Interpellation to the Government of the Republic concerning plans to increase immigration (No. 614)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-01 21:22
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 48
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 47m
AI Summaries: 48/48 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Inquiry No. 614, submitted on February 20, 2024, concerning the Government of the Republic's plans to increase immigration, which was presented by Mart Maastik and Riina Solman. The inquiry was prompted by statements made by government ministers (Signe Riisalo and Tiit Riisalo) who viewed immigration as a solution to the demographic crisis and economic revitalization. The questioners sought information on the Ministry of the Interior's calculations regarding the costs associated with new immigration concerning internal security, language and adaptation training, and social benefits, and whether the Minister of the Interior had discussed plans to increase immigration with the Minister of Economic Affairs.
Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets responded that he does not support increasing the immigration quota. He emphasized that internal security costs are difficult to plan on a "per capita basis" because they depend on the cultural and ideological background of the immigrants. Läänemets proposed the creation of a tripartite societal agreement (state, employers, employees) as a solution to ensure skilled labor and avoid the importation of cheap labor. He confirmed that the ministry is working on amendments to the Aliens Act, which will make the completion of the adaptation program and A2-level proficiency in Estonian mandatory for permanent residents of Estonia, in order to reduce the risks of segregation and ghettoization. During the debate, the opposition raised questions concerning the links between economic decline (GDP per capita) and immigration, security threats (risk of terrorist acts), and the limits of the status granted to Ukrainian war refugees.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Mart Maastik was the most active speaker as the representative of the interpellators, submitting the formal query and delivering the closing statement. His position was right-wing, emphasizing the need to restrict immigration and focus on increasing the birth rate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi opened the sitting, greeted his colleagues and the minister, and announced that the interpellation concerning the government's increase of immigration (No. 614), submitted by Mart Maastik and Riina Solman on February 20, 2024, would be presented by Mart Maastik from the Riigikogu rostrum on behalf of the interpellators.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik is submitting a parliamentary inquiry regarding the government’s plans to increase immigration, emphasizing that additional funds must be allocated for integration, language learning, and adaptation programs, as well as for ensuring internal security. He also addresses Tiit Riisalo concerning the supplementary costs and assesses the potential increase in segregation and security risks.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the rapporteur and invited Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer questions from the interpellators.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
In his speech responding to the questioner, Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets explained that it is not sensible to calculate the magnitude of immigration costs on a per capita basis, as these costs depend on the origin of the arrivals. He did not support the immigration quota, but affirmed the necessity of a tripartite agreement (state–employers–employees) and increased flexibility. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of adaptation programs and A2-level Estonian language proficiency, along with the plan to incorporate these requirements for obtaining permanent residency, involving the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research in their renewal.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, noted that the members of the Riigikogu still had questions, and invited Martin Helme to take the floor.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme stated that he does not support the 1300 quota, arguing that it is actually exceeded tenfold due to exceptions. He raised questions regarding the reduction of these exceptions, while simultaneously referencing the assessment from Luminor's analyses, which estimated that immigration—specifically the approximately 100,000 Ukrainian war refugees—has caused an economic decline of up to 8.1% per person and increased state budget expenditure.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that the entire system of exceptions must be reviewed and a tripartite decision-making mechanism must be created, involving trade unions and employers, so that the solutions are well-considered and less dependent on the government, and that Ukrainian refugees do not automatically make Estonian people poorer, as they have been working and are bringing money back through taxes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik notes that the budget does not allocate funds for immigrants' language and adaptation training, social benefits for accompanying families, or ensuring security, and he asks from which resources these expenditures will be covered, given that even Bolt and Wolt employees require proficiency in Estonian.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Läänemets stressed that the platform economy in Estonia needs to be regulated so that all Bolt/Wolt workers pay taxes and social security contributions, and furthermore, those coming to live or wishing to work must demonstrate a stable income before settling in the country.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Jaak Valge to the stage.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge warns that sector-based wage policies are hindering labor mobility and innovation. He also raises the question of what our plan is for seasonal labor, considering the exploitation of foreign workers, and whether this problem is confined solely to Finland.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets emphasized that legislation should not be drafted all at once, and if sector representatives and Estonian employees were at the negotiating table, the outcome would be entirely different. He stressed that the presence of employee representatives at the table is crucial to him, even though attention must also be paid to mitigating potential negative effects.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Ants Frosch to speak.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch brought up the issue of security and immigration, pointing out that a terrorist attack could occur in Estonia, and the general consensus is that it’s not a question of if, but when. He then asked the minister whether they had been briefed on the risks associated with mass migration.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Currently, there is no terrorism threat in Estonia, but the Estonian Internal Security Service (Kaitsepolitseiamet) assesses that the threat must be prevented, and if no action is taken, communities could expand and networks could emerge. For this reason, amendments are being introduced to the Aliens Act, and requirements for companies are being tightened in order to restrict entry, lengthen processing times, and ensure that companies recruiting foreigners for employment are actively operating in Estonia.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker invites Kert Kingo to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
During the session, Kert Kingo highlights the size of the quota for accepting Ukrainian war refugees and Estonia's actual capacity, noting that the limits have gradually increased from 10,000–20,000 up to approximately 100,000, and asks what the final figure will be.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
When Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that no specific limit has been set, but warned that if the proportion of Ukrainians in the population reaches about four percent, difficulties related to housing, school placements, and language training will emerge, and that the actual reception capacity depends on people hosting them themselves—the current trend indicates that the number of Ukrainians in Estonia is decreasing rather than increasing.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas calls upon Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is criticizing the government's immigration policy and asking whether it intends to permanently establish the immigration seen in recent years or repatriate those people to their home countries once the war is over.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that the temporary protection granted to refugees from Ukraine is an EU-wide agreement decision and remains valid as long as the war in Ukraine lasts, noting that it can be extended by one year, and if further return is not possible, the next steps must be considered together with the EU, but currently the priority is the end of the war and preparations for people to return, and international organizations are ready to help; the construction of apartment buildings for Ukrainians is not planned; and within the framework of regional policy, at least 40% of the funds intended for entrepreneurship will be directed to rural areas for job creation, and by changing the revenue base of local governments, the maintenance of schools, community centers, and kindergartens in rural areas and small towns will be ensured.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Jüri Ratas invited Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas calls the government's stance on using immigration to solve Estonia's low birth rate "criminal," noting that immigration quotas are virtually unlimited and IT specialists are exempt, and that with 56,000 unemployed people, 3,500 open positions, and over 100,000 Ukrainians, there simply aren't enough jobs available.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He/She turns to the questioner and announces that it is now their turn.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He asks if the situation would get better if we brought even more here.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that we should not increase quotas or the overall immigration volume. The system must be flexible, and the solution for an aging society comes primarily through creating better skills for people and the creation of greater economic prosperity. While migrants may offer some relief, migration must not dominate economic governance.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller stressed that Estonian people must be able to find work and the importing of external labor must be restricted. He also called for the inclusion of trade unions in wage negotiations and asked how to ensure the oversight of labor service intermediaries and the curbing of the influx of labor from third countries.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets stated that companies operating in Estonia must be regulated so that they possess economic substance here, and employees may only be invited based on the company's genuine need to perform the work itself. Furthermore, the goal of amending the Aliens Act is to submit it to the Riigikogu before Midsummer’s Day so that it can be processed in the autumn and all loopholes can be closed for the following year.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets highlights Kaia Vask’s positions: that the role of the quota and the regulation stemming from the incoming workforce have diminished, and that companies are increasingly bringing in foreign labor through exceptions. Vask also argues that the immigration policy is contradictory and that the same standards should be established for foreign workers as for locals, while Poolamets simultaneously questions whether these recommendations will actually be heard and implemented.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
I believe a tripartite decision-making mechanism must be launched to assess the impact of the influx of foreign labor on Estonian workers, and to involve trade unions and employers in identifying areas where the interests of Estonian workers might be harmed or where wages are unequal, and, if necessary, amend the Aliens Act.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas invited Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid asks the minister whether the birth rate of peoples from the East Slavic cultural sphere is significantly lower than Estonia’s, and whether it follows that mass immigration exacerbates demographic problems, and why the government is attempting to deepen these problems with such an immigration policy, rather than alleviate them.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that the birth rate of East Slavic peoples is smaller than that of Estonians, and this is an example of how fewer Russians are being born than Estonians, and he asks how this increases the problem.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas stated that it is not possible to clarify the question here.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that if fewer Russians were born in Estonia and there were more Estonians, the decrease in the number of Russians would not pose a threat to the Estonian population, and he asked whether the framing of the question had been correctly understood.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Kalle Grünthal to speak.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal brought up Estonia’s plan during the hearing to join a talent acquisition platform, which has an initial cost of about 400,000 euros (and more costs are likely to accrue). He questioned why we are spending money looking for talent from third countries at the same time that the Metsküla school in Järva County and the Lehtse and Jäneda schools are being shut down due to a lack of funds.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that he cannot comment on the specific plan because it falls under the purview of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the details are unknown. However, he brought up the example of the Danish talent scheme and noted that European Union regulations might be difficult to implement in Estonia, making the actual impact currently hard to assess.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Kalle Grünthal raised a procedural question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
I asked the minister if it was sensible to bring in so-called talents from abroad when, at the same time, our schools are being shut down and we don't value our own talents, but he didn't answer the question.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas said that the microphone issue was procedural and the microphone was not broken, thanked the minister, opened the negotiations, and called upon Mart Maastik, the representative of the interpellators.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik stated that Estonia is caught in a vicious circle: the number of Estonians must be increased and the nation-state strengthened using family benefits and demographic measures, because immigration and the introduction of foreign labor are costly, uncertain, and fail to solve the country's fiscal or workforce problems.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas asks for three minutes.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik argues that creating a talent reserve and relying on migration are not solutions. Instead, Estonia should increase its population by supporting the growth of families and large families, rather than through migration.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He/She thanks everyone and concludes the negotiations, stating that there are no further requests to speak and the inquiry has been answered.