Draft law amending the Hunting Act (567 SE) – First Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-26 16:06
Total Speeches: 78
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 56m
AI Summaries: 78/78 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item concerned the first reading of draft law no. 567 amending the Hunting Act. The draft was submitted by Rain Epler, Arvo Aller, Mart Helme, Varro Vooglaiu, and Rene Kok, and the presentation was delivered from the Riigikogu rostrum by Riigikogu member Rene Kok. The purpose of the draft is to expand the right to regulate the killing of nuisance animals and game if they damage property or threaten the life and health of a person and their close ones, and this could involve situations where a hunting license is not held, but a hunting certificate is. The planned amendment provides that a person holding a hunting certificate may shoot nuisance animals and game that damage property or directly threaten the life and health of the person and their close ones, even without a hunting license. This raises significant discussion about property settlement, transitions, and security issues, and also addresses damage prevention and animal welfare concerns.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 567 is rejected on the first reading. 34 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 15 voted against, and there were 0 abstentions. The bill is dropped from the process.
Most Active Speaker
Rene Kokk has been the most active spokesperson in this discussion (a member of the EKRE faction in the Riigikogu). His actions are situated within the right-wing political spectrum; he represented the initial introduction of the bill and answered questions from several inquirers.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu will consider the draft law amending the Hunting Act, bill 567, at its first reading, and, as the presenter, Rene Koka, one of the bill's initiators, will speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk introduces the draft Hunting Act, the aim of which is to grant a person who holds a hunting certificate the right to shoot, without a hunting license, a nuisance animal and wildlife that damages a person's property or threatens his life and health, and in this way to protect farmers, livestock breeders and machinists, reduce damages and ensure control of the large carnivore population.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked and informed that there are some questions, and invited Mart Helmet to answer.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks how many predatory animals we actually have in Estonia, and whether their numbers are in the hundreds or thousands.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that in Estonia such wolves are considered nuisance animals, whose number may be 39–40 (the optimum is about 25 packs), and population size is monitored based on the Environmental Agency's and hunters' feedback and tracks; bears are a bigger problem near households, and their occurrence is blamed on people feeding bear cubs with human food, and he recalled that in 2019–2020 more hunting should have been allowed, because without increasing permits the number of wolves grows year after year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is merely a short prayer to Toomas Uibo.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo confirmed that the issue is important, highlighted the damages suffered, especially by livestock farmers, noted that if the animal's carcass is not found, the damages are not compensated, and asked whether the bill deals with that, adding that he would make a small comparison with Isamaa's bill and wants to know how EKRE's bill is better than Isamaa's.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk says that the bill does not concern reimbursement of costs to entrepreneurs or farmers whose animals have been killed, but gives rural entrepreneurs and hunters the right, in a situation where their property has been damaged, to discharge a deterrent device, and regards it as a completely reasonable proposal.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Mait Klaassen to speak.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen notes that there are several nuisance animals, and in addition to bears and wolves, a lynx or a moose can also damage property, and he asks whether all of these animals may be shot or whether only bears and wolves are being targeted.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that although farmers know that bears and deer have occasionally caused damage, the main reason for the draft law is the increasing behavior of wolves, which concerns people's sense of justice and safety, and the discussion will focus on the possibilities of regulating other animals as well, and if the draft proceeds, all proposals are expected during the procedural process.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chair asks Urmas Kruuse to take the floor.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse asks for an assessment of whether hunting that has been halted by court over several years has given the problem a chance to grow, and whether, if everything had followed the classic path, the number of nuisance organisms or their cases would have been smaller, and he notes that for some companies the examples were very drastic and the economic damage was large.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus emphasized the historical connection between hunting and humanity and presented a statistical overview addressing the question: how many hunting licenses are issued for wolf and bear hunting, and whether this number falls below ten or above ten.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, turned to Urve Tiiduse with a request.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that although last year the Environmental Board issued about 90 licenses and there is talk of hundreds, they have not been issued much over the years and the number of licenses has remained almost the same, which causes the wolf population to grow and threatens the populations of roe deer and moose, illustrating the delicate balance of nature.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme raised the issue that deer and goats and migratory birds cause agricultural damage, and that wolves and bears do not recognize national borders, and asked what our neighboring countries’ hunting laws are—whether they are stricter or not—and emphasized that it is politicians’ job to run the country in such a way that the damage is minimized.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that there are different approaches to wolves in Europe, but in Estonia it is important to have a border with Russia, which allows the bear and wolf populations to move, and if the wolves cause damage, a balanced solution must be found so that it is possible to engage in entrepreneurship in Estonia and for residents to live safely.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Andrus Seeme to come and speak.
Andrus Seeme
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presenter asks about a bill according to which every hunting license holder should receive a warning notice, and would like to know how many people in Estonia hold hunting licenses and how oversight and safety are ensured.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasizes that the legal change will not lead to a mass slaughter of wolves: hunters are licensed and hunting certificates are up to date, and they deal with nuisance animals, so we should not worry that wolves will suddenly be shot.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asked whether the proposed amendment, which would allow punitive measures and the death of wildlife only in cases of property damage or health hazards, would also cover spring migratory bird damage, which eats sown seed and for which compensation is usually incomplete.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Kalle Grünthali to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk stated that the aim of the draft bill is not to regulate the migration of migratory birds or their deterrence or intimidation measures, but to focus on solving problems related to livestock farming, such as sheep thefts and the removal of dogs from their chains.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a short note of thanks and a prayer to Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that the Estonian wolf population is considerably larger and, in terms of territory, ahead of Finland and Sweden, and rhetorically asks why Estonia is like a wolf reserve where they are pampered, if there are no signs of extinction.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk notes that maintaining the balance of nature is difficult, and although the lynx has recently been seen again near houses, the wolf population is too large and must be reduced to ensure there is enough game for hunting.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy speaker, Toomas Kivimägi, urged Toomas Uibo to pose the second question.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
He noted that although he is willing to trust people more and not prescribe everything in advance, he did not find in the explanatory memorandum an exact answer as to how the right to kill a wolf arises, whether there must be economic damage or whether it is enough to see a wolf near his home region, and how it is regulated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi apologized for waving to Martin Helme, and invited Helle-Moonika Helme to present her question.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme claims that wolves are not merely evil hunters: when their natural food base is exhausted, large packs of wolves move closer to people and search for food near sheep, dogs, and cats.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, thanks the audience.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They pose a rhetorical question about how one could actually be with it.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that the balance of nature occasionally goes off track, and the number of bears and wolves exceeds what the forests can sustain, which affects populations of other species, and although the 2024 figure regarded as optimal was 25 litters, the estimate is about 39, and due to food needs predators are seeking easier prey and are even taking dogs from households that keep them chained.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks Martin Helme to step forward.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Actually, this is a simple little law, but it opens up a whole world all at once.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They ask about beekeeping and mention that bears raid beehives and eat them out, and ask how big a problem bears are for beekeeping in Estonia.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk notes that the number of bears has increased in recent years, and that bears raid beehives; in 2024, 100 bears were shot in Estonia, and it is necessary to keep the bear population under control so that it is possible to move around in Estonia boldly and to pursue entrepreneurship.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the beginning of the speech, Evelin Poolamets is invited to perform.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks whether an amendment to the law will help farmers and producers to better address problematic wolf packs, given that in the last hunting season 15 licences remained unused, and she requests a comment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Henn Põlluaas to take the floor.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In my view this is a very sensible draft bill, but Henn Põlluaas wants to focus on cormorants, because they eat considerably more fish than coastal fishermen can catch, and fish scientists warn that if the population of cormorants is not restricted, several fish species may disappear altogether, and he wants the restriction of their numbers to be enshrined in law.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that although cormorants are in no way connected with this bill, the framing of the problem is very accurate, and the damage they cause to fishing is substantial, because one cormorant can eat about 400 grams of fish per day, and therefore the issue must be addressed further in Parliament and concrete steps must be taken.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The presenter notes that although animals can be cute, they can cause damage, and asks whether the squirrel population is under control and whether they also do harm in our country.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks and announces that there are no more questions, and the joint presentation is made by Tiit Maran, a member of the Environment Committee, as representative of the leading committee, adding that nuhtlusisendid are probably not all wolves, and that this term applies only in the animal kingdom, not more broadly.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They provide an overview of one topic discussed at the Environment Committee's meeting held on February 10, which concerned the amendment bill to the Hunting Act No. 573.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Unfortunately, the text of the given speech is missing, so we cannot provide a summary of it.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In Tiit Maran's overview, draft bill 553 was discussed, which concerns the prevention of damage caused by wildlife and, as a measure in cases of wildlife attacks, the killing of animals. However, questions arose regarding the definitions of the terms (nuhtlusisend, uluk) and the implementation of preventive measures, and there were differing views on the role of trust, but ultimately it was decided to bring the draft to the plenary agenda on February 25, and Tiit Maran was appointed as the chair of the lead committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They thank the audience, note that you have at least one question, and invite Kert Kingo to perform.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo criticizes the coalition's decisions that leave people facing wolf attacks in fear and deprive them of the possibility to seek help, and asks whether such a situation isn't really a problem.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran said that he understands the concern well, but his answers are limited to the commission's deliberations, and he cannot answer further in this context.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Riina Solman to speak.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asked whether the draft bill on killer dogs and on protecting people from predators, prepared by the party's associate Raimond Kaljulaiu, is distinctive, or remains the same as what Kert Kingo has said.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran said that the importance of the topic was reflected in the committee and it should be discussed further in the Large Carnivores Cooperation Council, and no one has said that on-site regulation of nuisance species is unimportant, and the ministry has not treated the topic dismissively.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks Kert Kingol to present the second question.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses representatives of the climate ministry of finding reasons not to provide aid and calls the claim that such aid could provoke anger toward wildlife ridiculous, and asks whether they really do not see the need to give people the opportunity to protect their property and animals.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran says that the listener has misunderstood, and the real position is to find options, but killing must be the last resort among those options.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Kalle Grünthali to speak next.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal stated that for a good idea, which may contain legal deficiencies, one should not kill it off, but polish it and make it viable, so that it does not disappear, and he asked the commission whether such a way of thinking existed and what his personal opinion was.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He said that he speaks only about what is being dealt with in the committee, and after the cafe one may share personal opinions; the idea is not dead and it will reach the Large Carnivores Working Group for discussion, from which a solution will come.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Evelin Poolametsa onto the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asked whether shooting the wolves' alpha male is justified or whether it would cause problems in agriculture.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks the question and emphasizes that he will stay in his role and provide an overview of what happened in the committee, and promises to discuss these topics separately later.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman stressed the importance of wolves as a topic of predatory animals, gave an example of a child she met on the way to school, and emphasized the need to ensure safety for people and domestic animals, and asked how long the draft bill would move forward and when it would provide people with a sense of security.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Riina Solmani onto the stage.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran thanks for the question and says that he is not capable of that, because granting time allowances is not part of his position; as far as he knows, the Cooperation Council for Large Carnivores is supposed to meet before the summer, and he hopes that it really happens, but it was not discussed in the commission and he cannot explain it any further.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks, informs that there are no questions, and opens negotiations on behalf of the EKRE faction in Mart Helme's name.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helmecriticizes the coalition's rejection of a bill that would have compensated for and prevented damages caused by predators in agriculture, and, based on his personal experience, emphasizes that such an attitude threatens rural life and the country's sustainability.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you all; I will close the negotiations, there are no further requests to speak, and the leading committee's proposal is to reject Bill 567 at its first reading, after which we will begin preparing for the vote on this proposal.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller urged members of the Riigikogu to vote in favour of the proposal by which Bill 567 will be rejected at its first reading.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu supported the proposal by 34–15, with 0 abstentions, but Bill 567 has been rejected and is no longer under consideration.