National parliaments focus on ensuring peace and security
Members of the Estonian Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) participate in the work of 152nd Assembly of the IPU, where the debate will focus on nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations.
In her speech, Head of the Estonian Delegation, Member of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Maris Lauri will highlight the need to reduce uncertainty. According to her, this requires adhering to agreed-upon rules and resolving differences of opinion and disputes peacefully through negotiation. “The size of a country does not, in any way, give it the right to consider itself superior to others or to act arbitrarily. Unfortunately, such an attitude is the cause of many conflicts throughout the world, including in Ukraine,” Lauri said.
Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi will point out in his speech that in a war, everyone is a loser, and that we all pay for wars. “The direct results of war are a slowdown in economic growth, acceleration of inflation, and price increases that leave no one untouched,” he noted. “The only alternative to war is a rules-based order, and a key prerequisite for returning to such an order is punishment for war crimes. This is of decisive importance, especially in Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine – holding Russia accountable and punishing it for war crimes committed in Ukraine have a significant preventive effect in deterring future aggression.”
The representatives of Estonia will participate in the work of Twelve Plus Group that is made up of European countries, and Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and in the meetings of the Finno-Ugric cooperation group. In addition, the Estonian delegation will have meetings with Australian and Canadian delegations, take part in the meeting of Baltic and Nordic (NB8) delegations, and the meeting between NB8 delegations and Ukrainian delegation. They will also meet with Honorary Consul of Estonia in Istanbul Tuncay Özilhan.
All the statutory bodies of the IPU will convene at the Assembly, including the IPU Governing Council, the Standing Committees, the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and the Task Force on the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine. The IPU will also elect a new Secretary General; the representatives of Greece, Romania, Senegal and Sweden are running for the position.
The IPU Standing Committees will present reports on their work to the Assembly. The Assembly will adopt two resolutions. One of them will address the role of parliaments in establishing robust post‑conflict management mechanisms and restoring a just and lasting peace, and the other the role of parliaments in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs and preventing corporate tax avoidance.
Hundreds of MPs from parliaments across the world will attend the Assembly. The 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 15–19 April 2026. Estonia is represented by President of the Estonian Interparliamentary Union Group Maris Lauri and Vice-Presidents Helle-Moonika Helme, Helmen Kütt and Peeter Tali, and Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest and largest global organisation of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 and has 183 member states from the entire world. Estonia was a member of the Union between 1921–1940, and restored its membership after regaining its independence in 1991.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
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