Members of the Estonian Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) participate in the work of the 153rd Assembly of the IPU in Tanzania, where the general debate will focus on the overall theme of enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.
Head of the Estonian delegation, Member of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Peeter Tali will emphasise in his speech that there is no point in talking about trust and opportunities for all when, at the same time, violence, conflicts, and wars are gaining momentum around the world. “Russia’s war against brave Ukraine has been ongoing for the 13th year now. I call on Russia’s delegates to end the war in Ukraine,” Tali says.
“Politicians must communicate with each other more and more honestly,” Tali highlights the importance of parliamentary diplomacy. He points out that the key principle of the IPU is to resolve international challenges through cooperation and diplomacy, to support peace and international security, and to reduce the risk of conflicts. Tali underlines that Estonia was occupied for half a century and is now free thanks to the will of the international community.
Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi will note in his speech that countries must preserve their unique character, but all efforts in culture, sports, and nature conservation become futile if a country is not safe to live in or for travelling. “We must all contribute more to security together. Economic gain must not become more important than peace.”
Speaking about Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Kivimägi will point out that it negatively affects many neighbouring countries, as well as Europe more broadly. “Terrorist attacks naturally do not create security. If we give in to the use of force, we will never know who will be the next,” he says.
The representatives of Estonia also participate in the work of Twelve Plus Group that is made up of European countries, and Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The Group plans to elect a new president. The Estonian delegation will also attend meetings of the delegations of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (NB8) and the Finno-Ugric cooperation group, and have bilateral meetings with the delegations of Ukraine, Canada and the United Kingdom.
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 election of a new IPU President is also on the agenda of the session; the representatives of Azerbaijan, Australia and Chile run for the position.
The 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will take place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, on 5–9 October 2026. Hundreds of MPs from parliaments across the world will attend the Assembly. Estonia will be represented by Vice-Presidents of the Estonian Interparliamentary Union Group 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. The Republic of Naoero, an island state in Oceania, is about to join the IPU as its 184th member state. Estonia was a member of the Union between 1921–1940, and restored its membership after regaining its independence in 1991.