Second reading of the draft law amending the Emergency Situations Act and other laws (662 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting.
Date: 2025-09-17 20:24
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 34
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 26m
AI Summaries: 34/34 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu proceeded to debate the second reading of Bill 662, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Emergency Situation Act and other related legislation. Before the presentation began, Kalle Grünthal raised a point of order, arguing that the draft legislation was too extensive for proper, high-quality review. The Chairman of the session dismissed this claim, noting that the bill was only five pages long, and requested Kalev Stoicescu, Chairman of the National Defence Committee, to begin his presentation. Stoicescu confirmed that the bill was not voluminous and introduced the work carried out by the lead committee. A total of seven amendment proposals were submitted to the bill: one from the Social Democratic Party faction and six from the National Defence Committee. The most significant substantive change (proposals No. 4 and 5) involved standardizing the deadline for the obligation to establish shelters—for both public and non-public facilities—to July 1, 2026. The original text had set the deadline for non-public shelters for 2028. Stoicescu stressed the critical importance of speed in national defense matters, noting that this text would eventually be integrated into the Civil Crisis and National Defence Act anyway. During the negotiations, the factions of the Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party, and Estonia 200 supported the swift adoption of the bill, emphasizing the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and the importance of shelters. The Centre Party faction also supported the bill but highlighted the need for a state funding model to alleviate additional costs for entrepreneurs and local governments. Peeter Ernits, however, criticized the previous "dawdling" and lack of urgency, although he supported the substance of the bill.
Decisions Made 3
Kalle Grünthal's procedural motion to suspend the proceedings of the draft bill was rejected by the presiding officer of the sitting.
The lead committee took into account all seven submitted amendments (either fully or in substance).
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of Bill 662 pursuant to the proposal of the responsible committee.
Most Active Speaker
Kalev Stoicescu, the Chairman of the National Defence Committee, was the most active speaker, serving as both the rapporteur and the respondent to questions, thoroughly explaining the substance of the draft bill, the proposed amendments, and the speed of the proceedings. His position is listed as 'other' (Chairman of the lead committee).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the fourth item on the agenda—the second reading of Bill 662, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Emergency Situation Act and other acts—and invited Kalev Stoicescu, Chairman of the National Defence Committee, to the Riigikogu podium to present the report, adding a procedural comment and hearing a question from Kalle Grünthal regarding the conduct of the session.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the sitting would proceed to the second reading of Bill 662—the Act amending the Emergency Situation Act and other acts, initiated by the Government of the Republic—calling upon Kalev Stoicescu, Chairman of the National Defence Committee, to serve as rapporteur. However, before his address, the floor was yielded to Kalle Grünthal for a procedural question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal expresses concern regarding the extraordinary volume of the draft bill, emphasizing that a high-quality analysis was impossible within the allotted time, and proposes postponing the proceedings because a detailed overview of the contents is lacking.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal stated that the draft bill is so voluminous that a thorough review is not possible at this time, and there is a lack of a detailed overview regarding what the bill intends to convey. Therefore, it would be sensible not to proceed with it today.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that the bill was only five pages long, claimed that his colleague had confused two bills, and called Kalev Stoicescu to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar corrected his colleague’s misunderstanding regarding the length of the draft bill, emphasizing that a five-page document was not voluminous at all. Assuming that his colleague had confused the draft bills, he asked that the procedural questions be set aside and then yielded the floor to Kalev Stoicescu.
Kalev Stoicescu
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Kalev Stoicescu, speaking on behalf of the National Defence Committee, provided an overview of the second reading of the draft bill, emphasizing that following the involvement of interest groups and subsequent discussions, a total of seven amendments had been submitted. The most significant of these was the standardization of the deadline for the mandatory establishment of both public and non-public shelters, setting it for July 1, 2026. He then requested his colleagues to support the leading committee’s proposal to conclude the second reading of the bill.
Kalev Stoicescu
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The National Defense Committee unanimously decided to place the draft bill on the Riigikogu agenda for the second reading on September 17th, and to standardize the deadline for the establishment of public and non-public shelters to July 1, 2026, while making linguistic and regulatory technical clarifications to the text and the explanatory memorandum, and requesting colleagues to assist in this effort.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker/party] and calls upon Peeter Ernits to ask his question.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits expresses concern about the haste regarding the draft bill and asks how long the law will actually remain in effect, because the repeal of the emergency situation law and the 2028 deadline for establishing shelters could mean the law's duration will be very short.
Peeter Ernits
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Peeter Ernits considered the draft bill an improvement on the previous one, but questioned the viability and longevity of the legislation, given the impending repeal of the Emergency Situation Act. He also sharply criticized the haste surrounding the deadlines for establishing shelters, asking why it was necessary to act so damn fast when the law itself would likely have a very short lifespan.
Kalev Stoicescu
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Kalev Stoicescu explains that speed is the key word in the context of national defense today, which is why every month gained in enacting the law is valuable. He confirms that this is not pointless work, since the corresponding amendments to the Civil Crisis and National Defense Act are necessary anyway.
Kalev Stoicescu
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Kalev Stoicescu emphasized that speed is critically important in national defense today, and even if only a few months are gained by the law entering into force, this text will still end up in the Civil Crisis and National Defense Act anyway, and this is certainly not wasted effort.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter, announced that there were no further questions, opened the debate, and invited Kristo Enn Vaga to the podium.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker, closed the round of questions, and then opened the floor for debate, inviting colleague Kristo Enn Vaga to the Riigikogu podium as the next speaker.
Kristo Enn Vaga
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Kristo Enn Vaga emphasized the vital importance of constructing shelters and enhancing crisis preparedness, drawing on the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. He introduced a draft bill that mandates the construction of public shelters in new large buildings starting in 2026, alongside ensuring rapid danger notification through the EE-ALARM system. Consequently, the Reform Party faction supports this bill to guarantee the security of the Estonian people.
Kristo Enn Vaga
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Kristo Enn Vaga said that the draft bill emphasizes the importance and obligation of shelters in Estonia. It sets a requirement, starting in 2026, that every new building exceeding 10,000 square meters in area must include a public shelter. Furthermore, it integrates the national hazard notification system, EE-ALARM, to disseminate quick and accurate information during a crisis situation, drawing lessons from the full-scale war currently taking place in Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the speaker] for the brief and specific statement and invites his colleague Raimond Kaljulaid to the podium.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker for the brief and specific statement and then invited his colleague, Raimond Kaljulaid, to the Riigikogu rostrum next.
Raimond Kaljulaid
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Raimond Kaljulaid emphasized the life-saving importance of the civil protection bill within the context of national defense, thanked its developers, and supported the proposed amendment that standardizes the deadlines for establishing shelters in both residential and public buildings. He called for the swift adoption of the bill, arguing that despite its economic impact on the construction sector, security threats demand rapid action, and potentially more human lives can be saved with every month saved in the legislative process.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid emphasized that the bill is life-saving and ensures the creation of shelters and danger warning systems in all building types at the same pace, taking into account the economic impact on the construction and real estate sectors and the need to conclude the proceedings in the Riigikogu as quickly as possible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the previous speaker and invites his colleague, Vladimir Arhipov, to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and invited the next speaker, colleague Vladimir Arhipov, to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov stressed that supplementing the Emergency Situation Act is correct and necessary for ensuring shelter and increasing the readiness of local governments. However, he emphasized the need for cost compensation and realistic implementation, along with establishing cooperation between the state and local governments and creating a funding model. He confirmed that the Centre Party supports the adoption of the bill, but insisted that the work cannot stop once the law is passed; its enforcement must be guaranteed, and public awareness must be raised.
Vladimir Arhipov
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Vladimir Arhipov from the Center Party faction supports amending the Emergency Situation Act, which is a necessary step to improve the outdated shelter system and create a sense of security for residents in the current security situation. At the same time, it is critically emphasized that the draft bill imposes significant additional obligations on property owners and local governments, making it essential to create a clear state funding and compensation mechanism to ensure the realistic and fair implementation of the law, because the work must not end with the adoption of the law.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded his address, thanked the audience, and invited his colleague Peeter Ernits to the Riigikogu podium as the next speaker.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expresses his thanks and invites his colleague Peeter Ernits to the Riigikogu rostrum to deliver a speech.
Peeter Ernits
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Peeter Ernits criticizes that we have been dawdling for too long, engaging instead in displacement activities and snooping. He emphasizes the need to draft concrete, comprehensive bills regarding national defense and shelter provisions, and to take real steps forward through small, consensus-based actions.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits supports the emergency situation law under discussion as a good and concrete initiative, but expresses deep indignation and criticism regarding the Riigikogu's long-standing slack and lazy work practices, especially concerning civil defense and shelters. He rhetorically asks why action on crucial security issues has been dawdled on for years and why there is only a rush now, emphasizing that the focus should be precisely on such real and consensus-based issues, not on substitute activities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the previous speaker and next invites colleague Peeter Tali to the podium.
Peeter Tali
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Peeter Tali stressed that the swift and effective processing of the Emergency Situation Act and related legislation is paramount for ensuring security. He added that shelters, designated safe zones, and the transmission of threat warnings must be standardized and accessible to all structures via EE-ALARM. Therefore, it is essential that the law be adopted as early as next month and brought to the third reading in October, ensuring that every resident of Estonia knows their role during a crisis.
Peeter Tali
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Peeter Tali stresses the critical necessity of rapidly amending the Emergency Situation Act due to the current security environment, aiming to ensure effective and comprehensive crisis management during both peacetime and wartime. Specifically, he calls for the swift implementation of the EE-ALARM threat notification system and unified shelter requirements (with a deadline of July 1, 2026) across all structures. At the same time, he commended the Riigikogu National Defence Committee for its swift, consensus-driven work on the draft bill, expressing hope that the law will be adopted as early as October.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the discussions and proceeded to review the seven amendments to Draft Bill 662, the majority of which (submitted by the National Defence Committee) the leading committee recommended fully adopting, after which the second reading of the draft bill was declared concluded.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that seven amendments to Bill 662 have been reviewed, and the second reading has been concluded.