By Plenary Sessions: Irja Lutsar

The political focus is currently centered on economic hardship, particularly high consumer prices (food, medicine), which are viewed as a direct consequence of the war in Ukraine. The speaker stresses that the ongoing crisis—covering issues like taxes, energy costs, and the birth rate—cannot be ignored, and points out that the Estonian government is actively trying to improve the situation. A key question revolves around validating the prime minister's explanation, which attributes the high prices to an excess of commercial retail space.

The political focus centers on the international standing of Estonia's e-residency program and the associated risks. A moderately cautious stance is maintained, emphasizing the need to be fully aware of the risks perceived by other countries. The overall approach is rather results-based, concentrating on ensuring the system's sustainability and security.

The political focus is centered on reforming the social security system and strengthening budgetary discipline, supporting measures that prevent the abuse of the system and generate a positive impact on the state budget. There is strong support for maintaining social guarantees for war and political refugees, opposing proposals to revoke them. Furthermore, the issue of children's health and development is being raised, specifically requesting the Ministry of Social Affairs' stance on banning smart devices for children under five years of age. The political framework is predominantly policy- and value-based, emphasizing justice and the principles of the rule of law.

The political position centers on the direction and volume of research and development (R&D) funding, particularly stressing the urgent need for clinical trials as the foundation for evidence-based medicine. This stance is rooted in policy and budget considerations, questioning whether the Ministry of Finance provides top-down guidance or if the allocation of funding is left to the discretion of each individual ministry. This demonstrates a strong concern regarding the strategic governance of national R&D.