The key to the survival of the state of Estonia is the good relations between the Estonians and Russians living here. It is the task of the younger generation of Russians living in Estonia to shape the identity of local Russians.
Siim Kallas | Presentation in the Riigikogu at the 1st Reading of the Draft State Budget Act 2000 |
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Kalle Jürgenson | State Budget 2000, What and Why? |
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Olev Raju | Commentaries on the State Budget 2000 |
Madis Võõras | Estonia on the Way to Full Membership of the European Space Agency |
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Ene Ergma | Estonia Has Become a Space State |
Urve Läänemets | A Good Teacher Should Be Ready to Learn Also from the Pupils |
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Külli Eichenbaum | Using the Local Peculiarities of Old Võromaa |
The main topic of this issue is the changed security situation in Estonia, which was discussed in a panel by the Riigikogu fractions. Social issues and the situation of the Russian-speaking minority are analysed from the viewpoint of national security. Another important subject is Estonia’s ambition to become a full member of the European Space Agency.
Summaries of articles are in English.
The key to the survival of the state of Estonia is the good relations between the Estonians and Russians living here. It is the task of the younger generation of Russians living in Estonia to shape the identity of local Russians.
The war in Ukraine and Estonia’s security are hot topics right now, which is why representatives of political groups in the Riigikogu explored the same in the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on May 4. The panel was Enn Eesmaa (Centre Party), Jaak Juske (Social Democratic Party), Leo Kunnas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), and Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa).
Representatives of all the factions in the Riigikogu took part in the November panel of the Riigikogu Toimetised to discuss whether there was a need to reach a consensus in security issues before the upcoming parliamentary elections. Mati Raidma represented the Reform Party, Urmas Reinsalu – the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, Enn Eesmaa – the Centre Party, and Marianne Mikko – the Social Democratic Party. They were interviewed by Mart Raudsaar, the Editor-in-Chief of the Riigikogu Toimetised. The theses of the panelists are briefly summarised below.
In mutually dependent energy relations, countries are facing difficult choices if one of the parties of the relationship feels impunity and the market is having trouble with regulating dramatic price fluctuations or supply shortages.
The threat of military attack against Estonia is currently low but we must nevertheless not discard the possibility that Russia might decide to attack the Baltic region. The civilian population still often bears the brunt of military conflicts, falling victim to attacks either directly or indirectly, and suffering the consequences of the damage to the infrastructure.
* The article is based on the master’s thesis defended by the author in the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences in 2021.
For nearly three centuries already, the government of Estonia has been fighting against epidemics.
Over the next decades, personal mobility is facing huge changes: because of developments in mitigating climate change, technological innovation, ageing of the population, but also the consumer and mobility habits of the Y-generation. The main challenges are linked to the more sustainable and environmental nature of mobility.
There are not many places where Russia would be so close to Europe as in Narva: one only needs to cross the river.
At the time when European security is being threatened by Russia’s aggressiveness, the expansion of Islamic extremism, cyber terrorism, the shortage of resources, and poverty migration, Estonia’s security can be secured above all by a more coherent society and an internationally competitive economy.
*The article is based on Marko Mihkelson's speech at the security debate in the Riigikogu on 16 October 2014.
After the Soviet occupation Ida-Virumaa has become a county that lags behind the Estonian average both in its social and economic development. The population of this region is one of the fastest declining and ageing in Estonia; besides that, different social and ethnic-cultural groups are mutually little integrated and the region as a whole has also remained alien to other regions of the country.
The article compares the population policy attitudes expressed by Estonia and by another 30 European countries.The article defines population policy in a narrower demographic sense. We discuss population policy as a policy that intends to change the population figures through either birth rate or migration. Health policy is left out of the analyses because there is not a single state in Europe that is not working towards reducing mortality.
Over the last 15 year, the pension system in Estonia has undergone multiple reforms, such as the introduction of the social tax dependent 1st pillar, the introduction of the 2nd and 3rd pillars, or the raising of the retirement age. Every reform leads to changes for the beneficiaries of the system. The changes similarly affect the pension system where reforms have caused changes both within the confines of one generation and between generations. This article focuses on the inter-generation effects of the pension system and is a brief summary of a 2014 Master's thesis from the University of Tartu.
*Peer reviewed research paper.
This article gives an overview of the research project “The effects of family benefits and financing of early childhood education and care”, which was initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science, and was carried out by Praxis Center for Policy Studies. The research was supported by the Government Office’s Fund of Wise Decisions and the European Social Fund.
Using qualitative content analysis, this case study examined the indications of sustainability in the budget books of the Tallinn City Government during the first independence period of the Republic of Estonia (I), the period of occupation (II) and after the restoration of independence (III).
The article discusses how to find a balance between the national interests of the EU Member States and the unified Europe.
The aim of this article was to determine which variables and to what extent influence people’s trust towards national parliaments. I concentrated on parliament, as it is perceived as a central political institution, a cornerstone and a symbol of democracy. Thus, attitudes towards parliament should indicate the general legitimacy of the political system.
*Peer reviewed research paper.
The intensification of agricultural land use that took place during the last century has led to an extensive decline in biodiversity.
The direct impact of the biotechnology applications already visible today could amount to 2–4 trillion euro (c. 5% of the global GDP) in the coming 10–20 years, according to the estimation of McKinsey.
Specialist literature qualifies the forms and quality of activities that are needed and appropriate for young people with terms like youth-friendly, youth-focused, youth-centered, and youth-responsive. Yet the concept of “youth-centeredness” or “youth-centered approach” has not been conceptualised unambiguously in the context of services or activities offered to young people. And although youth-centered approach has not been clearly defined in research literature, young people are treated as fully formed individuals with rights and active agency in shaping their lives.
* Peer-reviewed article.
Estonia’s tax system was established in 1994. Its salient features are simplicity and emphasis on economic growth, and it includes few exceptions. In 2019, the general tax burden in Estonia was 33.1% of the GDP (EUR 9.4 billion). Compared to countries around the world, our tax burden places us in the upper quarter; however, in the European context, we are in the lower quarter.
Long-term care covers various social and health care services. According to a recent survey, there are 160,900–190,500 people living in Estonia who use outside help to cope in their daily lives.
The article deals with the findings of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Estonia Report and the analysis of the Global Entrepreneurship Development Index (GEDI) that focus on promoting the development of innovative enterprises with growth ambitions and increasing their share in total entrepreneurial activity. The article discusses what are the obstacles to development of such enterprises today, and also what are the possibilities for supporting their growth while taking into consideration different entrepreneurial aspirations.
E-voting may potentially lower participation thresholds and increase turnout, but its technical complexity may pose other barriers to participation.
Besides the Estonians, people of several other nationalities have lived on the territory of Estonia throughout its history. They have come and gone, and often these comings and goings have been violent and bloody, but in spite of everything the native people here, whose number in some periods has dwindled rather low, have preserved their own language and are an independent nation today.
The purpose of this article is to explore the socio-material factors reproducing different modes of involvement and shed some light on the prospects of their future development.
According to the public sphere conception of Habermas, communicative action is necessary for successful functioning of society. This article analyses the media sphere of Estonia, which is divided into two separate parts of information space by language – the Estonian-language media and the Russian-language media. The article claims that one reason why such a situation has emerged is the media policy of the Republic of Estonia. But its historical roots go deeper than the second independence period. In order to understand the Estonian media of today and to plan activities directed towards the future, it is necessary to analyse the steps and choices that have brought us to our present situation.
The idea of creating a Russian-language media competence centre that would mainly have the function of mediating the life in Estonia and in Europe in the widest meaning of this concept to the Russian-speaking target group is discussed more and more in Estonia.
A partial transfer to Estonian as the language of instruction in Russian-medium upper secondary schools in Estonia started in the early 1990s and culminated in 2010.
2014 was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA). In 2014, the accession negotiations of Estonia with the ESA will be concluded, and in 2015 Estonia may become a full-fledged member of the ESA.
Estonia is not a newcomer in space research. In the middle of the last century, the scientists from the Estonian Academy of Sciences and universities participated in several space programmes of the Soviet Union, but when Estonia restored its independence, this close cooperation was discontinued.
This autumn 25 years passed from the day the Supreme Council of the Estonian SSR restored the status of the Estonian National Library as the parliamentary library, and together with it, its honourable task to provide information services to the parliament and the government.