Serving a narrow business interest instead of the public interest.
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, information briefing.
Date: 2025-05-21 15:45
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Lauri Läänemets posed an inquiry to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas regarding the government’s actions, which, in Läänemets’s opinion, serve a narrow business interest at the expense of the public interest. The question centered on the government's decision to adopt the Enterprise and Economic Growth Council's proposal to designate 70% of Estonia’s forests as commercial forests. Läänemets asserted that this proposal is beneficial only to a few individual entrepreneurs (such as Raul Kirjanen) and that the government made the decision without considering the public interest or conducting an engagement process.
Prime Minister Kallas defended the council’s work, emphasizing that the private sector's contribution is valuable to the state. She affirmed that the government always seeks a balance between the economy and nature conservation. Kallas explained that the purpose of 70% commercial forest is not to weaken nature conservation, as 68% of the forests are already commercial forests, and the aim is to ensure predictability and clear rules. She added that 30% of land and sea are under protection.
Tiit Maran posed a clarifying question regarding the selection criteria for council members, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and the consequences of enshrining the 70:30 principle. Kallas responded that the council consists of top entrepreneurs who are willing to contribute free of charge, and that the 70:30 principle will be debated in parliament via an energy and environment ministry bill, which will allow for public discussion.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Lauri Läänemets (other/left) was an active questioner, posing both the initial question and a clarifying question, pressing the government to take responsibility for disregarding public interest in incorporating the 70:30 forestry principle into its operations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar continues with the Lauris, and the fourth question, which Lauri Läänemets is presenting to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, focuses on serving narrow business interests instead of the public interest.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets stated that the government's efficiency and economic growth council offered many good proposals for reducing bureaucracy and stimulating the economy. However, he stressed that private interests must not overshadow the public interest, and the idea of changing the status of 70% of the forest must be considered through inclusive processes, taking nature conservation aspects into account, despite the fact that the government has already announced that it will proceed with implementation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and makes a request to the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that the government and entrepreneurs are seeking a balance between nature conservation and the economy based on the 70/30 principle, under which approximately 70% of forests are designated for commercial use and 30% for protection. He added that new commercial forests must not be created at the expense of protected areas, with a focus on predictability and securing long-term investments in rural areas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked [them] and announced that his colleague, Tiit Maran, would be asking a supplementary question.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran poses a three-part question regarding the criteria for selecting council members and the prevention of conflicts of interest. He asks why certain groups are included or excluded, and whether a future council could be formed consisting of scientists/environmental experts or trade unions to ensure the economy stays within environmental limits. Furthermore, he asks how the 70/30% principle will be resolved in a scenario where forest is converted to farmland and 50% of protected land may become available.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that currently, approximately 68% of Estonia's forests are economic forests and 28% of its land is protected areas. In the future, 70% must be economic forest and 30% protected, a goal which will begin to be formulated during a parliamentary debate. To achieve this objective, an advisory council will be established under the chairmanship of Viljar Arakas. The council's composition must be as diverse as possible, representing various business sectors, with members voluntarily contributing to the benefit of the state.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and notes that his colleague Lauri Läänemets has a clarifying question.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets claims that wood will become scarce, and if we continue at a pace of 70%, we will end up with forests that are turning into tree plantations. He calls for using European Union funds to create added value and reduce the logging volume, and asks how the consideration of public interest and the involvement of stakeholders actually takes place in this decision.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks very much and asks the Prime Minister for something.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that, as a principle, 30% of the land and sea area is under protection, while 70% is designated for use as commercial forest. He emphasized increasing added value in industry and creating jobs supported by state investments and aid measures, and stated that logging volumes have been agreed upon long-term.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the consideration of this question, as both a supplementary question and a clarifying question have been asked.