Conditions for Alienation of Land to the State
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-04-16 16:21
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The seventh question addressed the position of Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt regarding the conditions for alienation of land to the state when establishing protected areas. The Riigikogu posed a critical question and expressed concern that through updated measures, the state might reduce or completely forgo compensation for the decrease in value of real estate, which has generated significant public attention and debate about fairness. Observations presented to parliament and media publications were central, and the discussion focused on the balance between the interests of the state and the rights of landowners.
In the second part, the minister clarified the approach and referred to practices where the state may sell protected land if the restriction on usage is significantly limiting. He emphasized that the buyer must notarially clarify whether there are restrictions on the property and that the compensation procedure will change, but the existing principle does not support the purchase of land if a nature conservation restriction is known in the end. In addition, exceptions relating to situations where the conservation order later becomes stricter were considered, and it was explained how land and forest values together form the compensation. The minister provided numerical examples and data and confirmed that previous statements remain valid and the new procedure will only be implemented after a legislative amendment. At the conclusion of the speech, the need to continue the discussion in the committee and to maintain the balance stipulated in the coalition agreement (30% of protected area in mainland and 70% in forest land) was emphasized.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made at the session. The discussion will continue, the procedure for compensation is being finalized, and amendments to the law and their implementation must be coordinated within the committee and separately in the Riigikogu.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Anti Allas (pid 1Q5xJopcXOk). His position in the political spectrum is other (no specific left- or right-wing party line was defined at this session).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The seventh question is directed to the Riigikogu's Minister of Energy and the Environment, Andres Sutile, and MP Anti Allas asks about the conditions for the alienation of lands to the state.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas expressed sincere concern that the formation of protected areas and changes to the protection regime have unfairly burdened land and forest owners over the past year and a half, he referred to a bill that has reached the Riigikogu, which aims to reduce subsidies or do away with them, and asked the minister how the value of their lands can be compensated if government decisions bring the value of their lands down to zero—for example, for a small forest owner in Võrumaa.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Land located in a state-protected area may be sold to the state if the protection regime significantly restricts its intended use, but the state does not acquire ownership of land from persons who knowingly acquired it under the restriction, and in the sale and purchase agreement the notary must clearly inform about the restrictions; in compensation, the value of land and forest is taken into account at a fixed rate of 0.5, and the state does not facilitate transactions involving areas under nature protection, although legal nuances and, if necessary, amendments may be discussed further in the commission.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and asked Anti Allast to present a clarifying question.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas emphasizes that there is currently no clear message and an adequate plan in Estonia to compensate the damages caused by state-made decisions, and he advocates for the long-term, gradual, and fair implementation of compensations that would provide the victims with clear relief.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt said that the current regime applies to those who submitted an application before the amendments to the law; the new regime will take effect after the law is adopted; the compensation queue for real estate is 1.5–2 years, and faster compensation is mainly limited by budgetary constraints, but the state is moving forward with the acquisition of real estate subject to nature-protection restrictions (2023: 35 properties, 481 ha; 2022: 153 ha; 2021: 101 ha), and it cost almost 8 million euros last year and nearly 11 million euros are allocated this year, and the whole process can be discussed in the committee and in the Riigikogu’s plenary hall.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and informs that colleague Züleyxa Izmailova is submitting a supplementary question.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Estonia's nature protection and climate issues remain confusing, and there is a lack of certainty and legal clarity, because the broad-based climate law has become a narrower law for a climate-resilient economy, and the people expect scientifically based, substantive nature protection and forestry legislation and a clear guidepost that would take into account reducing the volume of logging and a logging moratorium.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt said that the climate law will be shorter and more concrete, to which deadlines and target levels as well as the objectives of roadmaps will be added, which Riigikogu will adopt before the spring session, and the coalition agreement states both 30% of protected land area and 70% of forest land, which can exist together; for him, a person, the economy and nature are two sides of the same coin, and a clean economy opens space for nature conservation and biodiversity; the discussion will continue under both the climate law and other laws.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister and announces that he is ending the consideration of today's seventh question.