Interpellation concerning the renovation of Estonia's housing stock (No. 592)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, third session, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-27 20:41
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 26m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The submitted interpellation (592) concerns the renovation of Estonia's housing stock. The interpellators are Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Vadim Belobrovtsev, and Andrei Korobeinik, and the topic is the renovation of apartment buildings constructed during the Soviet era. The focus of the interpellation is the large-scale restoration of the housing stock and its acceleration in light of the demanding requirements set by the European Union and climate agreements. The Riigikogu held a discussion during which various questions were raised regarding funding, regional differences, additional public support mechanisms, and the availability of loans and guarantees. The interpellators emphasized that the issue affects a large portion of the population and has a clear impact on heating costs, overall quality of life, and economic activity.
As counterpoints and additions, the need for collecting necessary data and ensuring transparency was highlighted (e.g., real-time energy performance certificates, the link between residents' livelihoods and energy metering), as well as the need to react quickly to funding and national implementation measures so that building renovation is not hampered by excessive bureaucracy or slow execution. Minister Kristen Michal responded to the interpellation, offering a broad overview of plans to accelerate renovation and ensure stable funding and continuous cooperation between the state and the private sector. The speech covered several layers: financing models, centralized procurement organization, integration of energy performance certificates and consistent data, and the adoption of technological solutions in the construction sector. In conclusion, the recurring theme was the need to increase efficiency and engagement at the level of both building owners and the industry, and to ensure that funding is consistent and equitable.
Decisions Made 1
No official decisions were reached during this session. Minister Kristen Michal responded to the interpellation, and the discussion continues; further steps and decision-making processes may take place in subsequent sessions and in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant in this interpellation was Lauri Laats (who was the presenter of the main body of the inquiry and the leading coordinator of interventions during the discussion). He positions himself as an oppositional or neutral participant (since he represents the EK faction), and his appearances focused exclusively on issues related to accelerating renovation, as well as problems concerning funding and practical implementation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu adopts the following interpellation for discussion, which concerns the renovation of the Estonian housing stock and was submitted on January 17, 2024, by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Vadim Belobrovtsev, and Andrei Korobeinik (Interpellation No. 592). The rapporteur will be our good colleague Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that within the framework of the green transition, the Soviet-era housing stock must be renovated, energy consumption reduced, and compliance with requirements achieved by 2050, and he presents four questions to the Minister of Climate regarding funding, loan conditions, regional differences, and aid for partially vacant houses.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked [the assembly] and announced that the Minister had agreed to answer those questions, and once again invited Climate Minister Kristen Michal to the Riigikogu podium.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal unveiled a plan to renovate Estonia's entire housing stock by 2050. The plan aims to accelerate the renovation process through unified funding and state backing, provide assistance to the most vulnerable and to rural buildings, and utilize contemporary solutions such as prefabricated reconstruction technology, real-time energy performance certificates, and the LIFE IP BuildEST collaboration.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi once again thanked them for the very detailed answers and then turned to Lauri Laats to invite him to speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats inquired why the more than 300 million euros allocated by KredEx for apartment association renovations has stalled, what the specific reasons are, whether and when this funding will actually reach the sector—be it late summer or early summer—and what its economic potential is. He also took the opportunity to express hope that the income tax reform would be reversed and the proposed car tax would be scrapped.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that state funding intended for the renovation of buildings must be utilized sustainably and with a transparent methodology to ensure quality and a reasonable price, as well as long-term, stable financing and the effective allocation of resources through EISA and KredEx.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech begins with a brief request to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler highlighted that even though energy-efficient renovation helps cut heating costs, the increase in loan payments and network fees means that people's total bills could ultimately end up being higher, thus creating a downward spiral.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal highlighted three crucial points: firstly, lower-income individuals must be taken into account when distributing future support schemes; secondly, the objective of renovation is long-term quality of life and financial savings, which justifies the initial investment, leads to better outcomes regarding heating costs and energy consumption, and provides societal benefits; thirdly, the network fee charged to heat producers does not pertain to this sector.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair expresses heartfelt thanks and addresses Helle-Moonika Helme with a request.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme claims that due to Estonia's climate neutrality law by 2030, the plan involves compulsory renovation, which imposes forced expenses on people and restricts their decision-making options. She then asks whether this is a genuine obligation or merely a euphemism.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Kristen Michal acknowledged ideological differences but stressed that he is fixing up his own home for his own benefit, values project-based assistance, and believes that nationwide efforts must be made at a reasonable pace to renovate buildings and modernize urban transport so that old structures can be restored and the climate can improve.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the participants, announced that there were no further questions, opened the debate, and invited Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes central planning and the allocation of green transition subsidies, emphasizing the need to boost defense capabilities, ensure a fairer and more transparent distribution of grants, and listen to the opinions of the people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded the debate and the consideration of this agenda item, and thanked the Minister.