Inquiry regarding the third year of record-low birth rates in Estonia (no. 703)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-03-17 17:18
Total Speeches: 74
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 15m
AI Summaries: 74/74 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first agenda item reflected a declining birth rate for three consecutive years and the ensuing inquiries presented by Riina Solman, Priit Sibul, Aivar Koka, and Urmas Reinsalu. The questions concerned the nature of the birth crisis, its impact on the nation’s future population, and the tools available to the government and demographic policy to address it. Information regarding the number of births in 2024 (9646) and the development of population trends were also under scrutiny, along with questions regarding whether and when the situation should be declared a crisis and what measures have been changed or reduced in recent years. The discussion highlighted the need for a consistent, cohesive, and sustainable demographic policy, with attention to the connection between the cost of living and the ability of families to cope. The second part of the agenda covered the government’s response: plans for addressing the demographic challenge, the drafting of a health analysis, and improvements in the availability of funding and services, including the adoption of the pre-school education law and related support mechanisms. Finally, the discussions summarized the need for coordinated management and clear, carefully considered decisions, bringing out diverse viewpoints and expectations from the coalition and recommendations from researchers.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu passed the Basic Education Act on December 11, 2024, which improves the accessibility and quality of basic education and establishes places for children aged 1.5–3 years in parental care facilities and places for children aged 3–7 in kindergartens through local governments, and allows for income tax refunds to cover expenses related to childcare. In addition, approximately 10 million euros will be allocated through state support funds to parental education and the implementation of child welfare and rights policies. This is an important step in increasing family-friendliness and the accessibility of pre-school services, factors that are often highlighted in the context of demographic challenges.
Most Active Speaker
Riina Solman, a member of the Riigikogu, position: other. She spoke at the beginning of the agenda and several times later during questions and discussion of agenda items, focusing on the declining trend in birth rates, funding, and the well-being of families. In this context, she has significant initiative and focus regarding the outcomes of discussions and future measures concerning birth rates and the ability of families to cope.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The first item on today's agenda is a parliamentary inquiry submitted on January 16 by Riina Solman, Priit Sibul, Aivar Kokk and Urmas Reinsalu regarding the third year of record-low birth rates in Estonia, which is presented by colleague Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman highlighted in her speech the sharp decline in Estonia's birth rate and the impact of the third-child benefit, and asked the prime minister whether the situation is a birth-rate crisis, what plans exist to halt it, and which supports and measures to protect family incomes he intends to restore or improve.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker asked Prime Minister Kristen Michal to answer an interpellation at the Riigikogu's dais.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
In short, Prime Minister Kristen Michal addresses the serious problem of Estonia's gradual decline in birth rate and points to a solution package based on the work of the Health Analysis and Population Policy Commission, which includes nearly one billion euros to support families and children, the abolition of the income tax shield from January 2026, and consideration of indexing parental allowances and child benefits, the adoption of the Preschool Education Act, and the promotion of parental education and children's well-being.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanks the prime minister and informs that he has several questions, the first of which is asked by his colleague Tanel Kiik.
Tanel Kiik
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Tanel Kiik expresses concern about inaction in the face of a demographic crisis and asks whether the new government will change anything or if the inaction will continue.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the demographic crisis is a large-scale problem that a small country must solve in order to ensure economic growth and the security of families, and although there is no single miracle cure, the government is open to experts' recommendations and will take the necessary steps based on the analysis and expert recommendations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to come on stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev asks whether the new coalition's plan to raise the immigration cap to around 2,600–3,500 people (including families around 8,500–9,000 people) is the solution to Estonia's demographic problem, because the opposition has not received concrete answers for two years.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that in Estonia it is necessary, based on the OSKA report, to introduce a workforce with the necessary qualifications – for instance food technologists – in order to increase added value, accelerate economic growth and thereby improve family policy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The focus of the speech was inviting Raimond Kaljulaid.
Raimond Kaljulaid
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Raimond Kaljulaid said that the current security situation affects families' sense of security and that the Defence Ministry scandal did not increase trust, and asks whether the new government is considering bringing in an external expert to head the Defence Ministry or leaving Hanno Pevkur in charge.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that, although for the third year in a row the issue of record-low birth rates is under political pressure, and the scandal related to the defence minister candidate makes politics visible, the government plans to increase defence investments to up to 5% of GDP, and the defence minister's task is to show how this objective will be fulfilled in the most prudent and quickest way, so that people have a sense of security and the birth-rate issue remains at the center.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and returns to the topic of the inquiry and asks Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
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Vooglaid emphasized that national policy should value motherhood to promote childbirth, and cited Hungary as an example of tax incentives that vary by the number of children, asking whether Estonia could consider a similar approach or not.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
He noted that direct funding is better for solving money problems than granting a tax relief in the social sector as well, and he promised to study Hungarian examples, although Hungary has not been a model for Estonia in recent years, and he understood the EKRE vibe and is weighing the solutions offered there.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman thanks and asks Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov criticizes that the government is only dealing with the creation of commissions, discussing them, and holding meetings, and asks when all this will finally yield results and when can Estonian families peacefully begin to have children.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirms that Estonia will do everything so that, because of Putin's bloody war in Ukraine, the war ends on Ukraine's terms and a sense of security takes hold here; at the same time, the new government promises more decisive steps in the name of economic stability and simplifications related to parental benefits, and emphasizes that people stand together and parliamentary work is equally important.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, invited Anti Poolametsa to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets notes that money cannot stimulate people to have children, emphasizes the importance of shaping positive attitudes, and the avoidance of insulting and blunt statements, and asks whether such attitudes would actually help increase birth rates.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister stressed that the accessibility of services and families' sense of security, as well as housing-related stability, create a sense of security, and although war and various trends taking place in the world negatively affect this, the state and the people must swim against the current.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas expressed deep concern about the demographic crisis and the decline in birth rates, and accused the government and the coalition of not explaining what is being done to solve the crisis; not a word was spoken on this topic. The coalition has cut family and child benefits, parental benefit, and subsidies for hobby circles, delayed the creation of a demographic crisis commission, and has neglected campaigns promoting family values in comparison with LGBT campaigns.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks that Henn Põlluaas come to speak.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that Estonia will carry out a tax system reform, during which the corporate profit tax and personal income tax will be lowered, and taxes will remain at 24 percent, in order to give families a sense of security, as the state will allocate nearly 2.2% of GDP to families for child- and parental benefits and health insurance.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair invites Riina Solman to take the floor.
Riina Solman
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Riina Solman notes that low birth rates are a worldwide problem that must not be ignored, recalls the impact of support for large families in 2017, and asks whether the government should create a minister responsible for population issues or a coordinator focusing on population issues.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
There is already a broad-based population policy commission in the government, chaired by the Minister of Social Protection and consisting of university researchers, cabinet ministers, heads of ministry-sector divisions, and experts; if the commission does not work fast enough, its work should be reviewed and one should ask why they are not taking more action.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson appeals to Mart Helme with a request.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raises concern about the sharp decline in Estonia's birth rate and asks whether in 10–20 years there will be a Russian-speaking population in Estonia and whether the government is addressing the demographic future or whether it wishes Estonia to be a Russian-speaking country populated by Russians.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
They began by saying that there is no concrete answer to the question, and the answer is simply 'no'.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests the presence of Züleyxa Izmailova.
Züleyxa Izmailova
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Züleyxa Izmailova highlights the deepening of security concerns and the climate crisis, and asks how the new government's plan to increase the use of natural resources and ease environmental protection restrictions would help reverse climate change, ease young people's climate anxiety, and encourage young people to start a family.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
When things are clear and simple, and the rules are understandable, and everyone knows what to do and how they work, it is not in conflict with conservation and will probably reduce anxiety.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Kert Kingo to come onto the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses the government of not helping families or promoting the birth of children, but instead imposing and increasing taxes and prices (car tax, the land tax on the land beneath the house, the abolition of the child income tax allowance, VAT increases, rising energy prices and prices of goods, and the reduction of funding for hobby education), while directing large sums to wind energy (2.6 billion), and asks why Estonian families are so hated.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that economic growth is an objective indicator and that the state will give it momentum, will lower taxes for both businesses and individuals, will abolish income tax from the first euro, and will raise the tax-free minimum so that families and people would feel greater financial security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Siim Pohlak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks whether the Estonian government is studying Hungary's success story in increasing birth rates and intends to take something from there as a model.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister said that the government as a whole has not studied this, but the Ministry of Social Affairs will familiarize itself with various examples and will certainly pass on the information provided by Varro Vooglaid.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Arvo Alleri onto the stage.
Arvo Aller
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Arvo Aller emphasizes the decline in birth rates, highlights Hungary as an example, and asks what government measures are planned to increase the willingness of young people and their families to have children.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the new government is working on two parts of the coalition agreement: in the short term, the focus will be on ensuring national defense and economic security, and alongside long-term policy plans there is a need to respond to the threat from Russia by increasing defense spending; economic security depends on companies' investments and on raising the tax-free minimum and on tax incentives, and services must be reviewed and proposals given to experts.
Tõnis Lukas
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Tõnis Lukas said that the state's core task is the preservation of Estonian identity, language, and culture, and to address the demographic crisis, and that the economy and security are not guaranteed without people, pointing to the 2023 cuts to extracurricular education for large families, and emphasizing that priorities must not decrease, and if cuts are made, their impact must be minimal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks that Tõnis Lukas come to perform.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the cuts should be made as sparingly as possible so that people in vulnerable situations would not be unduly affected, and first of all the issues related to controls, standards, forms, and duplicate data would be reviewed, which will bring benefits and relieve citizens of excessive bureaucratic burdens; the cuts will be made in every government department as economically as possible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks Rene Kokil to come forward to perform.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that the confidence to have children begins, but the state is attacking the population with tax policy, and local governments remain without funding, and the growth in responsibilities is not compensated, therefore he asked what plans the government has to increase funding for local governments.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The prime minister noted that local governments were not facing the same cuts as state offices and institutions, and more detailed policy documents will come in May, the budget forecast will be released in April, the budget will be put together in the summer, and by autumn it will be ready to determine who will be able to work with which budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Kalle Grünthal.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal pointed out that Estonia's depopulation problem is very acute, referred to scientists' proposal to form a population-replenishment task force under the Government Office, and asked whether you would support its creation.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that Parliament is the highest decision-making body and may discuss, find solutions, and meet with stakeholder groups and scientists.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Jaak Aab to come.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab emphasized that, to reduce the uncertainty created by the current geopolitical situation, there is a need for clear and understandable messages about national defense investments, so that the public can know how much money has been spent, what capabilities have been developed, and what plans lie ahead.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanks and notes that the topic is now somewhat different, and asks the Prime Minister to respond if he wishes.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister confirmed that he will respond to Jaak Aab and give a yes answer to the question, and stressed that the messages must be clear.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Jüri Jaanson.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson asked whether the government has some kind of magic wand to solve the long-term demographic problem, and whether the comprehensive analysis prepared by the working group led by the Minister of Social Protection contains solutions on how the state could motivate families to have children.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the Ministry of Social Affairs is preparing a holistic analysis and, as a result, policy recommendations, which, in the view of experts, could increase the number of births, and this analysis is expected to reach the government in June, but does not rule out other actions to strengthen families' sense of security and it creates opportunities for the Estonian people to be larger in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and announced that there were no more questions, and opened negotiations, and first invited Riina Solman, the colleague of the representative of the inquirers, to the Riigikogu's Speaker's chair.
Riina Solman
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Riina Solman thanks the esteemed Speaker of the Riigikogu and the Prime Minister, addresses the chamber and, through media channels, the audience, noting that there is a lot of material and the time is too short, and immediately asks for three more minutes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks for three minutes of extra time.
Riina Solman
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Riina Solman states that the birth-rate crisis is serious and that the state must focus specifically on supporting families who want to have children, using a previously developed long-term vision and concrete measures, not broad-based rhetoric and cuts to family benefits, in order to ensure the sustainability of the nation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the audience and then invited his colleague Tanel Kiike to speak next.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik emphasizes the seriousness of the population crisis (births below 10,000) and criticizes the government for inaction on this issue, calling for the implementation of a cross-party family policy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the audience and invited the next speaker, his colleague Vadim Belobrovtsev, to the podium.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the demographic situation is deteriorating and the birth rate is falling, because the government is cutting family benefits and raising taxes, and holds the Reform Party and the coalition responsible for this, calling for solutions and asking for more time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, requests three more minutes.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev asserts that three very specific factors influence a family's decision to have a child — economic security, a sense of security, and belief in state aid — and in Estonia these factors are not functioning at the moment, therefore families are facing difficulties, and the state and the government are seen as untrustworthy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and gave the floor to colleague Evelin Poolamets at the Riigikogu's speaker's chair.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Estonia's constitutional duty to preserve its people requires central guidance in population policy and concrete measures of family councils, including restoring the post leading population policy or establishing the Prime Minister's Population Office, and elevating the population crisis to a government priority, because without practical plans and resolute leadership the future of the Estonian people is at risk.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked, announced that there were no requests to speak, and invited the Prime Minister to take the floor from the Riigikogu’s speaking chair.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that population trends are large worldwide and Estonia is no exception, praised parental benefit as one of the best decisions, called for proposals and affirmed the government's openness, while awaiting expert recommendations, and explained that for the future coalition agreement there are two parts — urgent issues of defense, economy, bureaucracy and taxes, and a thorough family policy section, the document for which will be completed by May in cooperation with experts and specialists.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks everyone, closes the negotiations and ends today's first item on the agenda.