia’s priorities in the EU policies.
The other main output of the EUAC is linked to the meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and the European Council. The Government of the Republic submits its positions on the issues on the agendas of the meetings and discussions to the Riigikogu. The ministers present these positions at the sittings of the EUAC, after which the Committee shapes its position, i.e. gives a mandate for the meeting of the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister meets with the EUAC before the European Council meetings. The positions of the EUAC are mandatory for the Government, and the Government proceeds from them in the discussions held in Europe. In case the Government has not proceeded from the positions of the EUAC, it has to provide the reasons for it to the Committee. As opposed to the other standing committees of the Riigikogu, the EUAC is not involved in domestic legislative work.
The Committee meets on Mondays and Fridays.
Other tasks
At least once a year, the Prime Minister presents an overview of the activities of the Government in implementing the EU policy to the Riigikogu. After hearing the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the EUAC speaks at the plenary sitting of the Riigikogu. This speech gives an overview of the work in the Committee and contains assessments of the work of the Government on concerned topics.