Draft law amending the Defence Service Act and, in consequence thereof, amending other laws (664 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-09-10 23:33
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Bill 664, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Military Service Act and related amendments to other acts. Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur introduced the bill's objective: to expand the possibilities for contributing to the fulfillment of the Defence Forces' duties in order to strengthen defence readiness. The draft bill includes five main amendments: the involvement of civilian personnel in exercises under the same conditions as active servicemen; the creation of a new type of voluntary service (e.g., for reservists to contribute longer to the training of Ukrainian fighters); enabling the involvement of conscripts in the fulfillment of Defence Forces duties (especially in the navy, to prevent the deterioration of training during NATO missions); granting temporary access to state secrets for conscripts on board ships; and establishing a five-year term of office for ten senior active servicemen appointed by the Minister of Defence to facilitate rotation.
The report of the leading committee, the National Defence Committee, was presented by Peeter Tali, who confirmed that the committee supported the general principles of the draft bill by consensus. During the discussion, the committee focused primarily on voluntary service and the involvement of conscripts in international operations. The National Defence Committee proposed to the Riigikogu that the first reading be concluded.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading of Bill 664 was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for September 24 at 5:15 PM.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
We have now reached the sixth item on the agenda: the first reading of Government initiated Draft Act 664, which proposes amendments to the National Defence Service Act and related legislation. The honorable Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, has already taken the floor at the Riigikogu podium.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur introduced a draft bill to amend the Military Service Act. The primary objective of this amendment is to strengthen defense readiness by expanding opportunities for contribution through five key changes: 1) involving civilian employees in exercises under conditions similar to those for active servicemen; 2) creating a new type of voluntary service to allow reservists to contribute for longer periods (e.g., in the training of Ukrainian fighters); 3) broader involvement of conscripts (especially in the Navy) in carrying out Defense Forces duties (including international operations); 4) granting conscripts temporary access to state secrets; and 5) establishing a five-year term of office for top-level executives appointed by the Minister of Defense, in order to promote rotation.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced that the bill's objective is to expand the execution of Defense Forces duties by involving civilian employees in the same exercises, creating a voluntary service, enabling the inclusion of conscripts, making amendments to the State Secrets and Classified Foreign Information Act, and appointing active servicemen for a five-year service term or tenure (with the possibility of a two-year additional period). Furthermore, this legislation is expected to enter into force on January 1st.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur presented amendments to the Military Service Act and related legislation, the primary goal of which is to strengthen defense readiness by expanding opportunities for contribution. The most significant proposals in the draft bill include the involvement of civilian personnel in exercises, the creation of a voluntary service for long-term contributions by reservists (such as training Ukrainian fighters), broader involvement of conscripts in carrying out Defense Forces duties (especially in the Navy), and establishing a five-year term for senior executives appointed by the Defense Minister, in order to promote rotation and keep the Defense Forces fresh.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks, notes that there are no questions, and yields the floor to Peeter Tali, a member of the National Defence Committee, for his presentation.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali gave an overview of the State Defence Committee session, where they discussed the draft bill submitted by Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. The bill focused mainly on voluntary service and the potential involvement of conscripts in international operations. The committee unanimously supported the general principles of the draft and proposed to the Riigikogu that it be put up for the first reading on September 10th.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali provides an overview of the National Defence Committee’s June 9 session, where the discussion of the bill introduced by Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur centered on voluntary service and the involvement of conscripts in international operations. He noted that the committee unanimously supported the general principles of the bill and proposed that the Riigikogu (Parliament) take it for its first reading on September 10.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The National Defence Committee discussed the draft bill at its session on June 9, focusing primarily on voluntary service and the inclusion of conscripts in international operations. The Committee supported the general principles of the bill and decided to submit the draft legislation under discussion to the Riigikogu Board for inclusion on the agenda of the Riigikogu session on September 10 for its first reading, to conclude the first reading, appointing me as the committee’s rapporteur, and setting a deadline of 10 working days for the submission of urgent amendments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the presenter for the report, quickly closed the debate, and confirmed the conclusion of the first reading of Draft Bill 664, setting the deadline for submitting amendments as 17:15 on September 24 of the current year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that, based on the proposal of the lead committee, the first reading of Draft Act 664 is concluded; the first reading has been concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is 17:15 on September 24th of the current year.