The Estonian language
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, sixth sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2025-09-17 15:34
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 25
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 25/25 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas submitted a question to Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas concerning the status of the Estonian language and the modernization of the Language Act. Lukas voiced concern over the declining use of Estonian in the service sector, particularly due to the influx of foreign labor and the rise of platform work, where current requirements appear outdated. He criticized the government for continually postponing the draft Language Act, noting that the promised mid-June deadline has passed. Minister Kallas responded that the amendments to the Language Act are scheduled to reach the government session either immediately or next week, and subsequently the Riigikogu. She clarified that the delay was not related to language requirements in the service sector but rather complex legal disputes regarding the status of dialects and South Estonian languages. Kallas confirmed that the draft includes increased fines and coercive payments for violations of Estonian language proficiency requirements, as well as provisions addressing the language use of municipal council members and individuals working in specific positions.
In a supplementary question, Helir-Valdor Seeder raised the issue of the transition to Estonian-language education, referencing statements by Narva politician Jaan Toots, who called the reform a "failed experiment." Minister Kallas affirmed that the government remains committed to the transition to Estonian-language instruction, stating there is "no turning back." She also mentioned an initiated amendment to the Private Schools Act, ensuring that the state would only fund Estonian-language private schools via the per-student allowance, thereby preventing local governments from attempting to finance Russian-language private schools. Seeder also inquired about the obligation placed on local governments (such as Viljandi) to organize native language instruction for Ukrainian war refugees, expressing concern about securing resources and teachers. Kallas stressed that native language instruction (two hours per week) supports the acquisition of the Estonian language and promised state support in facilitating teaching materials in cooperation with the Ukrainian government.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu continues its work. The third question is for the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas. The questioner is Tõnis Lukas, and the topic is the Estonian language.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas, who will present his third question, concerning the Estonian language, to the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas draws attention to the alarming deterioration in the use of the Estonian language in the service sector and public spaces, a situation caused by the increase in foreign labor and outdated legislation. He notes that Russian language proficiency is often required in the service industry instead. Furthermore, he sharply criticizes the government for failing to submit the promised draft bill to update the Language Act, ironically questioning why the role of the Estonian language is not considered important.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas is raising a serious concern regarding the declining role of the Estonian language in the service sector, citing the growth of foreign labor and outdated language law requirements that fail to ensure the use of the state language, which often results in Russian proficiency being requested instead. He further criticizes the government for failing to submit the promised draft of the modernized language law, asking directly why the government does not consider the role of the Estonian language important.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas pointed out that the use of Estonian-language service has deteriorated due to the growth of the foreign workforce, and updating the Language Act is necessary because the government has not sufficiently emphasized the role of the Estonian language.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that the Language Act, along with all its amendments, is expected to reach the government session and the Riigikogu for debate this week, but if they fail to resolve the sticking point with the Ministry of Culture, it will arrive next week.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas provided an overview of the timeline for the amendments to the Language Act, noting that the bill—which includes increased fines for violating the rules regarding the use of the Estonian language—will reach the government session either tomorrow or next week. Optimistically, the draft legislation will reach the Riigikogu (Parliament) for discussion this week, or at the latest, next week.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the floor] and asks Tõnis Lukas to present his clarifying question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas notes that the language issues and delays encountered in the service sector are reinforcing the need for language protection among Estonians, and Isamaa is submitting a draft amendment to the Language Act to the Riigikogu, questioning whether the coalition will take this seriously.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas expresses sharp skepticism regarding the deadlines provided, pointing to months of delays, and criticizes the government’s inaction concerning the decline of the Estonian language in the service sector, where Estonians are forced to humiliatingly request service in their native language. He emphasizes that the absence of language requirements for platform workers reinforces the notion that one can get by in Estonia without the state language, which is why Isamaa is initiating a bill to amend the Language Act to rectify the situation.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explained that the main reason for the delay in the government's proposed draft amendment to the Language Act was not the dispute over the language proficiency of service workers, but rather extensive legal discussions concerning the status and regulation of South Estonian languages. She confirmed that the bill will reach the Riigikogu in September, containing several provisions aimed at strengthening the position of the Estonian language, such as regulating fines for violating language requirements and prohibiting foreign-language voice-overs for adult films.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the draft Language Act has been delayed due to the status of dialects and South Estonian languages, but will soon reach the Riigikogu (Parliament). The plan is to strengthen the position of the Estonian language, including implementing penalty payments for the lack of Estonian language proficiency, prohibiting the use of foreign language voice-overs in films intended for adults, and ensuring that council members, representatives in official posts, and television interviews are conducted in Estonian, and that Estonian is the working language.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the previous debate period, thanked the speaker, and subsequently invited the Madam Minister to take the floor.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offers his thanks and turns to Madam Minister with a request.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that the draft amendment to the Language Act was delayed due to extensive legal debates regarding the status of South Estonian languages, rather than disputes concerning the language proficiency of service workers. She confirms that the bill, which will soon reach the Riigikogu (Parliament), includes several provisions aimed at strengthening the position of the Estonian language, such as regulating fines for non-compliance with language requirements, the abandonment of foreign-language voice-overs on films intended for adults, and a requirement to use Estonian as the working and interview language for certain positions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and immediately gave the floor to Helir-Valdor Seeder so that the latter could ask a supplementary question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the assembly and announces that the supplementary question will be asked by Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asks whether the Ministry of Education and Research remains convinced that the transition to Estonian-language education is the only option, and whether the state will continue to supervise and pressure local governments. Simultaneously, he raises the issue of resource scarcity related to language instruction for Ukrainian refugee children, noting that some local governments are required to offer instruction in Ukrainian language and culture and must find resources for qualified teachers. He specifically asks where these teachers will be found and whether the state will provide assistance or plans to amend the law.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asks the minister for confirmation of the Government of the Republic’s unwavering support for the transition to Estonian-language education, while also inquiring how the state intends to solve the resource problem faced by local governments. This problem has arisen due to the obligation to organize mother tongue and culture studies for Ukrainian refugees, in a situation where there is a shortage of both teachers and funding.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder is addressing the Minister of Education with two important educational questions: first, confirming the Government of the Republic’s unwavering commitment to the transition to Estonian-language education, despite criticism from the Narva politician, and inquiring about state supervision and pressuring local municipalities to prevent the reversal of this process; second, he raises the question of organizing the teaching of the native language and culture for Ukrainian war refugees in local municipalities, which creates a new problem of resource and teacher shortages in a situation where the shift to Estonian-language education is already complicated, and he inquires how the state plans to support local governments or whether there are plans to amend the relevant legislation.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, firmly asserted that there is no turning back on the transition to Estonian-language instruction, despite political opposition. She also announced that she has initiated amendments to the Private Schools Act to halt state funding for foreign-language private schools, thereby preventing local government schemes aimed at supporting Russian-language instruction. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of mother-tongue education, supporting the provision of two weekly mother-tongue lessons for Ukrainian children to help them preserve their identity and support their overall linguistic development.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stressed that there is no turning back on the transition to Estonian-language instruction, refuting opponents' claims about the reform's destructive impact. She also announced that the ministry has initiated amendments to the Private Schools Act to end state funding for foreign-language private schools and prevent local government schemes aimed at supporting Russian-language private schools. Furthermore, the speaker confirmed support for mother-tongue instruction for Ukrainian children (two hours per week), emphasizing that developing the mother tongue aids in the acquisition of the Estonian language and helps maintain Ukrainian identity.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, confirmed that there is no turning back on the transition to Estonian-language instruction, and state funding would only be allocated to Estonian-language private schools going forward. She cited the positive experience of Narva and Kohtla-Järve and stressed the importance of supporting native language education for Ukrainian children and collaborating with Ukrainian resources.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the consideration of today's third item with thanks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the audience and thereby concluded the discussion of today's third agenda item.