At today’s plenary sitting, the Riigikogu formed the study committee on the development of Estonian language instruction, the study committee to solve the demographic crisis, the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Study Committee on the Development of Estonian Language Instruction” (3 OE), submitted by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and the Faction Isamaa, provides for the formation of a study committee with the aim of examining the current state of the fundamentals of national policies, sectoral development plans and programmes relating to the Estonian language. Based on that, the study committee will make proposals to ensure high-quality Estonian language instruction and to prepare teaching aids, curricula, methodologies and teachers.

To achieve the aim, the study committee is planning to meet stakeholders relating to the Estonian language and to involve them actively. The study committee will also be staying up to date on the impact of the activities carried out and the sustainability thereof. If necessary, the committee has the possibility to present legislative amendments.

The explanatory memorandum notes that Estonian language instruction and raising the quality of studies among young people with other native languages has been the focus of discussions for several decades, but there are still issues that must be addressed systematically and to which solutions must be found. The reason for establishing the committee is the need to view Estonian language instruction comprehensively and on a broad basis, and to provide ideas for legislative amendments.

The study committee will include one member from each faction.

During the debate, Mihhail Stalnuhhin (Centre Party) and Riho Breivel (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kaja Kallas (Reform Party), Jaak Madison (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kalle Palling (Reform Party), Aadu Must (Centre Party), Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski (Centre Party), Valdo Randpere (Reform Party) and Oudekki Loone (Centre Party) took the floor.

54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 24 were against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Study Committee to Solve the Demographic Crisis” (4 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, the Estonian Centre Party Faction and the Faction Isamaa, provides for the formation a study committee with the task of shaping the population policy of Estonia, with a view to guaranteeing the preservation of the Estonian people, the Estonian language and the Estonian culture through the ages.

The explanatory memorandum notes that the study committee to solve the demographic crisis that had been established in the 13th Riigikogu had submitted the final report on the work of the committee, with proposals on solving the demographic problems, to the Riigikogu at the plenary sitting on 20 February 2019. As the demographic problems persist, the need to establish the study committee remains.

The study committee will include one member from each faction.

Kaja Kallas (Reform Party) took the floor during the debate.

54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 22 were against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (17 OE), submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, provides for the formation of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO PA) which includes the following members of the Riigikogu: head of the delegation Kadri Simson, members Ants Laaneots and Sven Sester, and alternate members Leo Kunnas and Sven Mikser.

The aims of the Estonian delegation to the NATO PA are to protect the foreign policy interests of Estonia, to actively participate in the events of the Assembly and the work of committees, and to ensure protection of Estonia’s security policy positions and performance of Estonia’s duties in the NATO.

The explanatory memorandum notes that, on the basis of Article 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the organisation, Estonia as a member of the NATO PA has the right to form a three-member delegation to the parliamentary assembly and also to appoint alternate members as necessary. The delegation is formed taking into account the representation of political forces in the Riigikogu.

65 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe” (18 OE), submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, provides for the formation of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) which includes the following members of the Riigikogu: head of the delegation Mart Nutt, members Kerstin-Oudekki Loone and Heljo Pikhof, and alternate members Johannes Kert and Anti Poolamets.

The explanatory memorandum notes that the main aim of the activities of the OSCE PA is to involve Member States more in the resolution of European political and security issues, in order to enhance civilian control over military issues and to increase the responsibility and influence of members of parliament. The Assembly passes resolutions with recommendations to member countries on meeting the OSCE criteria, represents the collective voice of OSCE parliamentarians and parliamentary diplomacy, and has an extensive election observation program.

An important part in the work of the OSCE is the sending of delegations of observers to elections in member states, in order to observe the compliance of elections with law and democratic traditions. Detailed reports are prepared on observation results.

Under the rules of procedure of the OSCE statutes, Estonia has the right to form a three-member delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the organisation, and to appoint three alternate members.

63 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian) http://stenogrammid.riigikogu.ee/en/201905301000.

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu (NB! The recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
+372 631 6456; +372 5821 3309
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]