Draft law amending the Defence Service Act (563 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-03-19 18:36
Total Speeches: 69
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 48m
AI Summaries: 69/69 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed the draft law amending the Defence Service Act 563 SE in today's session during its first reading. The presenter of the draft, Member of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal, stated that compensation paid to reservists during training gatherings should be indexed annually according to changes in the cost of living, to ensure their financial stability and motivation to continue service. The proposed model is based on the current pay (37 euros per soldier, 40 euros per non-commissioned officer, 50 euros per officer) and a coefficient of 1.3, on the basis of which the impact of indexing will be calculated. The speaker emphasized that larger increases should not be made without weighing the sources of funding and the impact on the state budget, and highlighted the complex situation of reservists — paying bank and housing obligations and ensuring family well-being. The debate broadened to the question of the balance of state defence funding: how and whether to increase defence capability without meaning an inadequate burden on the state budget. Various members of the opposition and coalition spoke at the session, highlighting the impact of inflation, changes in labor costs, and the responses of government agencies to the draft. Finally, the governing committee decided to reject the draft in the first reading, citing both technical and political considerations, and the need to find a sustainable solution along with sources of funding and development plans.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 563 SE first reading postponed; proceedings lapsed. Vote result: 48 in favor, 11 against, 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active representative was Kalle Grünthal (the bill's initiator), whose speeches and responses were listened to and answered by several colleagues; his role is primarily that of the bill's initiator and the representative of the tone of the military's involvement. Position: other (defined as "other" or not directly left- or right-wing representative in the absence of a definitional description of a right- or right-wing party).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
As part of today's agenda item, the first reading of the draft amendment to the Defence Service Act, initiated by Kalle Grünthal, No. 563, took place.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasized that the compensation paid to reserve soldiers during training must be immediately indexed and increased, because the small allowance paid since 2018 does not reflect the cost of living. He submitted a bill under which the current daily rates of 37 euros (private), 40 euros (NCO) and 50 euros (officer) would be multiplied by a coefficient of 1.3, and the annual additional amount would be 233 euros, and he demanded funding immediately, accusing the government and Hanno Pevkur of delaying it, and he stated that defense capability depends on these men and their support.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and informs that there are questions for the presenter; the first question is asked by colleague Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov criticizes that the compensation for reservists has not changed for almost eight years and should have happened long ago, and asks why it needs to be pushed through in the Riigikogu when the same goal could have been achieved by a government decision.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal stated that the draft could already have been prepared by a decree of the Defence Minister, and the Riigikogu is currently doing the Defence Minister's unfinished work, referring to the 37-euro reserve pay and shaping a message to the government about what remains to be protected in Estonia.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that compensation for the pay an individual soldier would miss during service is elementary, and a fairer, limited compensation system must be created that would motivate and reduce the difficulties of leaving service.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Anti Poolametsa and asks him.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal claims that 37 euros per day after taxes do not cover a soldier's living costs, and the state must pay fair compensation for their service, because soldiers defend the Republic of Estonia, but the government shows indifference by distributing millions elsewhere, including to Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed about a technical problem that arose with the display board, said that the images are being restored and that the questions will be taken down and registered, and the next questioner will be Rene Kokk.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk pointed out that inflation and tax increases since 2018, along with the removal of tax relief on housing loans and for children, have made life more expensive and require swift action, referring to the Statistics Estonia consumer price calculator, where for example, for 50 euros the current cost is 74 euros, and he asked how the draft bill’s proceedings will proceed and what the prospects are for moving it forward.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal said that the draft's processing has been complex and there has been pressure and debate around it, emphasized the impact of inflation and the complexity of the pay that serves as the basis for indexing for reservists, noted shortages in the Defence Forces' equipment, and accused the Reform Party of eight years of inaction in the interests of the Estonian soldier, and stressed that without soldiers the weapons are merely metal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter and announced that the large hall's display board is back in operation and, hopefully, we can now continue without any glitches; the next question will be asked by colleague Meelis Kiili.
Meelis Kiili
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Meelis Kiili noted that this is probably a Government of the Republic decree, not a ministerial decree, and asked a technical question as to whether the draft also covers female reservists.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The aim of the draft is to change the scope of the allowance payable for time spent in reserve service and the manner of its payment, and to index annually the amount of the allowance payable for reservists' participation in training assemblies, which is established by regulation of the Government of the Republic.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme gave a speech in which she described the bill as extremely necessary, criticized the inconsistency of indexation with the Reform Party's budget puritanism, and asked why the government wants to index the incomes of wind-farm owners, accusing it of hypocrisy.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal claims that the Estonian state has allocated about 2.6 billion euros to NGOs and companies, but the exact distribution is a secret, and he emphasizes that defense capability and the morale of soldiers are more important than money, while criticizing the funding as a pyramid scheme in which the beneficiaries are large companies and the arms industry, and he warns that the practice seen in Ukraine of men being seized off the street and loaded into cars could reach Estonia as well.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson thanks and asks Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Helle-Moonika Helme, public funds are currently moving in two directions: security and the green transition, and since resources are scarce, we should abandon the horribly wasteful green transition and the development of renewable energy, because security must remain the top priority.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is the chair's cue, indicating that it is the next speaker's turn to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes that the development of renewable energy and contributing to security would help Estonia be very well protected and would ensure the continued presence of reserve soldiers.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that security must come first, because without adequate protection and guarantees of resources, investments in the green transition and wind energy could fall into the enemy's hands — like a house whose door is unlocked.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Rene Kokk to come.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasized that reserve soldiers want to participate in drills and contribute to national defense, but due to price increases costs are rising, and people have to choose between supporting their family's livelihood or taking part in reserve training, and if employers do not cover these costs, many are left with no choice but to keep working to earn money.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal agrees on almost everything and warns that if the Ministry of Defence plans a scheme in which entrepreneurs would have to cover this gap, it would destroy entrepreneurship and would force people to hide themselves when fulfilling state obligations, using medical certificates or official business trips, although he does not advocate it, but shows what could actually happen.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Anti Allast to perform.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas said that the bill is absolutely necessary and he is ready to support it, but he wants the procedure to be in a more amicable form and not to drive a wedge into society, and he stressed that the description of what is happening on the streets of Ukraine hurt, while at the same time asking people to consider that one country is doing everything in its power to defend its freedom.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes openness and addressing problems, saying that if worries exist, one should talk about them and ask why they happen, not bury one's head in the sand—if the king is naked, one should speak of it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair asks that Anti Poolamets take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets accuses the coalition of pandering to tens of thousands of Ukrainian army deserters here and of promoting desertion, and notes that the Defence Forces' personnel problems — low salaries — must be solved in order to motivate the soldiers and create the world's best conscription.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal believes that the COVID vaccination requirement led to the dismissal of experienced military personnel, and that is disgraceful. The level of leadership has fallen, and delaying compensation for reservists jeopardizes the Defence Forces' capability, which is why immediate personnel changes and improvements to compensation are needed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Varro Vooglaid onto the stage.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid thanked Anti Allas and urged the coalition to definitely vote for the bill, noting at the same time that the media report weapon expenditures that run into the billions, and asked whether they share his view and how large the annual cost would be for the reserve soldiers' training camps, and how much it would grow if the bill were adopted.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal said that, based on publicly available data, about 13,000 soldiers participate in Kevadtorm for three weeks, and the total cost is about 10,101,000 euros, which could be increased by about two million for the coming year, and he emphasized that the equipment must be operated by living people who have the will to defend and motivation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Evelin Poolametsa to come forward.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets notes that every year there is a vote in favor of funding foreign missions with large sums, and asks whether it is not unfair that the indexing of this funding is not carried out for the benefit of local men.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that Estonia does not go to war, but to secure and uphold peace on international peacekeeping missions — for example in Mali — and asks whether the state deserves the same caring attitude, asking before the vote to consider whether the bill is right and valuable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The presenter ended the question-and-answer session with words of thanks, and it was requested that the deputy chair of the Riigikogu's National Defence Committee, Leo Kunnas, come to the lectern and introduce the discussion.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas said that the committee did not support Kalle's bill at its first reading for technical and inflation-related reasons, because indexing the 1.3 coefficient would bring a sharp and long-lasting increase in fees, and the bill did not cover military service; at the same time, the minister promised that the amendments would take effect no later than the end of the spring session, starting from January 1 of the following year.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanked the presenter and asked that Kalle Grünthal present the questions.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal critically notes that the draft's impression of being multiplied by a coefficient creates the illusion of astronomical growth in fees, but the reality is based on the current funding, and something is added to it every year, therefore the indexation number should remain the same.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas explains that if a percentage is added to the existing amount each year (for example, inflation of 5% every year), then the cumulative effect increases the total amount at a continuously accelerating rate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair announces the next question and introduces Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov asks why amendments proposed between the first and second readings are not taken into account, although it is claimed that the technical coefficient interferes, and whether he is mistaken.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas said that the coefficient should not be changed constantly and that the government should adjust it every three to four years based on the cost of living and inflation, because in recent years the problem has been left unaddressed and the system has not functioned properly.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar greets his colleagues, notes that others are in the queue and that more questions will come, and Varro Vooglaid has been registered as a questioner.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas argues that shared responsibility will not provide a solution, and the Defence Forces must be responsible for their own personnel, seeing the clearest solution as subordinating the Defence Resources Agency to the Chief of the Defence Forces, because responsibility must not be shared, and otherwise problems arise that must be solved at a higher level.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets awkwardly said that raising the pay of reserve soldiers is technically impossible and there is no will, pointing out that the last raise was in 2017 and the next one will come at the beginning of 2026, and that officials' promises are no longer credible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson invited Evelin Poolametsa onto the stage.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas said that this coefficient is impossible to implement; the executive branch must solve the problem; he has no guarantee to offer, he tries calmly and in the best possible way to find a solution within his remit and hopes that the minister will fulfill the promise.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is a short request to invite Kalle Grünthal to perform.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal proposed in the bill to replace the word 'seni' with the date of the law's entry into force, in order to objectively reflect reservists' pay and to base it on the current amount, the annual increase of which would be only 233 euros, and he asked whether this solution would be acceptable.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas asks where Kalle gets 233 euros, referring to per diem rates of 37, 40 and 50 euros and emphasizing that these are per diem rates; meanwhile, from the hall, Kalle Grünthal calls out: "You aren't listening at all to what I'm saying…"
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called for the continuation of the registered questions and asked Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that eight years' worth of reservists' pay has been overlooked, and this reflects an unequal attitude toward the foundations of national defence in the context of inflation, and he offers amendment proposals to improve the bill, for example a first-year coefficient of 1.35 and thereafter 1.05, or according to the consumer price index.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kunnas agreed that this has been left unattended and unfinished for too long, and stressed that the executive branch must put it in order and fix it, although solving it with coefficients is not easy and does not provide guarantees.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Meelis Kiili to speak.
Meelis Kiili
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
What we are talking about today is actually a consequence: the key functions have been taken away from the Chief of the Defence Forces, and as a result a civilian agency has emerged in place of the military, and although this is only a small piece of the mosaic, we need a holistic solution, and we will present it in the future as well.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas emphasizes a holistic solution and a clear distribution of responsibility, noting that the diffusion of responsibility and the long-standing failure to update the regulations have caused problems in the Defence Forces and in state administration, and these must be corrected.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller states that there are two questions in total, and negotiations with the factions will be started, led by Vladimir Arhipov on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov urged the Riigikogu to adopt a decision on indexing the pay of reservists, criticized the government and the committees for delays, and stressed that national defense requires swift and responsible decisions and the retention of experienced military personnel.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu represents the Eesti 200 faction.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu said that although he was not present at the meeting and read a written position, increasing reserve soldiers' allowances is justified, but he does not support the adoption of Bill 563 SE, because this is the government's prerogative and indexing the allowances would be too large; however he stated that from January 1 these allowances will rise to a fair extent, and consideration is also being given to increasing compensation for conscripts, so that the overall solution would be in order even without the bill's adoption.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller invited Rene Kokk to speak on behalf of EKRE.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasizes that the pay of reservists has remained unchanged since 2018, and due to inflation and changes to taxes, people’s costs have increased, which is why the bill is necessary and must not be delayed — the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces must take the matter seriously and review it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller ends negotiations and puts to a vote the leading committee's proposal to reject Draft Bill No. 563 at the first reading.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Parliament of Estonia supported the proposal with 48 in favor, 11 against, 0 abstentions; draft bill 563 was rejected and dropped from consideration; today's session has ended and we will meet tomorrow.