First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu “Establishment of a Riigikogu investigative committee to investigate circumstances related to the Rail Baltic project” (460 OE)
Session: 15th Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-11-07 13:14
Total Speeches: 75
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 41m
AI Summaries: 75/75 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the draft resolution 460 submitted by the Centre Party faction of the Riigikogu – the establishment of a Riigikogu investigative committee to examine circumstances related to the Rail Baltic project. The initial speaker proposed forming an independent investigative committee with the aim of clarifying Rail Baltic costs, responsibility, funding, and the project's future direction in the three Baltic states. The debate focused on the recent report by the National Audit Office, the findings and conclusions of which raised questions about the project's feasibility and money planning.
The second part of the discussion addressed identity: why Latvia has already formed an investigative committee and how Estonia could take inspiration and jointly achieve better accountability and transparency. Several members of parliament emphasized the need to discuss and control the impact of a major investment on both an economic and a security-significant level, and considered a unified, Riigikogu-wide solution to be essential.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 460 was rejected on its first reading – the decision was based on a proposal from the leading committee.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Lauri Laats (5VNfkRwGZMI), representing the Centre Party faction. His presentations focused on the importance and necessity of establishing a parliamentary cross-party investigative committee to address public concerns and clarity on how the Baltic states will jointly move forward with the Rail Baltic project. Position: other (party positioning as centre-left-created context is not clearly left or right).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Today, within the framework of the third item on the agenda, the Estonian Centre Party faction will present to the Riigikogu a draft decision No. 460, which provides for the establishment of an investigative committee to examine the circumstances related to the Rail Baltica project, and at the first reading Lauri Laats will speak on behalf of the initiators.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats called on the Riigikogu to form a Rail Baltica inquiry committee that would be parliament-wide and inclusive of all factions, so that, in cooperation with Latvia and Lithuania, it would clarify the questions of the project’s cost growth, financing and maintenance, and provide the public with clear answers about who pays, who rides, and how the cooperation among the three Baltic states will begin to function.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked the presenter and asked Andrei Korobeinik to come and answer the questions.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik asks Laur why anyone might not support the establishment of this committee to discuss the Rail Baltica issue, although the proposal would suit both sides, and notes that there is no support from coalition MPs in the chamber, and that some are on a business trip.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that instead of populist cuts there is a need for a cross-party, open committee that would investigate Rail Baltica and budget allocations and would discuss that the Riigikogu's salary is paid according to attendance and work, in order to ensure order, transparency and cooperation with the Baltic states.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme believes that the Rail Baltica project is horrendously wasteful, pompous and large-scale, and burdens both Estonian taxpayers and European funds; it is seen as a big business for certain circles and requires a thorough investigation to uncover the possibilities of corruption or money laundering and suspicions of abuse of personal interests.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that, although suspicions of the misuse of public funds have arisen in Latvia and an investigative committee is being formed, one should focus on topics that simplify people's lives, such as lowering the VAT on food, and not be misled.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller invites Vladimir Arhipov onto the stage.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arhipov expresses concern that Rail Baltica may not be operated by Estonia's state locomotives and rolling stock, because the Government of the Republic is selling off Estonia's railway rolling stock, and operators from Latvia and Lithuania will come here with state support, and he asks whether the commission's task also includes seeking alternative solutions.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats notes that the Estonian railway project may not bring significant economic benefits, and there is great uncertainty about its completion and its user base, but the inquiry commission looks to the past, present, and future and prepares a report on the basis of which the government will make further decisions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller requests that Henn Põlluaas come to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasized the need for an investigative committee and noted that one of its activities should be a review of Rail Baltica's cost-benefit analysis, because construction and operating costs have risen, and the previous analysis was largely based on a bluff, taking into account also the expected benefits arising from transit via Russia and Finland.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats said that the last cost-benefit analysis was done in 2007–2011, and the costs have changed (2007: 3.6 billion; 2017 forecast: 5.8 billion), and although Rail Baltica's leaders claim that it will not bring a large economic benefit to the Estonian state, the project must be thoroughly evaluated and viewed more broadly at the Baltic level, focusing on security, road safety, and redirecting transit away from the roads.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks to invite Rene Kokk.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk stressed that with a billion-euro investment it would be wise to establish an investigative committee and monitor it, ensure legality, pointed to the deficiencies of the National Audit Office, and to the high salaries of Nordica’s executives, and asked why there are so few coalition MPs seen in the chamber where the bill is being debated and whether there is anything they want to hide.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He asks whether something is being hidden against the backdrop of the project's delays and higher prices, highlights taxpayers’ suffering, and emphasizes that the truth will only become clear when the commission is formed and the work begins.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The purpose of this bill is to establish an investigative committee to ensure the transparency of large sums of money related to Rail Baltica and EU funding, and to promote cooperation between the anti-corruption special committee and the investigative committee, because corruption often accompanies large sums of money.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes Rail Baltica's potential corruption risk and the need for an investigative committee, makes clear his willingness to cooperate with the anti-corruption special committee, and promises that if the Riigikogu does not support the establishment of a committee, he will turn to the anti-corruption special committee to investigate the matter.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Signe Kivi.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Signe Kivi emphasized that the Baltic Assembly unites Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and its Economic Committee enables the discussion of common issues and the sharing of information, and she recommended directing this question to it specifically.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I think it would be sensible to create a special committee that, together with the coalition and the opposition, would conduct an in-depth study of the impact of the proposed project, would be based on Latvian practice, and, in cooperation with the three reports prepared by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, would discuss them in the Baltic Assembly to make a joint decision.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal noted that the draft proposal is going straight to the trash today, but he offered a cross-party Rail Baltica circumstances investigation support group that would gather materials from Latvia and the Ministry of Finance and help start the work; it would be cross-party and would enable decisions to be transmitted to investigative authorities on the basis of the materials, while noting that he is the chair of the Estonia shipwreck investigation support group and that they have been effective.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller turns to Kalle Grünthal and asks him.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
A Rail Baltic support group has been established in the Riigikogu, and next week's meeting will discuss this, and if the proposal to establish an investigative group isn't accepted, the Corruption Committee, led by Anastassia, will investigate it, and if necessary, a separate Rail Baltic investigative group could be formed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Arvo Aller, invited Siim Pohlak to take the floor.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak notes that the Rail Baltica project has collapsed and is being kept alive, the funding for the Pärnu–Riga section is unresolved, and the coalition is sensitive on this issue. EKRE's proposals to reduce funding were left unaddressed, and he asks whether his bill will ever become law and what is the government's assessment and position on this issue.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats said that the treaty between the Baltic states, signed and ratified by all parliaments, which was based on an investment of 5.8 billion, has changed, and the terms and amounts should be re-examined, for which the Latvian Parliament's already-underway investigative committee could be formed, and, if necessary, the Lithuanian Parliament could also be involved, so that the reports and recommendations produced in cooperation would ultimately lead to the adoption of new decisions in the Riigikogu as well as in all Baltic parliaments.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter, stated that there were no questions, and asked Kalle Laanet, a member of the Constitutional Committee, to introduce the discussion at the Riigikogu's speaking podium.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that the discussion held in the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee regarding the Rail Baltica project highlighted the need to obtain clarity and to consider the formation of a special committee or a committee of inquiry and to deepen cooperation among the Baltic states, and by consensus it was agreed to put the draft on the agenda and to appoint a representative of the steering committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanked the presenter for a thorough briefing, noting that a good overview of what happened at the committee meeting had been obtained, and invited Henn Põlluaas to ask questions.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas asks whether the government has answered the Special Committee on State Budget Oversight's inquiry about the cost-benefit analysis, and criticizes that the committee does not consider the establishment of a special committee necessary, citing the conclusions of the National Audit Office and blaming the need for an explanation, because it is in everyone's interest to know why the project has been delayed and costs have risen.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that he does not know whether the inquiry of the Special Committee on State Budget Control took place and whether it was answered, and that he tries to stay within the bounds of what happened in the committee, emphasizing Rail Baltica's important role and, alongside that, that the aim of our small and efficient state is to avoid duplication, and therefore the investigative committee may not provide added value.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The rapporteur notes that the respondent voted against the draft in the committee and does not want the formation of an inquiry committee, and finally asks for a clear answer regarding Rail Baltica's total costs for the coming year.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Thank you, this question was not discussed by the committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, invites Valdo Randpere to speak.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said that Rail Baltica's strategic importance is often underestimated in the Commission, and the project should be treated not only economically but also from a security-policy perspective, especially in light of the events in Ukraine and in the context of Russia's actions.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that in the committee they mainly discussed the need for an investigative committee and its ability to provide better answers to the public's questions, and he noted that a national defense aspect stood out in Lauri Laatsi's presentation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and asks that Andrei Korobeinik take the floor.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik expressed strong support for Rail Baltica, emphasized the clarity of how funds would be spent and the clarity of realistic plans, and asked about the impact of the commission's investigation, whether it would increase the likelihood of the project's completion.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that all members of the commission who were present at the meeting agree on the funding for Rail Baltica and the transparency of its actions, but disagreements arose only over the creation of a special committee or an investigative committee, and he stressed that a special committee is not a magic wand and there is no need to create a new format.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme stresses that the Chief of the Defence Forces Andrus Merilo's assessment of Rail Baltica's security is skeptical, and the money could instead be directed to real security, which is why she calls on her colleagues, especially Randpere, to revise their positions.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
For defense, allies are critical, and, if necessary, the railway is the most efficient way to move military equipment into Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asked Rene Kokk to take the floor.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk speaks about the formation of an investigative committee for Rail Baltica and emphasizes that the project must be surrounded by an honest and transparent discussion, asking whether the national defense aspect has been sufficiently discussed alongside it.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that it did not leave him with the impression that Valdo Randpere's question had a particularly emphasized national-defense aspect, and his question was only whether it had been discussed, to which the answer was that it had not been discussed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked Valdo Randpere to perform.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said that Estonia's military capabilities are funded from the state budget, Rail Baltica is funded largely from European Union funds, and if the project is halted, the money must be paid back and this money must not be used to purchase military capabilities, and he noted that many of Rail Baltica's opponents have been against it for years.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He calls on the audience to act, saying that this is their time.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He notes that the strategic importance of Rail Baltica has risen in the meantime, and for some it has not yet reached them.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet emphasized that projects funded with taxpayers' money must be transparent, and if suspicions arise, they should be dealt with directly through law enforcement authorities, not by forming an interim committee, because real violations are addressed by laws and law enforcement.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks Kalle Grünthal to come forward.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal noted that Rail Baltica does have strategic importance, but in the event of a serious conflict it could become nonexistent, because the current two-rail system is vulnerable and restoration is almost impossible.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that he did not criticize the general's or the soldier's position, but tried to understand it and emphasized that the railway is important for moving both one's own and the enemy's military capabilities, but at the same time it may give the enemy an opportunity to move their capabilities, and as the article pointed out, after the capabilities are brought to the location, to blow up the railway so that the enemy cannot move their capabilities; this is not black-and-white and it was not a critique.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Vladimir Arhipov onto the stage.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov said that Rail Baltica is important, but the Tallinn–Helsinki tunnel has fallen into neglect, and without it the project makes no sense, and delays damage Estonia's reputation; he proposed a similar commission formed in Latvia that would raise Estonia's reputation in railway construction.
Kalle Laanet
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kalle Laanet said that the commission did not discuss item one, and that the standing depends on whether the given task and objective are achieved within a reasonable time frame in cooperation with others, and he stressed that the investigative commission is not a magic wand and that there is no need for it at this time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the presenter, states that there are no questions, opens the negotiations, and asks here at the Riigikogu's speaking desk, on behalf of the EKRE faction, that his colleague Anti Poolametsa speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They ask for more time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks to grant three minutes of extra time.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasized that Rail Baltica's large costs and funding questions require thorough investigative commissions to clarify interests and risks, and to ensure national defense and the security of the state budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks and requests, on behalf of the Centre Party faction, that Anastassia Kovalenko‑Kõlvarti speak at the Riigikogu microphone.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The rapporteur Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart believes that the funding figures for Rail Baltica are insufficiently transparent and vary (4 billion, 3.1 billion, and 3.6 billion), and that the costs in three countries amount to about 23.8 billion euros, while the socio-economic benefit is 11.8 billion euros, therefore she calls for forming a separate inquiry committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The report highlights that the Rail Baltica cost-benefit analysis does not take into account strategic use or risk mitigation, and there is no certainty about the funding sources; therefore, with the involvement of all factions, it is recommended to form a special committee to ensure the project's timely completion and the prudent use of public funds.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanked and informed that there are no requests to speak, but Valdo Randpere will nonetheless come forward, whose name had been mentioned, and he will be given the right of reply.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said that he has become the focal point of the debate between both parties and is giving a one-off answer, and he confirmed that he has never spoken about conscription nor wished to change or abolish it, and asked Anti Poolamets not to misrepresent him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar introduces Jaak Aab to the Riigikogu's speaking lectern and notes that Aab wishes to speak and is authorized to speak on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab confirmed that Rail Baltica's main route is ongoing and a priority of the European Union, and Estonia's aim is to have it completed by 2030, supported by EU funding and CO2 instruments through Baltic cooperation, and he emphasized transparency, and that no new special commission is planned, but the investigation will be carried out through the existing commissions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair ended the negotiations and said that the steering committee's proposal to reject Draft Bill 460 at the first reading is in effect, and although Lauri Laats wished to speak, he could not do so.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats thanks and asks for at least a six-minute pause before the vote is held.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, announced that the session would not be extended, a six-minute break was granted at the Center faction's request, and today's session has ended.