Security situation
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, Fourth session, press briefing.
Date: 2024-12-11 15:52
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 5
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 4m
AI Summaries: 5/5 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
During an information session, Member of the Riigikogu Varro Vooglaid (pid: dSDfxfKs4Jw) raised a question concerning the security situation to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets, who was performing the duties of the Prime Minister. The question centered on Riigikogu decision 479, which delegated the authority to the Republic of Estonia's Government to decide on the dispatch of up to 100 members of the Defence Forces to military missions abroad (under the auspices of NATO, the EU, or member states) without separate approval from the Riigikogu. Vooglaid expressed concern that this authorization could allow the government to make a decision regarding Estonia's participation in a military mission in Ukraine without the parliament’s consent, which he deemed unacceptable. He demanded confirmation on behalf of the government that separate and specific approval would always be sought from the Riigikogu for any deployment to Ukraine, rather than relying on decision 479.
Minister Lauri Läänemets explained that this is a long-standing practice regarding NATO, EU, and UN missions. He confirmed that no proposal has yet been made to the government regarding a military mission to Ukraine. Läänemets emphasized that this is too significant a decision for the government to make secretly, and such a matter should be discussed with parliament. Although he did not provide an absolute legal confirmation of restricting the future use of decision 479, he indicated a political need for parliamentary approval, especially if it involved combat operations. The information session concluded after the response was received.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid, who raised a detailed and critical question regarding the delegation of the Riigikogu’s authority and the possibility of a Ukrainian mission, was the initiator of the discussion and the main speaker.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker announced that we would immediately continue with questions, and the next question is addressed to Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets, in his capacity as prime minister, about the security situation, presented by Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid criticized Parliament Decision No. 479, by which the government was authorised to decide whether to deploy the Defence Forces on a foreign mission in 2025 with up to 100 servicemen, and asked whether, as the Prime Minister's representative, he could confirm that Estonia will not participate in a mission in Ukraine without a separate Riigikogu authorization, and that for this purpose a fast-track separate Riigikogu decision is being processed, rather than relying on this decision.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and addresses the minister with a request.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, said that Estonia has not yet proposed going to Ukraine on a military mission, and future decisions on this should be discussed publicly, with Parliament involved, rather than decided in secret.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked all colleagues and government members for their active participation, ended the information hour, and said that at two o'clock we would continue with the Riigikogu plenary session.