Security
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-06-04 16:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Q&A session during the information session focused on security-related questions concerning population movement, labor needs, and integration, as well as the risks associated with them. Mart Helme posed a broad question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about the labor shortage and potential dangers as Estonia seeks to replace departing Estonians with immigrants. He raised concerns about the security of immigration and cultural adaptation, emphasizing that when risks arise, attention must be paid to who has access to borders and national security. Unfortunately, the responses primarily relied on an understanding of economics and dissemination: economics and training, OSKA reports, and exceptions for skilled labor.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Estonia's economy and education and entrepreneurship system are working to provide opportunities for Estonians in high-value-added jobs and, if necessary, to bring in skilled labor from abroad, but that the framework of controls and background checks is strong and that internal systems (such as those based on OSKA findings) determine which specialties are needed. The entire discussion focused on how to balance the goals of national security and economic growth and what role the movement of young people and international experience play in Estonia's development. Ultimately, the participants emphasized that although the world is open and young people are moving, Estonia’s ability to grow safely and reduce the polarization within society must be prioritized.
Decisions Made 1
No specific decisions were made during the information session. The discussion focused on the fundamental handling of security, workforce involvement, and integration, as well as the factual background presented (OSKA, background checks, individual backgrounds). Decisions were not formalized in writing within the scope of this meeting.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Mart Helme (EKRE, right-wing position). He dominated the information slot, posed clarifying questions, and raised security concerns relating to immigration and national security, and his ideas and observations held strong attention.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The tenth question is addressed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal. It will be posed by Riigikogu member Mart Helme, and the topic is security.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raises concerns about the escalating labor shortage and the importation of specialists from Central Asia, while simultaneously pointing out the emigration of young people and questioning how one should view a situation where locals are leaving, only to be replaced by immigrants who are culturally foreign or pose potential security risks, stressing the need to ensure the nation's unity and security.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Michal stressed that Estonia’s goal is to equip people with high value-added skills, and that the education system and the business sector must work hand-in-hand to boost national prosperity. If necessary, this involves bringing in specialists with vetted backgrounds under the OSKA-based exception, but primarily prioritizing the Estonian workforce.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expresses his thanks and asks Mart Helme to pose a clarifying question.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme warns that migration control is slipping away in terms of security, and the influx of people arriving as seasonal, contractual, and agency workers makes effective control difficult. Furthermore, he addresses the cultural divides associated with the integration of Islamic communities and the risk of parallel societies emerging. More broadly, he views the desire of young people to leave Estonia as a demographic threat, which raises the question of whom Estonian boys will be defending if the borders are out of control.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the audience and emphasized the importance of their time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raises the conflict involving the eastern neighbor and asks whether this concerns the same people who came from the Third World or something else, noting that there is conceptual confusion regarding the situation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the speaker, announces that the time is up, and invites the Prime Minister to take the floor.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that the terms of the Aliens Act and effective subsequent monitoring allow for the prevention of undesirable influence, and residency permits can be revoked if the conditions are not fulfilled. He noted that Estonia is highly effective in this area, including in deportations. Furthermore, he presented the results of the integration monitoring, which show that the majority of immigrants adapt, value life in Estonia more highly than in their home country, 65% wish to apply for Estonian citizenship, and approximately 70% link their future to Estonia. He added that young people should travel and gain experience before returning, so that life in Estonia becomes richer.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar announced that Mart Helme could ask a supplementary question, provided he asked it quickly and the Prime Minister responded quickly, as there were no registered supplementary questions.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme expressed concern that people are leaving Estonia, selling their property, and departing forever with their children, and he asked what the government could do to ensure Estonia remained their home and that families would want to stay here.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Estonia would be a securely defended, developed country with a growing economy, where people feel comfortable and content, and political polarization isn't as severe as what we see now.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister and the participants, stating that although they didn't manage to take up Jaanus Karilaid's question, ten questions were addressed during the information session, the answers were clear and straightforward, and the pace was good. The information session has concluded, and the Riigikogu plenary session will begin at two o'clock.