Riigikogu committees wish to hold annual security policy debate at plenary sitting
The National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed updating the National Security Concept of Estonia today, and agreed that in a changing security environment, the Prime Minister must give Parliament an overview of Estonia’s security policy more often than it had been done so far.
Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu said that the Committees found that the fundamental document of Estonia’s security policy should be updated in every parliamentary term, taking into account changes in the international security environment and in the attitudes of Estonia and its allies toward countering threats. According to him, the Committees supported the principle that amending the document should not be left to the period immediately before the Riigikogu elections. “However, we expect the Prime Minister to appear before the Riigikogu each year to provide an overview of Estonia’s security policy,” he added.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson pointed out that while under the current agreement the Prime Minister gave the Riigikogu an overview of Estonia’s security policy once every four years, this was not enough, when considering how dynamic the global security situation was. “A foreign policy debate is held at a plenary sitting of the Riigikogu at the beginning of every year and a European Union policy debate takes place every autumn. Estonia’s security policy must also be discussed in the Riigikogu once a year,” he said.
The National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee formulated their position while discussing the updating of the fundamental document of Estonia’s security policy. Since last autumn, the Committees have repeatedly discussed the drafting of a new document with representatives of the Government Office and have made several proposals on how to amend the fundamental document. Proposals have been made regarding the wording, and the threats and priorities that the document should address either in additional detail or in greater depth than before.
The National Security Concept, which will be submitted to the Riigikogu in the coming months, describes the deteriorating security environment, and Estonia’s objectives and the actions required to achieve them in five key areas: social cohesion, civil protection and the functioning of the state; economic security and essential services; internal security; military defence, and international activities. Among other things, the document highlights that Estonia’s defence spending must remain at a level of at least five percent of GDP.
The National Security Concept is prepared by the Government and adopted by the Riigikogu. Last National Security Concept was approved by the Riigikogu at the beginning of 2023.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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