Market economy in Estonia
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2025-03-19 14:54
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
In the Riigikogu session, the responses of Minister of Economic and Industrial Affairs Erkki Keldo to questions from Riigikogu members regarding the functioning of a market economy in Estonia were discussed. Aleksandr Tšaplõgin initiated the discussion with the question of whether Estonia operates under a market economy or a planned economy, citing the taxation of oil shale energy and the subsidization of green energy, which, in his view, creates unequal competition. Minister Keldo affirmed that Estonia has a market economy, explaining that carbon emission allowances and subsidies are part of a Europe-wide system aimed at ensuring a clean environment and a stable, diversified energy mix (wind, sun, storage) in the future.
The discussion intensified when Tšaplõgin and then Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart focused on alleged corruption and unfair competition related to politicians from the coalition partner, Eesti 200. The case involving companies associated with Tarmo Tamm, which received positive subsidy decisions from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) within a short period, was particularly highlighted. Kovalenko-Kõlvart directly asked if such actions resemble the practices of developing countries, where successful business depends on political connections, and also referred to the torpedoing of the platform work directive in favor of Bolt. Minister Keldo dismissed the corruption accusations, emphasizing that Estonia is a rule of law state and that suspicions should be reported to the relevant authorities. He defended the JTF subsidies, noting that they are essential for diversifying the economy of Ida-Virumaa and that companies applying for support must contribute over 50% of the project's total cost and meet public assessment criteria.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, who posed several sharp follow-up questions to the minister, focusing on alleged corruption and unfair competition related to the politicians of the party Eesti 200 and the Just Transition Fund's grants. Her position was oppositional (other).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, opens the fifth question, which is submitted by Riigikogu member Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keld, and its topic is Estonia's market economy.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin asked whether Estonia has a market economy or socialism with a planned economy, pointing to the taxation of shale energy production and the subsidization of green energy, and asking to state outright the principles of how the economy operates.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
In Estonia, activity is based on a market economy, and investments in new energy-generation capacities (wind, solar, storage and dispatchable capacities such as gas-fired power plants), together with government support, ensure a clean, stable and affordable energy for the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and gave Aleksandr Tšaplõgin the opportunity to pose a clarifying question.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They criticize the illogical nature of wind energy and the use of coalition partners' political positions for the benefit of related companies, and they ask whether there has been fair competition in Estonia or whether this resembles a corrupt system in which success depends on political acquaintances, as in less-developed African countries.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that Estonia's energy system must be diverse, and that additional wind farms with storage will increase security of supply, referring to the recently built onshore battery park, which allows cheap wind energy to be stored for a short time and, in the future, for a longer period, and he stated that if illegal activity is seen, Estonia is a country under the rule of law and the authorities monitor and respond, not ministers or the Parliament.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister and announces that the supplementary question will be posed by colleague Anastasia Kovalenko-Kolvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker accuses the minister and the government that subsidies from the Just Transition Fund are being distributed apparently for the benefit of companies connected to their interests, referring to the Greenful case and the filing of requests for inside information, asking whether anyone can represent a company without the knowledge of that company's board, and pointing to schemes related to the interests of Eesti 200 and Bolt, emphasizing that fair competition in the market is possible only if political interests do not steer the funding.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Economy and Industry Minister Erkki Keldo emphasized that the aim of the Fair Transition Fund, created to diversify the Ida-Viru County's economy, is to reduce bureaucracy and rely on entrepreneurs, and that each project is assessed separately and the support must cover more than half of the costs, with the requirement to create new jobs.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, finishes the consideration of today's fifth question.