Population Protection

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, press briefing

Date: 2024-12-04 15:19

Participating Politicians:

Total Speeches: 11

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 13m

AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

Today's discussion focused on the organization of civil protection in a crisis situation, with extensive evacuation planning and implementation as central issues, including the roles of the Rescue Board, the Defence League, and local municipalities, as well as the mapping of evacuation points. Members of the Riigikogu discussed what likely formative scenarios would exist regarding the movement of populations in Ida-Virumaa and Southern Estonia, and where evacuation points and logistical support for equipment could potentially be located. They also addressed how to ensure people’s safety, food provisions, and coordination between different institutions during a crisis, and what the regional balance would be regarding the placement of evacuees across Estonia.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

No official decisions were made at this session. Emphasis was placed on continuing planning in the area of population protection, involving the Rescue Board, the Defence League, and local governments, and taking further steps to develop and rehearse the repertoire of evacuation, reserve, and evacuation points.

Most Active Speaker
Mart Helme
Mart Helme

Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon

Mart Helme (EKRE) – right-wing politicians; Member of the Riigikogu. He was the most active speaker in the discussion, posed two key questions, and through follow-up questions facilitated a deeper overview and helped guide the discussion.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:19:51
AI Summary

The Riigikogu will submit today's seventh question to Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets. The questioner is Mart Helme, and the topic is civil protection.

Mart Helme
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
15:20:00
AI Summary

Mart Helme raises the issue of evacuation in the event of a crisis or wartime situation and asks whether the Ministry of the Interior is developing plans for evacuating people from Ida-Virumaa and from southern Estonia to Läänemaa, how many people might be needed, where they would be accommodated, and how logistics and security would be ensured.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:21:21
AI Summary

The chair thanked everyone and said that there was a very high willingness to answer, but asked Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets to respond.

Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
15:21:21
AI Summary

If a large-scale evacuation takes place, the Estonian Rescue Board plans the evacuation along the entire eastern border in cooperation with local governments, the Estonian Defence League and the Women's Home Guard, where about one third will leave on their own, one third wish to stay and one third will need to be evacuated, and the evacuees will be directed across Estonia, not only to Läänemaa, involving the mapping of evacuation points, preparations and drills.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:23:59
AI Summary

The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Mart Helme to present a clarifying question.

Mart Helme
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
15:24:03
AI Summary

Mart Helme points out that, although an attack may come from the West, there is no clear plan, and there should be a focus on creating shelters and assembly points so that people can survive the crisis period without leaving their home area, rather than a mass evacuation abroad.

Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
15:25:37
AI Summary

Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that the network of evacuation sites will be built across Estonia depending on the crisis severity, so that, if necessary, it would be possible to accommodate and relocate people; that in the event of a military crisis, people must be moved from the center of combat operations, and a third of the crisis area must be evacuated; the Rescue Board is working with the Defence League and volunteers to prepare for extensive evacuations; stocks have been purchased and are being distributed between the state and municipalities; and more funds must be allocated to rural municipalities to maintain evacuation sites, underscoring the importance of regional policy.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:28:41
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and asks Helle-Moonika Helmele to present an additional question.

Helle-Moonika Helme
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
15:28:42
AI Summary

Helle-Moonika Helme pointed out that during a panic mass evacuation can become irrational and dangerous chaos can ensue, and she asked how the property of evacuees is protected, how order is maintained and civil peace is ensured, and which unit is available for this.

Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
15:30:08
AI Summary

In Estonia, evacuation organization has been proactively planned and rehearsed, because for this purpose the police, the Defence Forces, the Rescue Board, and local authorities coordinate their cooperation with the Baltic states, and a 1,000-person evacuation drill demonstrated their ability to ensure the safe movement and accommodation of people.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:33:08
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and announces that the handling of the seventh question has been completed.