The Chancellery of the Riigikogu agreement with the law firm Sorainen OÜ: "Deregulation and nature conservation restrictions in forest management – an international comparison and proposals for Estonia."
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 6th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-09-24 16:27
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 21
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 21/21 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu session discussed Prime Minister Kristen Michal's response to the interpellation by Riigikogu member Tiit Maran regarding the contract concluded between the Government Office (Riigikantselei) and the Law Office Sorainen OÜ concerning the deregulation of forest management and nature conservation restrictions. The questioner, Tiit Maran (pYyodysuidU), expressed deep concern as to why such a contract, focused on "reducing bureaucracy" in forest management, was concluded specifically by the Government Office and not through the Ministry of Climate. Maran suspected that the analysis, intended to provide input to the Council for Efficiency and Economic Growth, treats nature conservation as bureaucracy and actually serves the business interests of the raw materials industry. He also highlighted the strange circumstance that a preliminary analysis compiled by ChatGPT and someone else was attached to the contract.
Prime Minister Michal explained that the analysis was commissioned to support the work of the Entrepreneurs' Council, which the Government Office services. She emphasized that this is one of three commissioned analyses aimed at finding the simplest possible regulation that simultaneously protects the environment. Michal confirmed that the contract was concluded in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate, its cost was less than 30,000 euros, and the results will be made public. She rejected Maran's claims of exceeding authority, explaining that the analysis focuses on comparing Estonian regulations with EU minimum obligations and the practices of neighboring countries, in order to move towards a less bureaucratic forest policy while preserving natural values. In a supplementary question, Züleyxa Izmailova (OiizOPZyy6I) asked why the analysis was commissioned from a private company, to which Michal replied that commissioning legal and complex analyses from outside the ministries is a common and logical practice.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Tiit Maran (pYyodysuidU) was the most active questioner, posing detailed and critical questions concerning the content and objectives of the State Chancellery agreement. He suspected that nature conservation was being treated merely as bureaucracy and that the council had exceeded its mandate. His questions set the focus for the entire discussion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the seventh item on the agenda, which is being presented by Riigikogu member Tiit Maran to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, focusing on the content of the agreement between the State Chancellery and the law firm Sorainen, concerning the deregulation of forest management and nature conservation restrictions in Estonia in international comparison.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the Riigikogu's seventh question, to be answered by Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The subject of the question concerns the State Chancellery's contract with the law firm Sorainen OÜ, titled "Deregulation and Nature Conservation Restrictions on Forest Management – International Comparison and Proposals for Estonia."
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran expresses bewilderment regarding an analysis commissioned by the State Chancellery, which focuses on deregulating forest management and reducing bureaucracy. He emphasizes that the core focus of the analysis is nature conservation regulations, and questions whether the commissioner considers nature conservation to be mere bureaucracy, and why the contract includes a strange preliminary analysis based on ChatGPT.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran presents a critical review of the analysis commissioned by the Government Office, questioning its initiative and motivation, why it includes ChatGPT and a preliminary analysis, and emphasizing that the core focus is the link between EU nature conservation regulations and Estonian lawmaking, and whether the objective is truly the reduction of bureaucracy, rather than nature conservation, and why forest policy, which is usually the purview of the Ministry of Climate, has been entrusted to the Government Office.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded his address with a brief expression of thanks, thereby handing the floor over to the next speaker or opening the floor for the round of questions.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran questions both the objective of the specific analysis and why the Government Office needs to be involved in forestry matters, which traditionally fall within the remit of the Ministry of Climate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks Tiit Maran and addresses the Prime Minister with a request.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the Government Office has commissioned three analyses—the possibilities for waiving occupancy permits for private houses and small apartment buildings, organizing supervision through a single supervisory authority, and simplifying nature conservation restrictions in accordance with European Union law—with the goal of achieving the simplest possible regulation that protects the environment, and all studies and related materials are public.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the Government Office has commissioned several analyses to support the Entrepreneurs' Council, which operates under the Prime Minister. The goal of these studies is to simplify and clarify regulations while simultaneously maintaining environmental protection. Specifically, a study was commissioned from the law firm Sorainen concerning the deregulation of nature conservation restrictions in forest management, the results of which will be made public in October 2025.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked them and subsequently gave the floor to Tiit Maran so he could pose a clarifying question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the speaker] and asks Tiit Maran to pose a clarifying question.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran accuses the Council for Efficiency and Economic Growth of overstepping its authority and serving commercial interests. He cites as an example the council's ill-conceived proposal to convert 70% of Estonian forests into intensively managed areas, which, in his view, contradicts the council's actual goal of reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. He also questions whether the council has begun usurping decision-making power from the government.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran criticizes the Efficiency and Economic Growth Council, noting that although its goal is the reduction of bureaucracy and the increase of efficiency, it recommends 70% of Estonian forests for intensive management, citing raw material shortages and business interests as justification. He finds that this approach conflicts with the preservation of the living environment. Furthermore, he questions whether the council has exceeded its mandate and doubts the role of the Chancellery, asking if decision-making authority has now been transferred to the council.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal presented an analysis aimed at comparing Estonia's nature conservation regulations with the European Union's minimum obligations and the practices of neighboring countries. The purpose of this comparison is to offer proposals for moving towards a less bureaucratic forest policy, reducing the administrative burden while simultaneously preserving natural values. She stressed that analysis-based decisions and clear rules, such as the "30 and 70" principle (which offers a clear balance between protection and economic management), are necessary both for safeguarding natural values and for establishing certainty within the economic sector.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal addresses the significance of the 70–30 (or 30–70) principle within Estonia's nature conservation regulations. He conducts a comparative analysis, taking into account the practices of the European Union and neighboring countries, as well as the requirements of Natura 2000. Furthermore, he presents proposals for establishing a less bureaucratic forest policy while ensuring the preservation of natural assets and compliance with international commitments.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the speaker and announces that his colleague, Züleyxa Izmailova, will ask a supplementary question.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She asks why a contract was concluded with a private company to commission the analysis, and whether the Government Office consulted with the Ministry of Climate during its preparation and discussed the initial terms, and whether they trust the competence of their own ministry.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova is presenting critical questions to the minister concerning the necessity of the analysis contract signed between the Ministry of Climate and a private company, casting doubt on the ministry's trust in its own competence, and inquiring whether the Government Office consulted with the Ministry of Climate while preparing the contract.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explains that commissioning analyses from outside the ministries is a common and logical practice, as the entire country's expertise is not solely located within government agencies. She further confirms that the Government Office ordered the analysis in question in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate to support the Business Advisory Council, deeming it necessary for making knowledge-based decisions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasizes that analysis-based and knowledge-based decisions are logical, and that the service contract signed by the State Chancellery together with the Ministry of Climate to support the entrepreneurs' advisory board is completely reasonable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks and announced that the consideration of the seventh question for today was concluded.