An inquiry into the impact of the timber industry on Estonia’s defence capability and security (no. 747)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-09 22:38
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 33m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item addressed a Riigikogu inquiry regarding the impact of wind turbine farms on Estonia’s defense capability and security, presented by Anti Poolamets, Rene Kok, Mart Helme, and Martin Helme on April 9, 2025. The purpose of the inquiry was to obtain clarification and assessments regarding how radio interference caused by wind turbine farms, and more broadly wind parks and solar panels, and the potential impact on radio and maritime surveillance capabilities, might affect the nation’s defense capability. Minister Hanno Pevkur responded, emphasizing both the legal environment and technical measures: coordination of plans with the Ministry of Defence, cooperation with allies, and commissioning additional analyses on these topics. Ultimately, the participants in the discussion voiced critical views on the costs related to figures and measures, as well as the technical challenges, but no decisions were made and the discussions were concluded.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament Anti Poolamets (pid rYwMQ2pj_ac). He presented and developed arguments related to the inquiry, and offered a critical assessment of the proposed policy direction and technical solutions. His position has been described as other (a party-political opposition role), rather than classical left- or right-wing support.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Today, under the sixth item on the agenda, we will be addressing the query submitted by Riigikogu members Anti Poolamets, Rene Kokk, Mart Helme, and Martin Helme on April 9, 2025, concerning the impact of the wind power industry on defense capability and security. Anti Poolamets will serve as the rapporteur.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that the radio interference generated by wind and solar parks endangers Estonia's defense capabilities. He demands a separate impact assessment for each industry, as well as an analysis of the functionality of surveillance and weapon systems, complete with answers from the Minister of Defense.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller asks Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur to respond to the interpellation.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that, based on the Building Code valid in Estonia and the Defense Minister's Regulation No. 133, all planned wind generators and wind farms must be coordinated with the Ministry of Defense, and that the opinions of the defense forces will be taken into account during the coordination process. Furthermore, relevant analyses will be carried out, and there will be close cooperation with allies and immediate neighbors. Additional measures and funding are planned (61 million euros in mainland Estonia, 67 million for offshore wind farms, plus VAT) to assess and mitigate the impact on surveillance capabilities and to comply with Eurocontrol and NATO recommendations, deploying radar systems or passive sensors if necessary.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller offered his thanks, invited questions, and asked Evelin Poolamets to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In her report, Evelin Poolamets asks the minister to evaluate Colonel Ants Kiviselg's concern that wind turbines might shorten the early warning time and complicate the detection of adversary activity, and asks whether the wind turbines widely planned across Estonia could endanger the country's defense capability.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Ongoing litigation persists between the state and developers; the refinement of the regulation adds more specific mitigation measures for the impact of solar parks; a new radar position will be established in Ida-Virumaa; compensation measures free up a large portion of the mainland for the installation of wind farms; radio intelligence and air surveillance are being separated; and no more wind turbines will be erected along the Jõhvi–Iisaku section—all this work constitutes a constant and demanding workload for Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller invites Anti Poolamets to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets is calling for in-depth studies on the impact of wind turbines, stating that the massive erection of offshore wind turbines on land will create an enormous disturbance and requires a large, multi-million dollar research project, not just superficial, isolated studies.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Estonia stresses that the impact of wind turbines on air surveillance and signals intelligence must be differentiated, and that, in close cooperation with the intelligence center, we must ensure the maximum operational capability of our early warning systems by monitoring all RF devices, including wind turbines and solar parks, and never allowing their operational impact to be compromised.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair announced that the questioning period was concluded and opened the debate, turning first to the representative of the questioners, Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that Pevkur's plan for a 2-kilometer restriction on wind turbines near residential areas is ideological, technologically complex, and economically problematic, arguing that maritime surveillance radars are in poor condition, costs are high, and taxpayer money is being directed to benefit the Chinese regime, which creates security and health risks.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
He asked for three more minutes.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warns that the electromagnetic radiation from wind turbines and solar parks has not been sufficiently accounted for in radio communication planning, which reduces mobile communication, WiFi, and GPS coverage and generates interference signals with variable electromagnetic noise in the Sommerfeld zone. He calls for proactive engagement, emphasizing that we bear the responsibility for ensuring the operational capability of the Defence Forces’ radio communication, and Estonian security is on NATO’s frontline.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman thanked [the previous speaker] and announced Evelin Poolamets as the next speaker.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasizes that, in the era of green energy, wind farms threaten Estonia's security and the defense capabilities of the Defense Forces by causing interference with radio signals and disrupting the operation of maritime surveillance and anti-ship missile systems, and consequently, these developments must be halted, and the involvement of the Ministry of Defence in the planning processes must be ensured.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announced that there were no requests to speak from the floor and the Minister did not wish to make any additions. He closed the debate, and we have thus concluded the sixth item on the agenda.