Draft law amending the Emergency Situations Act and other laws (662 SE) - first reading
Session: XV Riigikogu, V Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-06-16 21:04
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 47
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 0m
AI Summaries: 47/47 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu held the first reading of draft law 662, amending the Emergency Situations Act and other laws, initiated by the Republic of Estonia’s Government. The draft law aims to strengthen the crisis preparedness of the Estonian state, municipalities, and individuals, focusing on three main areas: creating shelter opportunities, rapid hazard notification, and increasing awareness of civil defense. Interior Minister Igor Taro presented the draft, emphasizing that the shelter requirements are based on the experience of Finland, adapted to Estonian conditions.
The draft law stipulates a requirement to build public shelters starting July 1, 2026, in large (over 10,000 m²) frequently visited buildings, and non-public shelters starting July 1, 2028, in new residential, office, and other larger buildings. A significant part of the discussion concerned the technical capabilities of the national hazard notification system, EE-ALARM. The Minister acknowledged that shortcomings were revealed during the first exercise regarding SMS-based notifications, and that the ministry is moving towards the implementation of a cell broadcast solution, which would ensure faster delivery of messages. Civil defense training will also be made mandatory for public sector employees.
Decisions Made 3
The Defence Committee made a proposal to the Riigikogu to conclude the first reading of bill 662.
Bill 662 has completed its first reading.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for July 2, 2024, at 4:00 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Vladimir Arhipov (Estonian Centre Party faction, other) was active, posing several questions regarding the technical reliability and mass notification capabilities of the EE-ALARM system, and delivered a speech on behalf of the faction, supporting the bill's progress while demanding improvements to the system.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Parliament continued its sitting with the fourth item on the agenda, which involved the first reading of Draft Act 662, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Emergency Situation Act and other legislation. The bill was presented by Minister of the Interior Igor Taro.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro is presenting to the Riigikogu amendments to the Emergency Situation Act and other legislation, the purpose of which is to enhance crisis preparedness at the level of the state, local governments, communities, and individuals. This is achieved through the creation of sheltering options, the establishment of requirements for shelters and the obligation to create sheltering plans, rapid threat notification, raising awareness regarding population protection, regulating the use of EE-ALARM, and ensuring training opportunities. He is doing this in a way that ensures controls do not become excessive bureaucracy and real estate prices do not rise significantly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller thanked the participants and invited questions, asking Rain Epler to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler discusses the topic of shelters in light of the geopolitical situation, questioning whether the draft bill conceals hidden risks or cost-inflating nuances, and whether the result will be not merely a shelter, but a "smart shelter."
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro said that the shelter must meet the minimum requirements stipulated by law and protect against fragments resulting from an explosion, against shockwaves and pressure, and against air pollution and ionizing radiation. How this is achieved is up to the building owner, and the regulation specifies the technical conditions. However, the shelter does not have to be overly complex—the only crucial element inside is lighting—and the minimum requirements are relatively easy to meet.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a brief invitation to call Vladimir Arkhipov to the stage.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov asks if realistic technical trials have been conducted to confirm that mobile operator networks are capable of massively notifying people via EE-ALARM during a crisis without the network crashing or messages being delayed.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stated that while SMS messages were appropriate for the drill, delays in their delivery can occur. Consequently, the state is transitioning to a general notification or network alert system, which instantly appears on the screens of all mobile phones regardless of the device type, reserving SMS messages only for specific threats and localized alerts.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller calls upon Aivar Kokk to speak.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk asks how much construction costs will increase after the law takes effect, which existing facilities and shelters could be utilized, and where the money will come from—whether out of the pockets of local municipalities and residents, or elsewhere.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Shelter rooms must be dual-purpose, and the burden associated with these requirements is distributed among the state, local governments, and property owners, because the construction cost does not solely determine the selling price, which is also influenced by energy efficiency and location. Furthermore, part of the funding has already been allocated to the Rescue Board so that local governments and apartment associations can implement the new requirements.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller addressed Anti Poolamets with a request.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets stresses that while the draft bill is crucial, and addressing the decay of shelters—a legacy of the occupation era—is long overdue, focus must be placed equally on protecting both urban and rural areas. Furthermore, attention should be given to strengthening the resilience of local government buildings and their management, citing the experience in Ukraine where municipal buildings were initially targeted to disrupt governance.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro said it is better to start acting immediately, adding that in rural areas, ensuring people's safety requires utilizing larger buildings and practical common sense. At the same time, local governments should consider creating shelters, because the law does not restrict them; rather, it allows them to do more than what is strictly required.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller addressed Diana Ingerainen with a request.
Diana Ingerainen
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Diana Ingerainen said that this thing should have been finished ages ago, and asked what solutions would be included in the draft bill, and whether the model was based on Israel, Finland, or somewhere else.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Estonia is taking cues from Finland regarding the configuration of room parameters and the rapid conversion of multi-purpose spaces, adapting these methods to its own circumstances. If necessary, it will also draw lessons from Israel and Ukraine, but always prioritizing simple and practical solutions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invited Vladimir Arhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov asked whether the experiences of other countries, such as Finland and Israel, and effective technological solutions have been taken into account so that the notification reaches people even when the phone is on silent, locked, or switched off.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
To achieve optimal coverage, multiple systems are utilized in conjunction: mobile phone notifications and screen displays, a siren network, the Galileo satellite network, and the inclusion of service providers and applications with large user bases. This ensures the message reaches people both with and without a phone, and these solutions are complementary, as none of them is ideal on its own (e.g., when someone is in a basement).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is just a brief request for Rain Epler to step forward.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler points out that the minister's statement framed the situation such that the SMS messages were merely for notifying people about the exercise, even though the solution was actually built around SMS technology. He further emphasizes that technology experts had recommended switching systems a long time ago, and implementing that change now requires extensive reworking, resulting in wasted time and money, and necessitating additional funds, just as those earlier recommendations had suggested.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro said that another development must be made to the short message system, which will allow people to be quickly notified locally, and although it will cost about five million euros over five years, the benefit gained from saving lives is greater, and the money must be found.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller calls upon Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
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Peeter Ernits asked whether it is sensible to continue the defense and treatment of a person sentenced to execution, considering that some laws will expire in the autumn and a major martial law is coming.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed that nothing will be scrapped, and all existing legal norms will be transferred to the next draft bill. He added that the goal of this separate procedure is to compensate for the time crunch, allowing the Rescue Board and other agencies to move forward with developing sheltering options, programs, and support mechanisms, while also providing certainty to builders and developers regarding future requirements.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Riina Solman is asked to come up to the stage and give a speech.
Riina Solman
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Riina Solman asks the Riigikogu for clarification on what the interior ministers of the Baltic states agreed upon in Luxembourg concerning mass evacuation and how to combat information warfare, because the actual content of the memorandum has not been made public, leading to rumors being spread about the deportation of the population.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Summary: Minister of the Interior Igor Taro confirmed that in the event of large-scale evacuations, there is agreed-upon interstate cooperation with neighboring countries, including the organization of cross-border movements to cope with various crises, and he emphasized resisting the spread of hybrid warfare and misinformation through awareness and education.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller calls upon Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets highlighted that shelters dating back to the occupation era were located both under the Dvigatel factory and elsewhere. Some still exist today, while others have been destroyed or decommissioned. He questioned how these structures comply with the law and whether the taxpayer money invested in their construction has been wasted, citing the examples of the Dvigatel shelter and the civil defense shelter located near the Great Coastal Gate.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stated that modern sheltering focuses on people taking cover as quickly as possible depending on the situation, utilizing public shelters in major centers during the day and seeking cover near or inside a building at night. The goal is to shelter approximately 1.3 million people, not just the elite.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a short appeal requesting that Peeter Tali be invited to speak.
Peeter Tali
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Peeter Tali asks how the planned population protection web training, which is intended only for employees of the public sector and vital service providers, will also include the rest of the population, and what those who do not receive a salary from the public sector should do.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro suggested making training mandatory by law for public sector employees, maintaining the widespread availability of the training, and considering extending the same obligation to organizations in the voluntary and private sectors.
Leo Kunnas
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Leo Kunnas asks why the requirement for establishing non-public shelters has been postponed by two years compared to public shelters, and whether this is dangerous in the current security situation, noting that essentially no work will be done in this field during the next three years.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Leo Kunnas to take the floor.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Within three years, we should achieve a new level of quality in national defense and move toward comprehensive national defense, but the transition must be manageable, and the law must not halt projects that are already underway. This must also take into account the security policy situation, and the matter should be fully discussed with stakeholders during the Riigikogu proceedings.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Since there are no further questions, let us proceed to receive an overview of the discussion held in the Steering Committee. Our next speaker is the Chairman of the National Defence Committee, Kalev Stoicescu.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The National Defense Committee discussed the draft bill in the context of civil defense and unanimously decided to submit a proposal to the Riigikogu Board to include the bill's first reading on the agenda of the Riigikogu session on June 17th and to conclude the first reading.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller opened the floor for discussions among the factions, noting that Kalle Grünthal had his hand raised and likely had a question regarding the previous agenda item. He added that since Kalle was not actually present in the hall, the raised hand could be removed to avoid confusion. Speaking on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction is Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov claims that EE-ALARM is neither a reliable nor a vital crisis notification system, and that we must instead use existing solutions, learn from the examples set by Finland and Israel, and conduct thorough testing to ensure we reach everyone, including the elderly and those who do not use smart devices.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker announced that it was possible to submit a motion for rejection during the first reading, and that the suspension of proceedings would occur during the second reading; the chamber responded, and Peeter Tali requested the floor on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Peeter Tali
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Peeter Tali emphasized that by working together, it is possible to swiftly adopt legislative amendments that will improve public awareness, training, and the availability of shelters, and unify national defense laws so that the Estonian population is better prepared and protected during crises.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller offered his thanks and stated that Vladimir Arhipov had been nominated—a nomination made by Peeter Tali—and Vladimir Arhipov followed up by delivering a two-minute response speech.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov thanked the audience for the opportunity to speak. He stated that he and his colleagues are amending a very important law despite technical nuances and difficulties, and that necessary measures will be taken. This includes considering either replacing EE-ALARM or continuing its use; the final decision will be made during negotiations and the second reading.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The first reading of Draft Bill 662 has been concluded, the deadline for submitting amendments is 4:00 PM on July 2nd of the current year, and we have completed the fourth item on the agenda.