Estonian strawberry
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-04-23 15:01
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The discussion addressed Estonian strawberries and related competition issues, particularly within the context of regional and European-level regulation of plant protection products. In addition, Veterans' Day, inflation, food prices, and the impact of tax changes were raised as broader issues affecting the population. The need to improve the competitiveness of Estonian agricultural producers was highlighted as a central theme, along with the need to discuss potential rule changes at the European level to harmonize regional conditions and reduce restrictions in Estonia compared to the practices of neighboring countries and other Baltic Sea region countries.
In the second part, the discussion focused on how the state and entrepreneurs should proceed to find practical solutions – including the roles of the regional and agricultural ministers, and the work of the entrepreneurs' council, which should compile a list of existing obstacles and represent proposals for rule changes at the European level. Tax changes and the impact of inflation on consumers were also addressed, and the discussion remained open, emphasizing the need to utilize available tools to improve the competitiveness of local products and alleviate the greater harm to consumer purchasing power.
Decisions Made 1
No formal decisions were made. The possibility of continued work was left open, both at the state and business level: the regional and agricultural ministry will prepare a mapping of the situation and submit proposals for amending European regulations; the business council will continue to cooperate and submit proposals regarding simplification and the elimination of obstacles; the options for postponing ETS2 and making sustainability reports voluntary, and, if necessary, considering tax changes, remain within the range of working objectives for active consideration.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Lauri Laats (pid=5VNfkRwGZMI), a member of the Riigikogu representing the right-wing political line. His participation demonstrated a systematic interest in the competitiveness of strawberry production, regulations concerning plant protection products, and proposed amendments at the European level, emphasizing the need to reduce regional differences and ensure consistent cooperation between the government and entrepreneurs.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, announced that Riigikogu member Lauri Laats would submit a question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of the Estonian strawberry.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I would like to thank you for celebrating Veterans Day, and I would like to point out that the competitiveness of Estonian strawberry growers is dangerously poor, because we are allowed only one pesticide, while in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania there are as many as eight of them, which makes cultivation more expensive and puts the berries on the market, and I ask the government how to improve the situation and whether it lies in bureaucracy or something else.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal noted that European rules require national control of plant protection products, and if the regional market is similar, Estonia could strive to change and harmonize these rules so that the competitiveness of entrepreneurs is not restricted, and Estonia would signal at the European level the need for this, inviting the regional and agricultural minister together with entrepreneurs to undertake this journey.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Lauri Laats to present a clarifying question.

Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats pointed out that a long-standing obstruction hampers the competitiveness of berry growers, and he proposed that the new minister be given the task of mapping the entire situation and all obstacles and of gradually eliminating them.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the government and the Employers' Council will submit proposals to simplify regulations both in Estonia and at the European level, including weighing the postponement of ETS2 and the voluntary modification of the sustainability report, there will be discussions about plant protection products and rules affecting competitiveness, and, if necessary, the sustainability report will be made periodic, and he added that he does not recommend acting unfairly regarding Piret Hartman's previous proposal and that you can ask her directly about it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and announced that the additional question would be posed by colleague Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.

Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart pointed out that food prices in Estonia have risen and inflation is weighing on many families, criticized the increase in value-added tax, and proposed considering lowering VAT for local producers or using other measures to ease food prices, and recommended learning from the experiences of other countries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks and asks the Prime Minister for something.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal says that inflation is mainly linked to rapid wage growth, which pushes up prices, and the state plans to curb inflation by reducing public sector spending and introducing tax relief measures, including the abolition of the corporate profits tax and the income tax base starting from the first euro, and raising the tax-free minimum to 700 euros, so that people have more money left.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and concludes today’s consideration of the first question.