State governance choices

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, press briefing

Date: 2025-09-10 15:31

Participating Politicians:

Total Speeches: 22

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 13m

AI Summaries: 22/22 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

Member of Parliament Urmas Reinsalu submitted an inquiry to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the state's governance choices, focusing primarily on the development of anti-drone capabilities and the division of competencies. Reinsalu highlighted concerns regarding the difference in areas of responsibility between the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Defense Forces depending on the drone's altitude, asked about the protocol for the use of weapons when neutralizing attack drones, and inquired about the schedule for the acquisition and implementation of the acoustic surveillance system.

Prime Minister Michal confirmed that cooperation between the PPA and the Defense Forces in countering unmanned aerial vehicles is functioning, and responsibility is divided: the Defense Forces are responsible for nationwide air surveillance, and the PPA for surveillance of the land border and border water bodies. In the event of a military attack, the Defense Forces will implement active measures. Acoustic devices and additional radars are among the priorities for the Defense Forces' capability development, and increasing defense investments to 5% should ensure the necessary funding. Responding to Reinsalu's clarifying questions, the Prime Minister referred to the Minister of the Interior's activities concerning the development of the threat notification system, noting that tests have indicated the need to modify the system. At the end of the session, Peeter Ernits posed an additional question regarding Estonia's high inflation and youth unemployment. The Prime Minister explained that inflation is caused by tax increases as well as global commodity prices and wage growth, and emphasized the importance of raising the income tax-free minimum to improve people's livelihoods.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

No decisions were made

Most Active Speaker
Urmas Reinsalu
Urmas Reinsalu

Isamaa fraktsioon

Urmas Reinsalu was the most active speaker, repeatedly posing detailed and technical questions regarding counter-drone measures, weapon usage protocols, and surveillance systems in his capacity as the initiator of the topic. His political position is right-wing.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:31:34
AI Summary

Riigikogu member Urmas Reinsalu is submitting the third question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of the country's governance choices.

15:31:41
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu is urging the government to make swift and critically important decisions regarding counter-drone defense. These decisions include establishing a clear division of authority between the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Defense Forces, implementing a weapons usage protocol, and deciding on the procurement of an acoustic surveillance system. He made this appeal by referencing the news of Russian drones being shot down in Poland and an earlier drone incident that occurred in Estonia.

15:31:41
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu commends the government for its difficult security and economic decisions. In light of recent drone incidents, he raises three important questions concerning the improvement of anti-drone capabilities: First, has there been a discussion regarding changes to the clarity of responsibility areas and the division of competence between the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Ministry of Defense? Second, what is the current protocol for the use of weapons for the automatic destruction of attack drones within Estonian territory, and who makes the decision to implement it? And third, has the government made a decision regarding the acquisition of an acoustic surveillance system capable of detecting low-flying drones?

15:31:41
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu emphasizes the seriousness of the security situation, referring to recent drone incidents in Poland and Estonia, and presents the government with three specific questions regarding the improvement of Estonia's anti-drone capabilities: has the confusing division of responsibility for anti-drone defense between the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) and the Ministry of Defence been discussed and decided upon changing, what is the current weapons protocol for the automatic destruction of attack drones over Estonian territory, and has a decision been made regarding the timeline for the acquisition and implementation of an acoustic surveillance system capable of detecting low-flying drones.

15:31:41
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu emphasized the seriousness of the security situation, citing the Polish drone incident, and presented the government with three critical questions concerning the improvement of anti-drone capabilities: clarifying the division of responsibilities between the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) and the Defence Forces, establishing a weapons protocol for destroying attack drones, and acquiring an acoustic surveillance system for detecting low-flying drones.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:33:56
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar says, "Your time!", offers his thanks, and addresses the Prime Minister with a request.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:33:57
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the defense of Estonian airspace is shared between the Defence Forces and the Police and Border Guard Board, that it is necessary to strengthen the exchange of airspace surveillance information and rapid response to threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, and to increase defense investments to 5%. In peacetime, the border guard and the PPA are responsible, while in the event of a military threat, the Defence Forces respond, and NATO is involved if necessary. The Internal Security Service, the Rescue Board, the PPA, and the Emergency Response Centre participate at the scene.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:33:57
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal provided an update on Estonia's counter-UAV capabilities, stressing that while achieving total protection remains impossible, Estonia's capacity is expanding. This growth relies on the shared responsibility and close cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the Defense Forces in the exchange of air surveillance data. Specifically, the PPA is responsible for border regions during peacetime, while the Defense Forces handle general airspace defense and military threats. He further confirmed that the rising level of defense investments will allow the capability to be enhanced more robustly than previously.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:33:57
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal provided a comprehensive overview of Estonia's counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) capability, which relies on the shared responsibility and close cooperation between the Defense Forces and the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA). The Defense Forces are responsible for protecting the nation's airspace and addressing military threats, while the PPA handles border area surveillance and peacetime countermeasures. He emphasized that although achieving complete defense is not possible, the capability is growing robustly thanks to the planned increase in the level of defense investments to 5%.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:36:55
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Urmas Reinsalu to ask a clarifying question.

15:36:58
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu posed questions regarding the timeline for acquiring the acoustic surveillance system and achieving its full functionality, the authority of various agencies concerning the right to use weapons, the existence of an automatic right to use weapons or another protocol in the event of a drone attack, and the pace and current state of readiness for the widespread deployment of the threat notification system and Estonian sirens.

15:36:58
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu is addressing the Prime Minister regarding three critical security issues, demanding clarification on why the procurement of the acoustic surveillance system has been delayed and when it will achieve full functionality. Furthermore, he seeks specification on the right of various institutions (such as the Rescue Board) to use weapons for neutralizing attack drones within Estonian territory, and what the current status of the public threat notification system is and when it will be fully operational.

15:36:58
AI Summary

Urmas Reinsalu is addressing the Prime Minister regarding three specific security issues, demanding clarification on the delay in procuring the acoustic surveillance system and the schedule for achieving its full operational capability; specifying which institutions have the right to use weapons when neutralizing attack drones over Estonian territory; and inquiring about the current status and full implementation timeline of the threat notification system aimed at the civilian population.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:38:53
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal addressed several serious issues, confirming that the Minister of the Interior is actively working to enhance the threat notification system based on testing results. Furthermore, he stated that the procurement of Defense Forces equipment, including acoustic radars, is a priority that should not be hindered by funding constraints, especially given the 5% level of defense investments. He emphasized that the widespread rearmament across Europe is driving procurement needs, which is why the government is also seeking EU funding to establish air defense capabilities for the Baltic states. He concluded that the implementation of active measures in the event of an attack by unmanned vehicles falls under the responsibility of the Defense Forces.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:38:53
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that various solutions have been tested for the threat notification system, and adjustments will be made if necessary, while simultaneously prioritizing the increase of defense investments. Furthermore, with the support of European funding, air defense and drone detection capabilities are being developed for the Baltic and eastern regions; the first procurements are already underway, and the task of the Defense Forces is to implement active measures in the event of an attack by unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:41:30
AI Summary

Chairman Lauri Hussar expressed his thanks and announced that Peeter Ernits would ask the follow-up question.

Peeter Ernits
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:41:37
AI Summary

Peeter Ernits criticizes the Prime Minister, arguing that during her tenure, Estonia has consistently led the way in negative indicators—especially Europe’s record-high inflation and youth unemployment—and asks directly whether the government is incapable of managing the situation, comparing Estonia to more successful neighbors like Finland and Latvia.

Peeter Ernits
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:41:37
AI Summary

Peeter Ernits is accusing the Estonian government of high inflation and youth unemployment, and he questions why neighboring countries like Finland and Latvia, as well as other states bordering Russia, are able to handle the situation differently.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:42:21
AI Summary

The speaker addresses Mr. Prime Minister with a request.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:42:28
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that inflation in Estonia is high, with the majority of it stemming from rising global commodity prices and wage growth. To alleviate the situation, taxes need to be lowered and the income tax-free minimum must be increased starting January 1, 2026, a measure which will put approximately 1,500 euros more into people’s hands annually. He added that national defense is the primary priority.

Peaminister Kristen Michal
15:42:28
AI Summary

Prime Minister Kristen Michal analyzed the reasons behind Estonia's high inflation, citing tax increases, wage growth, and global market prices, though he forecast that price hikes would eventually ease. He stressed that tackling the situation absolutely requires increasing societal wealth by lowering income tax and raising the tax-free minimum, which will put an extra 1,500 euros per year into the hands of the average wage earner, while simultaneously maintaining the utmost priority on ensuring national defense.

Esimees Lauri Hussar
15:44:49
AI Summary

He thanks everyone and announces that he is concluding the consideration of today's third question.