Inquiry regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine (No. 203)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-02-19 17:50
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 17m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Interpellation No. 203, which had been submitted to Tiit Riisalo, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, regarding opportunities for involving Estonian businesses in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Aleksei Jevgrafov, who submitted the interpellation, stressed the ongoing relevance of the issue, citing Ukraine's estimated need for nearly $40 billion in foreign aid and the World Bank's valuation of reconstruction costs at $411 billion.
Minister Tiit Riisalo confirmed that the government has repeatedly discussed the involvement of Estonian companies, noting that this remains the central focus of Estonia's policy toward Ukraine. Riisalo stressed that Estonia aims to be among the first countries involved in reconstruction, just as it was with military aid. As concrete measures, he highlighted the planning of three thematic forums for 2024, intended to showcase the products and technologies offered by Estonian companies. Furthermore, 25 million euros have been allocated to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Foundation from a 100-million-euro loan facility, specifically earmarked to support exports directed toward Ukraine and to mitigate associated risks. The Minister also described successful development cooperation projects, such as the construction of a modular kindergarten in the Zhytomyr Oblast and the design of family homes, which provide valuable experience for Estonian companies. In the subsequent discussion, the locations for organizing the forums were specified, and the costs associated with developing Estonia's digital state infrastructure for testing the prototype of the Ukrainian platform (mRiik) were also addressed.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu now moves on to the next item on the agenda, Item No. 5, where Riigikogu member Aleksei Jevgrafov will present the interpellation submitted regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The core of Jevgrafov's speech focused on discussing opportunities for involving Estonian entrepreneurs in the reconstruction of Ukraine, citing IMF and World Bank estimates, and requesting the government's stance and specific measures to facilitate their participation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the assembly/previous speaker] and invites the Honorable Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, Tiit Riisalo, to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the questions posed by the interpellators.
Majandus- ja infotehnoloogiaminister Tiit Riisalo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo stated that Estonia is leading the way in the reconstruction of Ukraine. This involves engaging businesses, organizing forums, implementing export and loan subsidies, and sharing its expertise in modular solutions for building kindergartens and family homes, all aimed at providing Ukraine with hope and long-term support.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker thanks the Minister and invites questions from the audience, asking Arvo Aller to come forward to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasizes the importance of Estonian–Ukrainian cooperation and asks whether the 800,000 euros, which was paid for the use of the mRiik app on the Ukrainian platform, could instead serve as support for Ukraine's reconstruction, and whether this would also constitute the Estonian state's contribution to Ukraine.
Majandus- ja infotehnoloogiaminister Tiit Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the actual cost of the prototype is about 300,000 euros, primarily labor costs, and the 800,000 euro figure has caused speculation in the press. Although we have learned from other experiences and from Ukraine, we must take into account that technology is developing and the base architecture may differ. Therefore, Estonian interests must be protected, while we are simultaneously ready to provide aid to Ukraine.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Aleksei Jevgrafov is invited onto the stage at the beginning of the address.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She thanks you for the thorough reply, is pleasantly satisfied with the level of detail, and asks whether the three forums scheduled for this year will take place in Estonia (e.g., in Tallinn), and whether Ukrainian experts have been invited to discuss their needs and how they might be assisted locally in Ukraine.
Majandus- ja infotehnoloogiaminister Tiit Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that Estonian–Ukrainian cooperation operates on three levels and, at President Zelenskyy’s request, is focused on a single region. In this region, cooperation forums are organized with Ukrainian partners, involving entrepreneurs, officials, and local governments. The coordination is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ukrainian Embassy, and the economic representative. The next events are scheduled to take place in London and Italy, with a detailed overview to be provided shortly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Honorable Minister and states that he has no further questions.
Majandus- ja infotehnoloogiaminister Tiit Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo thanked the audience.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that he had opened the discussions and subsequently closed them, and we have now exhausted the second item on the agenda and the entire agenda for today.