By the end of the 1990s, we had a wealth of good examples of journals on parliamentary policy, legislative drafting and other topics from around the world, but the idea was still novel in Estonia.
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 |
By the end of the 1990s, we had a wealth of good examples of journals on parliamentary policy, legislative drafting and other topics from around the world, but the idea was still novel in Estonia.
The authors from whom the contributions were commissioned had to have something valuable to say to the readers from the point of view of the criteria set by the journal, and they had to present their ideas in a well-argued way.
My objective was to take the journal to a new level, improving its readability while maintaining the quality standards of a research journal.
Over these 20 years, a number of interesting, necessary and educational texts have been published. Many of these will grow in value over time.
It is important to know the target group of the journal: university students, followers of politics, politicians, civil servants, or casual readers.
Times are changing and our industry is facing many challenges. Ahti Asmann, the Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Chemical Industry Association, writes about them in his essay.
There are few countries in the world that are smaller than Estonia. The Estonian state cannot be built on the model of France, Germany or the United States of America. So maybe we should look for our own way when shaping our statehood. This means effectiveness, but not only that. This means innovativeness and doing some things completely differently from how they have been done so far.
The development of the Estonian language, culture and identity has been strongly connected with education. Issues of good education are also relevant today. The world is evolving rapidly, and we have to be able to keep up with the skills we need for that, and our education system must be able to provide them to learners. This issue of Riigikogu Toimetised offers a range of views on the state of our (higher) education system, on the quality we should demand from it, what it costs and what we should expect for our money.
Putin has always congratulated the Republic of Estonia on its anniversary, and he probably did so this time, too, but in general he managed to spoil the anniversary of our country, of course. As will be remembered, Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine from various directions early in the morning of 24 February.
The issue of Riigikogu Toimetised you are holding in your hands reflects the current state of our ambitions and the situation relating to our idea of the green transition.
As I am writing these lines, Estonia is enjoying warm summer weather, the streets are crowded with people, the shopping centres are full of shoppers and the restaurant terraces are packed with customers. Everything appears to be almost like it was before. The past year was something in which we did not want to and did not know how to live. However, it seems to be over now. It is time to count the losses and to move on.
It is very welcome that the present government included preparing the strategy “Estonia 2035” into its action programme, so that Estonia will finally have a longer-term plan. This plan will need to reach far longer than one election cycle, and ideally it should form an umbrella strategy for national strategies with a shorter time perspective and narrower topics.
The Editor-in-Chief’s column focuses on the lessons of the crisis, and the opportunities arising from the crisis.
There is no reason for Estonia to hang its head in shame: we have excellent researchers whose work is at the highest global level. Estonian researchers are able to contribute to the international world of science, as well as research issues pertaining to life in Estonia. What can set certain limits is our impatience to get everything immediately, without stopping to ask what researchers have to do to earn their living.
Certainly, the Estonian state was not built on an empty space. Neither in 1918 when the state emerged from local governments, nor in 1991 when the foundation and solid plans of the state were still there. True, we largely used whatever material we could get back then, and some things have changed in the process, and of course life has moved on. However, people’s expectations are still generally the same. People want to live their lives in peace, to rear children and build their houses. For that, the state must provide protection, and help from time to time as the situation allows; it would be nice to have warm rooms, and a sufficiently large living room is needed where the inhabitants could meet each other.
The current Riigikogu, that will soon terminate its activities, has considered the issue of population a very important topic nationally, and has formed a special committee, the Study Committee to Solve the Demographic Crisis, to deal with it. This Committee has drawn public attention to the problem, and has cooperated with the universities and researchers to hear recommendations on how to resolve the situation. This issue of Riigikogu Toimetised, which focuses on the demographic problems of Estonia, publishes some studies that are the result of the work of the Committee.
We could always do more and better, but Estonia has done an impressive job in economic development. From the Soviet era, I remember the queues at stores simply to get a shopping basket, which would only then allow you entry among the product shelves. The shelves had hardly anything on them. The most difficult times were obviously immediately before and after the restoration of the Republic of Estonia. Now we are entering a stage in our development where Estonia is no longer a country offering cheap labour. We should also not be a country offering cheap products; instead, we should move on to the next stage and offer products with a higher added value. This means that instead of a country that assembles components, we are making efforts to become a country that produces the end products, and this also involves branding. In other words, on the global market, we must enter into competition with the countries who previously used us as sub-contractors. This is where innovation comes in, helping us to be better not in strength or cheapness, but in smartness. This issue of Riigikogu Toimetised views the tasks in the Estonian economic development in the context of global economy.
Security is the focus topic of the new issue of Riigikogu Toimetised. As the members of the Riigikogu who participated in the Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle found, security cannot be divided into external and internal security any more, and there are new aspects in it due to global developments. This is why we can say without exaggeration that security involves all fields of life. Besides war, it is also necessary to take into account humanitarian and natural disasters, and unexpected technological collapses that do not have to be the direct result of the activities of an enemy state (for example, solar flares that can knock out all electronics).
The overarching theme of this issue is the Presidency of Estonia in the Council of the European Union. Lithuania and Latvia have already had the opportunity to try this role. Their presidencies have been rather successful. So there will probably not be any prejudices towards Estonia as a former Soviet republic. We get the task of leading (and waiting is not a possibility in the current situation) the European Union, as it finds itself in a very difficult situation and faces many challenges.
To simplify Lotman’s idea, the culture exists in all forms of human activities. When our forefathers built their log houses, they used manual construction methods that had developed over a certain period. They did it without thinking that some of these houses would be declared heritage sites one day, or that some might even be moved to the Open Air Museum. It is only since the 19th century National Awakening that we have a professional national culture, an idea that we took from the Germans. So we have a popular culture and a national culture, and one way or another we carry both inside us.
Never before has Estonia been so well-known in the world as now, a hundred years later. The reason is simple: we exist now, we are visible also in the international arena now, and we have been there for quite some time already. The international situation of recent years definitely raises existential questions for us again, but, despite that, the question “to be or not to be?” is beginning to be replaced by the question “how to go on?”
Twenty five years ago the question “Who is an Estonian?” would have been considered just an attempt of philosophical discussion aimed at shocking people. I remember the events of the Singing Revolution at the Song Festival Ground, where the people were singing “I am an Estonian and I will remain an Estonian”, and the meaning of this was unambiguously clear: opposition to the Soviet power and to the migrants, who were flwing in at an uncontrollable pace that threatened the existence of the Estonian nation.
Estonia is starting to run out of people who have the skills to build something essential with their own two hands, like a stove, a well or a shed. Just think about your own life, remember your school days and ask yourself: which part of the school curriculum have you needed in real life, and what have you desperately wished you had learned?
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.
In 2018, Estonia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We have witnessed the Presidency period of Lithuania, which has earned international praise behind the scenes. Lithuania as the presiding country showed itself to be an efficient diplomat and administrator who is able to join national and Pan-European interests. The activities of President Dalia Grybauskaitė greatly contributed to it.
It is November 2013. Autumn has been unexceptionally long and warm. The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia has resigned. He said he did not have the possibility to have a say in the communication field, that in this field all truth transforms into lies. Culture newspaper „Sirp” became a part of a happening during which real people suffered.
The history dispute that broke out in Estonia in the beginning of this year, after the publication of Volume 2 of The History of Estonia, is a clear example that characterises the situation in Estonia. In a sense, Estonia is again at the crossroads: is it better to hold on fast to the values of the nation state, or to be carried along with the current of globalisation and merge into something larger – the Baltic States, the Nordic Countries, the European Union. History and the myths created on its basis have two times been very important for Estonia in achieving independence. Now, when the modern view on history has placed the events of the Middle Ages in Estonia into a wider European context, there suddenly seemed to be less heroism. The fear that an important truth is disputed brought along a wave of criticism.
This year we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of many events that were important to Estonia after regaining independence: the entry into force of our Constitution, start of the work of the Riigikogu, elections of the President, and also the adoption of the Estonian kroon.
The sinister circumstances connected with the financing of political parties that have come to light this spring force the Estonian society to ask questions belonging to the sphere of ethics.
Money is looking for a refuge. Government bonds that until now were reliable are not trusted any longer; the bonds of some European states have been declared trash by rating agencies.
20 August of this year is the twentieth anniversary of the day Estonia again became an independent state.
On 1 January 2011, Estonia will adopt the euro. It is a sign of the development of our economy during the last two decades. Although the efforts made for fulfilment of the formal criteria of the euro deserve recognition, with the benefit of hindsight it can be said that the preparation begun much earlier. Likewise, no politician or government can say that the euro is their merit. It is the Estonian people who deserve credit for that. We are one of the poorest in the “euro club” at present but we can rely on Estonians’ tenacity and diligence – they will do everything to raise their rating. The euro is a landmark which has been achieved with a great effort and from which something new will be born.
There are about 130 000 people in Estonia who are looking for a job. A large number of people in their prime have no steady income and, what is even worse form their own standpoint, they have no possibility to be useful.
The world is changing. The financial and economic crisis has forced people to abandon their habitual spend-use-and-dispose behaviour reminiscent of a hamster in a wheel.
The tenth issue of Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) was supposed to be published in December 2004.
The idea behind the publication was conceived and made a reality as a sideline, just like many institutions of the Estonian state were built, both in our era and before our time.
For a long time we kept repeating to ourselves that we were not Latvia. Our economy would manage the crisis better, we had reserves, our politicians were better statesmen, etc. Until the cabinet crisis broke, that is. Until the cabinet crisis was created, to be precise. Disgruntled voices now say that we are like Latvia.
Signs of the impending global economic crisis could be seen for many years, but did not receive sufficient attention. It was more convenient and pleasant to hope that, if a phase of economic decline did set in, it would not prove a very serious one. Now things look different.
Estonia may lack money, ideas and capacity for engaging in cooperation.
Talking about history has become popular and often two mutually exclusive arguments are heard.
For Estonia, spring 2007 has been extraordinary. For the first time in the last fifteen years, we felt that we could be facing serious domestic and foreign policy problems.
Estonian parties have partisan interests in abundance, but a shortage of worldview, firm convictions and principles.
Spring 2006 should be a hot one in Estonian politics. The birth of a new party is right around the corner. Sooner or later the result will be a shifting of the entire party-political terrain. In the autumn a new head of state will be elected in Estonia; in nine months, the people will elect another parliament.
For a time this autumn, a discussion broke out in the Estonian media over the dearth of ethical and moral values in society. It struck me that I, too, have become more inured with each passing year where my social instincts are concerned.
In the last fifteen years, Estonian society has achieved an extraordinary amount economically and politically.
The editor's column casts a look back at the ten issues of RiTo so far. RiTo has successfully cleared its early hurdles and has proved its merits. It has become, as the title page overleaf states, a magazine that reflects on parliament's constitutional and social duties, RiTo's readers are a loyal contingent and the periodical's place on the shelf of academic journals is nicely assured… a solid green row of spines.
Population experts paint a fairly bleak picture when it comes to Estonia. The population pyramid, which should have a wide base since the young make up the largest part of the population, is in fact eroded. The burden of bearing the economy and general weal falls onto the shoulders of people who are in their middle years but approaching pension age. Some relief is provided by 15-19-year-olds, whose fairly sizeable ranks are about to enter the workforce.
The main theme of this edition of RiTo is Estonia and the European Union.
The leading article treats the topic, raised by the media, of employment benefits for Riigikogu members.
Many events during the restoration of independence era are worthy of remembrance and commemoration, but three have proved to be chief among them. They are closely tied with one another and it would be wrong to view them separately.
During recent months, the Riigikogu has enjoyed the relatively stable support of about one-third of the population. What should the Riigikogu actually do in order to deserve at least a half of the Estonian residents' approval ofto its activities?
The work of the Parliament is reflected in the media, legislation, proceeding from reforms, and government statistics. The opening columns, reflecting on the Estonian press, reform statistics and articles in Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) No. 3, lead from the image of the Estonian Parliament and the voters' expectations towards the future plans of RiTo, where words count.
The Editor-in-Chief discusses some conceptual issues of the Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo, for short) and some major topics covered in the RiTo 2. To start with, he characterizes Estonian Parliamentary Democracy as a nice human-faced creature with two dissimilar legs.
Dear Reader of the Riigikogu Toimetised.
Democracy as a form of a state’s political regime is a constantly regenerating process that is based on a continuing dialogue between the people and Parliament.
The back column of the Riigikogu Toimetised editor-in-chief Aare Kasemets (Riigikogu Chancellery) and managing editor Ülo Siivelt (Estonian Law Centre, Tartu) sums up the issues related to the concept of the publication, its first issue and future plans. When searching for the concept of the Riigikogu Toimetised, the Estonian information market, parliamentary publications in other countries, etc., were analysed. Eventually, a framework arising from the constitutional tasks of the Riigikogu was designed, which has no international counterparts. As the Estonian society and thus the possible readership of the Estonian-language part of the Riigikogu Toimetised is relatively small, it was not practical to create a publication that would focus narrowly only on law or politics.
For quite a while now, debates of varying intensity have been held in Estonia about the state reform. How to make our state more efficient so that it would better meet the needs of its inhabitants without governance becoming too thin?
The issue of energy has become a global discussion topic over the past year due to the electricity price increase and will probably remain so for some time to come. How should we hold our energy debate so that we could end up with a right and good decision? Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party), Andres Metsoja (Isamaa), Annely Akkermann (Reform Party), Lauri Laats (Centre Party) and Rain Epler (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) discussed this topic in the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on 19 April.
Toomas Jürgenstein (Social Democratic Party), Priit Sibul (Isamaa), Margit Sutrop (Reform Party), Marko Šorin (Centre Party) and Jaak Valge (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) discussed education, its funding and what could be expected for it in the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on 9 November.
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).
The panel discussion of the representatives of the political groups of the Riigikogu on 20 October 2021 focused on the green transition, Estonia’s contribution to it and our capability to meet the targets the European Commission set out in its ambitious package of ideas “Fit for 55”. The panellists were Yoko Alender (Reform Party), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Erki Savisaar (Centre Party) and Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party). The discussion was moderated by Tiina Kaalep, Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised.
In the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on 14 April 2021, representatives of parliamentary parties Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party), Siret Kotka (Centre Party), Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) and Mati Raidma (Reform Party)1 discussed via the videoconferencing platform Teams how Estonia had managed in the global coronavirus crisis.
Jaak Valge (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party), Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa), and Erki Savisaar (Centre Party) discussed the Estonia 2035 strategy in the panel of the Riigikogu Toimetised on 14 October. The discussion was moderated by Tiina Kaalep.
On 15 April, representatives of the parliamentary parties Anneli Ott (Centre Party), Marko Mihkelson (Reform Party), Anti Poolamets (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa) and Ivari Padar (Social Democratic Party) discussed if the European Union had responded adequately to the current crisis, how to assess it in short and long-term perspectives, and what the lessons from the crisis were
Maris Lauri (Reform Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa), Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party), Aadu Must (Centre Party) and Jaak Valge (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) discussed research funding and the relationships between science and politics in the discussion panel of “The Riigikogu Toimetised” on 16 April.
Jaak Aab (Estonian Centre Party), Arto Aas (Estonian Reform Party), Jaak Madison (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Andres Metsoja (Isamaa) and Ivari Padar (Social Democratic Party) spoke of the state reform in the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on 17 April.
Members of the Riigikogu Study Committee to Solve the Demographic Crisis Yoko Alender (Estonian Reform Party), Monika Haukanõmm (Estonian Free Party at the time of the discussion panel), Heljo Pikhof (Social Democratic Party), Raivo Põldaru (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Siret Kotka-Repinski (Estonian Centre Party) participated in the discussion panel of Riigikogu Toimetised on 7 November. Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa) sent his positions in writing.
This time, the Riigikogu Toimetised panel brought together representatives of five Riigikogu factions to discuss Estonia’s economic development on 4 April. The panel was made up of Maris Lauri (Reform Party), Liisa Oviir (Social Democratic Party), Raivo Põldaru (Conservative People’s Party), Erki Savisaar (Centre Party), and Sven Sester (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union).
The representatives of the factions of the Riigikogu discussed security topics in the Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 15 November. Raivo Aeg (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), Hannes Hanso (Social Democratic Party), Uno Kaskpeit (Conservative People’s Party of Estonia), Ants Laaneots (Estonian Reform Party), Ain Lutsepp (Estonian Free Party) and Tiit Terik (Estonian Centre Party) participated in the discussion.
The latest Riigikogu Toimetised panel discussion, where the representatives of the factions of the Riigikogu Andres Herkel (Estonian Free Party), Jürgen Ligi (Estonian Reform Party), Jaak Madison (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Marianne Mikko (Social Democratic Party), Mart Nutt (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union) and Toomas Vitsut (Estonian Centre Party) discussed parliamentary culture, took place on 19 April.
The latest Riigikogu Toimetised panel discussion took place on 9 November. This time, the representatives of the parliamentary parties discussed culture. The panel discussed cultural history until the present day, with the participation of Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Toomas Jürgenstein (Social Democratic Party), Priit Sibul (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), Aadu Must (Estonian Centre Party), Krista Aru (Estonian Free Party), and Laine Randjärv (Estonian Reform Party). The latter sent her thoughts in writing.
In “Riigikogu Toimetised” conversation circle on 21 April, the representatives of the factions of the Riigikogu discussed the vision or the big plan of Estonia. Should Estonia have it and what should it be like? What are our important development goals? Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Jaanus Marrandi (Socialist Party), Mart Nutt (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), Erki Savisaar (Centre Party), Artur Talvik (Free Party), and Urve Tiidus (Reform Party) were the participants of that comprehensive and sometimes even heated discussion.
The traditional Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 23 November discussed the identity of the Estonians. Mart Nutt (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), Jüri Adams (Free Party), Aadu Must (Centre Party), Marianne Mikko (Social Democratic Party) and Martin Helme (Conservative People’s Party) took part in the conversation circle. Laine Randjärv (Reform Party) sent her positions in writing.
The representatives of the six factions of the Riigikogu participated in the Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) conversation circle on 9 May and discussed the issues of human asset. According to the definition of the Estonian Cooperation Assembly Report of 2010, human asset consists of the health and work capacity of people, and also personal quality, a person’s education, skills and abilities. Clearly the first thing that has to be dealt with is the demographic situation of Estonia. Too few people are born here, and unfortunately many of them die too early.
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 Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 30 April, representatives from all factions of the Riigikogu discussed what we should keep in mind in the changed security policy situation: Arto Aas (Reform Party), Liisa-Ly Pakosta (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), Mailis Reps (Centre Party) and Rannar Vassiljev (Social Democratic Party). They were questioned by Mart Raudsaar, Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised. The theses of the participants in the conversation circle are summarised below.
The Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) conversation circle on 26 November discussed the Estonian culture. The discussion dwelt at length on the development plan „The Fundamentals of Cultural Policy until 2020”, which had been drafted by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with several specialised organisations.
The Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 28 May discussed the Estonian Human Development Report.
The Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) conversation circle on 28 November discussed the Estonian political party system – its formation after the restoration of independence and later development as well as its current problems and the ways to overcome them.
n the Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) conversation circle on 23 May four experts, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sulev Kannike, Consultant of Logistics and Transit Association Andrus Kuusmann, Member of the Riigikogu Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) and political scientist from the University of Tartu, Project Manager of the Academic Centre for Baltic and Russian Studies Karmo Tüür discussed the development of the Russian Federation during the last two decades. RiTo Editor-in-Chief Helle Ruusing acted as the moderator and compiled a summary of the discussion.
In Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 21 November, three experts discussed the European debt crisis, and the future of the European Union and the common European currency. The experts participating in the conversation circle were the Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi (Estonian Reform Party), Member of the Board of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute Erkki Bahovski and lawyer Andres Tupits. RiTo Editor-in-Chief Helle Ruusing acted as the moderator and compiled a summary of the discussion.
In Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo) conversation circle on 24 May, three foreign policy experts analysed the present situation in Arab countries, where the demonstrations against the ruling powers that started in Tunisia have spread over almost the whole North Africa and Middle East.
In Riigikogu Toimetised conversation circle on 22 November, four Members of the Riigikogu discussed the development of the Estonian Parliament during the last two decades.
Riigikogu Toimetised invited four experts of economy and social policy to the conversation circle on 24 May, in order to discuss the extensive unemployment in Estonia as a result of the global economic recession.
The Riigikogu Toimetised conservation circle on 20 November discussed the transition to the common currency of the European Union, the euro, which Estonia firmly wants to join in the coming years. The participants in the conversation circle were Estonian Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi, former Minister of Finance and current member of the board of Tallink Hotels group OÜ TLG Hotell Aivar Sõerd, Eesti Pank monetary policy department head Ülo Kaasik, and Estonian Development Fund adviser Heido Vitsur. The debate was moderated and summarized by RiTo editor-in-chief Helle Ruusing.
Riigikogu Toimetised invited three experts of social policy to the conversation circle of 27 May, in order to discuss Estonia’s social policy and social system: how our social system has developed, what the priorities of Estonia’s social security are, and what challenges the social system faces because of the economic recession.
On 26 November, the Riigikogu Toimetised summoned four economic experts around one table to talk about the financial and economic crisis and, on its background, the current state of the Estonian economy.
The topic for the conservation circle in this issue of Riigikogu Toimetised is Estonian local governments and problems related to their legal basis, financing, small size and future development.
On 26 November, Riigikogu Toimetised assembled a panel of politicians and experts to discuss the topic of political party financing in Estonia.
Riigikogu Toimetised invited politicians and political observers to take part in a discussion about the election of the 11th Riigikogu on 21 May and the campaign that preceded the elections.
The Riigikogu Toimetised roundtable conversation, moderated by Aivar Jarne, head of the Riigikogu press service and including members of the Riigikogu Rain Rosimannus of the Reform Party faction, Eiki Nestor of the Social Democratic Party faction, Agu Uudelepp, chief of information of the People's Union Party, Vello Pettai, University of Tartu political science scholar, and Argo Ideon, journalist of Eesti Ekspress, discussed the fact that for the third consecutive time the Riigikogu was not able to elect the president on its own and the right to elect passed to the electoral body.
The Riigikogu Toimetised gathered politicians and political scientists for a round table discussion on electoral behaviour of the Estonian people and political parties' place in politics, in light of the local government council s elections, held on 16 October.247
Democracy is a form of political culture and communication. In order for it to work and be sustainable, it requires, like any other sophisticated system, fixed rules, a certain cultural environment, and - most importantly - a system for ensuring the observance of all these principles.
Recent trends indicate an increasingly important and wider role for national parliaments both in the EU legislative process and in domestic decision-making. Eurointegration seems to have resulted in the general strengthening of the sense of responsibility and self-awareness in national parliaments. Public opinion tends to view the EU as a huge bureaucracy far away in Brussels whose decisions benefit only those making them. On the other hand, the European Parliament, elected directly by the citizens since 1979, is believed to be the most democratic institution. The Amsterdam Treaty defines the functions of national parliaments and further strengthens the European Parliament's role.
The Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu, Siiri Oviir, who is also a representative of the opposition parties in the three-member board of the Riigikogu, focuses in her article on the role of the Parliament in law-making and on the issues of parliamentary control, supervision and autonomy.
A short survey by Kait Oole and Aare Kasemets on the discussions of issues of national importance (INIs) in the Estonian Parliament in 1992 – 1999 deals with the discussions of that period by organised by initiators and topics.
Three questions to the members of the Riigikogu*.
*Members of all Riigikogu factions were approached.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ilves pointed out three strategic directions of Estonian foreign policy.
*The full version of the speech is available on the homepage of the Estonian Foreign Ministry at the following address: http://www.vm.ee/eng/pressreleases/speeches/1999/Riigikogu_25.html
The starting points for defining Estonia’s foreign policy priorities are the following: globalisation as one of the ever deepening processes in the modern world, and three aspectsof the Estonian state – as a nation state, small state, and border state.
Considering Estonia’s present economic situation, the Government took a conservative approach to the drafting of the budget for 2000. One of the aims was also to guarantee transparency of the drafting of the budget, its implementation and monitoring procedures.
Drafting of this year’s budget was based already on the significantly amended law on the foundations of drafting the state budget. Reforming of the state budget has to continue in order to move towards a more transparent and flexible budget.
Commentaries on the State Budget 2000.
The Estonian green transition policy needs economic realism to ensure the viability and competitiveness of industry. More than 1000 organisations, including the Estonian Chemical Industry Association, have joined an appeal to EU leaders to support a European Industrial Deal that has ambitions equal with the European Green Deal, highlighting the challenges relating to high energy prices and raw material supply.
The Estonian industry is going through hard times because it is necessary to deal with the consequences of major crises: all inputs to production, from raw materials to wages, have become more expensive.
The data of platform Station of the Baltic Mediamonitoring Group (BMMG) show that industry is addressed around 20,000 times a year. If we look at the content of coverage, we can see that there is a lot of talk about the local food industry. And in the coverage of industry, politicians, leaders of representative associations and bank economists were mentioned the most.
In 2023, goods were exported from Estonia for EUR 18.2 billion at current prices, and imported for EUR 21.2 billion. In comparison to 2022, exports decreased by 16% and imports by 17%. The trade deficit amounted to EUR 3 billion.
Keiu Telve writes about the study commissioned by the Estonian Employers’ Confederation which mapped the attitudes of managers and owners of Estonian industries regarding innovation and business development.
The global security situation has become unpredictable, and the turnover and exports of the defence and space industry companies are growing.
Estonian industries and the country as a whole face limitations in their development due to a lack of ambition. The hunger for progress that once drove us has now been replaced by frugality, and the pursuit of achievement has given way to contentment. However, without economic growth, we cannot address the increasing needs and aspirations of our society.
The Constitution has served Estonia well, there has been no constitutional crisis. However, a parliamentary crisis is obvious in 2023.
The article examines the historical experience of Estonian statehood and the role of local government in today’s world of crises, as well as future directions.
The analysis of the state reform by the Ministry of Finance in 2023 provides a good opportunity to reflect on its progress, developments, challenges, and future possibilities.
Like all areas of policy, governance as a whole needs development.
A sensible balance of powers (cooperation and coordinated powers) between the Government (Prime Minister) and the institution of the President of the Republic developed as the Constitution of 1992 entered into force but after the term of office of Lennart Meri it has gone out of hands.
This article gives an overview of the advantages and challenges of experimental policy making.
The concept of a smart city is open to many interpretations and has changed over time.
Estonia’s energy sector is at a stage where we are facing a number of choices and challenges that require quick decisions, but it is also important to keep the focus on long-term strategies and targets.
Oil shale from Virumaa has dominated the Estonian energy sector for more than 60 years, or the entire period for which Statistics Estonia has data. Oil shale production peaked in 1980 and reached its lowest level in 1999, after which mining increased again, but it has not reached Soviet-era level any more.
When Moscow launched a full-scale war against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Eu-ropean countries were not ready to quickly give up importing oil and its products, as well as natural gas, from Russia.
It is high time Estonia understood that the climate crisis is a global problem and not a local debate that can be used to serve your own interests.
I am neither a politician nor an entrepreneur, but I am a qualified engineer and a professor. Moreover, I hold one of the eight technology professorships formed in the public interests in Tallinn University of Technology, the Professorship of Oil Shale Technology. And speaking as a scientist, I would like to see Estonia consider and assess new approaches to using oil shale in our energy sector. Why?
The Resolution of the Riigikogu that 100% of the grid electricity and 65% of all en-ergy consumed in Estonia will be generated from renewable sources by 2030 cannot realistically be met.
The European Union has set a course towards achieving climate-neutrality by 2050. In 2022, nuclear energy was the dominant type of power generation in Europe. What have been the developments in nuclear energy in the world and what are we doing in Estonia? What are the fears regarding nuclear energy and what are the major advantages of this type of energy?
Ida-Viru County has a major role to play in achieving Estonia’s green transition goals. As part of the Green Transition in Communities project funded by the Uni-versity of Tartu, Narva College studied the attitude of entrepreneurs in Ida-Viru County towards the green transition. The study was carried out in cooperation with the Ida-Viru Entreperenurship Centre (Ida-Virumaa Ettevõtluskeskus, IVEK).
In May 2022, KPMG and Finantsakadeemia were given the task of dealing with the issue further, including forecasting the financial and economic impacts of this option on the relevant businesses, as well as examining the related legislative-regulatory background.
The sudden hike in the price of electricity in 2021 and 2022 caused a stir in Estonia and made electricity a key issue in discussions on economic policy.
The aim of this essay is to try to find a way to understanding good education. The starting point is the recognition that in a fast-changing world, the organisation of education seems to stand still, and it is explained by arguing that the real qualities of good education remain unchanged through time.
There are 18 institutions of higher education in Estonia. Their task is to offer high-er education based on cutting-edge scientific knowledge, to train specialists and managers with higher education in specialities necessary for the state and society, to be innovation engines, to engage in ethnic sciences, to make a contribution to world science, and to carry out a knowledge transfer into society.
Education is special. Sociologists of education have known this for a long time. This means that students from high socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to benefit from generously and universally funded education.
Countries are not defined only by their population numbers and territory, but also by the level of human development they exhibit and the quality with which this is managed.
Reforms in education are provoked by four main development trends – new technologies, personalisation, internationalisation, and change in societal expectations. Technology-based business models are coming to the forefront, complementing the contemporary education landscape but also competing with it. The broader introduction of non-academic certificates blurs the lines between higher education and other types of post-secondary education.
The article analyses the issue of the reputation of vocational education through the prism of social ecology.
The ideology of Putin’s Russia relies for a large part on the old Tsarist stock that can be summed up in three words – Tsar, Orthodoxy and nationalism/native land. Russia is a special country, and it is home to a special people that is different to Europe, and only Russia has the right regime.
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 economic power struggle between the USA and China has been going on for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the new Russian aggression have made international strategic economic dependencies an even more acute problem.
Estonia has chosen the right path in developing comprehensive national defence, and the rescue network as an essential part of it must be ready for any crisis, including war.
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.
The library as the centre of reliable information has a relevant and necessary role in preventing the spread of disinformation and helping reach the evidence-based information.
When I started to study climatology in 1958, nobody could predict that climate would gather such popularity or become such a threatening force to humankind as it is now.
The European Green Deal is based on the underlying idea that our further develop-ment can only take place in a manner that remains within planetary boundaries and contributes to curbing climate change and keeping global warming within safe limits, stops biodiversity loss and ensures the protection of ecosystems.
Annela Anger-Kraavi was interviewed by Riigikogu Toimetised about the current state of climate negotiations.
According to the Global Risks Report published by the World Economic Forum, extreme weather conditions, failure of climate action and human-induced environmental damage are the most likely risks of the next decade.
Simplified views like “the new technologies will solve all problems” or “we will raise the awareness of consumers” are not enough for meeting the ecological and social sustainability challenges faced by our society.
The climate policy of the European Union, high electricity prices and the challenge of proper forest management have raised questions in the Estonian society about why we need green transition and if it can be achieved at all.
In Estonia, the tradition of exploring local mineral resources is more than a hundred years old.
The article provides a survey of the ongoing green transition in the energy sector both in Estonia and in the world more widely.
The green transition through the prism of the construction industry is simply a well built and efficient house, park, city street, or block that is in total harmony with its surroundings.
In December 2019, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented to the public the European Green Deal.
Oil shale has been a unique primary resource for Estonia as well as a pillar of energy security; however, the impact of the oil shale industry has made Estonia one of the most CO2 intense countries in relation to the GDP in the whole European Union.
The coronavirus crisis hit the whole world unexpectedly. We had been used to seeing natural disasters, local theatres of war and outbreaks of infectious diseases in developing countries (Zika and Ebola viruses).
For nearly three centuries already, the government of Estonia has been fighting against epidemics.
The global COVID-19 pandemic truly started to affect Estonia in the beginning of March 2020, when the first local cases of the virus were diagnosed. To support the Government of the Republic in managing the crisis, the Prime Minister formed the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board, whose key task is to regularly analyse the data on the spreading of the virus, and compile data-based reports and forecasts.
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus epidemic a pandemic. In Estonia, the first case of infection was confirmed on 27 February 2020. The Board of the Family Physicians Association of Estonia heard about it on the same day, in a train, on their way to the conference of family doctors in Narva. On 12 March 2020, the Health Board of Estonia announced that the number of cases had increased to 27 and the virus was spreading locally. In the late evening of that day, emergency situation was declared in Estonia. It was to last until 1 May. On 25 March, the first death case due to COVID-19 in Estonia was reported.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant for us a crisis where one of the key words was confusion. The emergency situation that was declared on 12 March 2020 made many people compare the situation with other crises, among which war always also looms as a potential threat. The rhetorical question was: “If a healthcare crisis makes us buckle, then how would we as a society deal with war?”
Even during the crises, including epidemics, restricting of fundamental rights has to be justified, instead of justifying not restricting, or allowing the rights or freedoms that are granted by the Constitution.
COVID-19 vaccines were taken into use quicker than any earlier vaccine. This was the appropriate response of the health science and industry to the pandemic, and among other things, it also shows the possibilities provided by targeted cooperation in an optimal financial and logistical environment.
The COVID-19 epidemic has set an unprecedented challenge to health care systems as well as societies as a whole around the world. However, the molecular-epidemiological progress has also reached a point where the whole genome sequencing of the virus permits us to conduct analyses that had remained out of our reach during earlier epidemics.
The first COVID-19 case in Estonia was registered on 26 February 2020. One year later, in spring 2021, over 100,000 people have been diagnosed and over 1,000 deaths have been registered in connection with COVID-19.
Although epidemics are bound to recur with a certain regularity, the humanity was not prepared for a wave of this magnitude and global spread. As a consequence of this epidemic, the economy has suffered through infected or self-quarantined emp-loyees not being able to work, anti-virus measures hindering the normal functioning of the economy, and the crisis-induced uncertainty affecting the behaviour and fu-ture hopes of the people, the businesses and the public sector.
The purpose of the study was to give an overview of distance learning in the Estonian general education schools through the experiences of the pupils and teachers, brin-ging out its lessons for the education system.
Teleworking is a real and lasting form of working that is no longer an unattainable dream or a way of coping with the global pandemic. It has become a necessity, it is now a part of daily life. The need for flexible working relations has been discussed for years, but unfortunately, it has remained at the level of various draft legislation or protocols.
In Estonia, nearly fifty documents direct policy shaping and strategic development at the government level in more than 17 fields.
The Government of the Republic initiated preparation of the strategy “Estonia 2035” on 8 March 2018. The General Part of “Estonia 2035” constitutes a strategic development document that pursuant to Article 20(1) of the State Budget Act has to be approved by the Riigikogu.
Historically, fiscal policy and public finances have been surrounded by many sophisticated concepts, myths and inaccurate interpretations. In the case of economic developments, it is fairly clear that four-percent growth is better than two-percent growth, while in the case of budget deficit and national debt burden the good-bad scale is insufficient and the answer generally depends on the particular situation.
The strategy “Estonia 2035” gives the priority over the next 15 years to the compatibility between the labour market and people’s skills.
Over the last decade, life expectancy in Estonia has grown faster than the EU average. At the same time, the increase in healthy life years has ground to a halt. This means that although people live longer, illnesses and health related causes limit their participation on the labour market and increase the health care costs for the state.
At present, co-creative governance seems to be more complicated than ever before. The crisis that is changing the world contains a billion intricate problems, but there is a lack of trust.
In my article, I assess the vision document “Estonia 2035” (2020) from four aspects: the feasibility of the strategy, the role of the digital transition, the role of the innovation within the context of “Estonia 2035” and citizens’ expectations to the Riigikogu. “Estonia 2035” expressly describes the dream destination.
Spatial planning in Estonian towns has followed a fairly unruly path since the 1990s, with no broader vision to guide it. This has made the towns more inefficient and lowered the quality of their spaces.
The development of technology and innovation usually go hand in hand. If we want both the government and the private sector to provide better services to the public, it is necessary to find good and safe solutions for data processing.
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.
The increase of the importance of China in global economy and politics is strongly connected with developing of digital platforms. This is reflected in the painful reactions of the United States in regard to the digital infrastructure company Huawei and the social media application TikTok. It is necessary to pay more attention to China’s investments into the European digital platforms and into platform-type companies in the wider sense.
In 2017–2018, the Foresight Centre created three sets of scenarios: on governance and e-governance, labour market, and productivity. What could we conclude from these sets today – can we already see where we are coming from, and where we are going?
The discussion of any topic in the European Union starts with the question: what is the legal basis here? Which article of the Treaty on European Union provides the framework for joint action? In other words, what jurisdiction have the supreme decision makers in the EU – the Member States – granted the EU institutions?
* The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author.
The end of this political cycle in Europe (2019–2024) coincides with an historical occasion to celebrate the twenty years since the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union.
* The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the few truly common European Union policies, having a history of more than 50 years. The goals of the CAP have remained the same across decades. In essence, they can be summarized as follows: to produce more food with greater profitability while guaranteeing stable food supply and affordable prices. This means that the underlying principle of the CAP is food security.
By leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom became free of its decades-long hesitations and doubts regarding the EU membership and the EU developments.
‘There are no good times, there are no bad. The present is all there is to be had. What starts will never come to an end. Neither beauty nor ugliness is part of the plot’.
With these verses, the Estonian poet Artur Alliksaar has perfectly captured the nature of time and reality. It is especially topical in these trying times of global virus outbreak, but also relevant for the real-time economy concept.
The key words of the European Parliament elections in May 2019 were increased turnout, political fragmentation, and stable support for populist, extremist, and Euro-sceptic forces.
The European Parliament, a globally unique directly elected international representative body, is the carrier of European values and identity. It has kept pace with important changes in Europe, often being the initiator and trendsetter in them.
The article opens the context of the European Green Deal.
* I use the term "Green Deal" to denote "European Green Deal for the European Union (EU) and its citizenns" (European Commission 2019a)
The article analyses aspect of research funding in Estonia.
When the University of Tartu was established in 1632, the Western European progressive scientific worldview spread to the territory of what today is the Republic of Estonia. At the same time, that gave an impetus to higher education becoming more widespread in the region on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.
The classic academies have been established with a twofold goal: to be resolutely committed to the advancement of science and to advise government authorities. In order to give adequate and timely advice, it is important to be engaged in the shaping of policy on all levels, starting from discussions of topics and goals of political parties. Several members of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (EAS) have contributed to active policy-making over decades, among other things, through performing the duties of the speaker of the Riigikogu and serving as ministers or parliament members.
State reform is an immanent, i.e. an inherent phenomenon associated with any type of national independence. After all, a country will never be complete; this is even more true for a small developing country with a catch-up economy and an ambition to significantly improve the quality of life.
The article explores the challenges connected to the study committees of the Riigikogu, using the example of the State Reform Study Committee formed by the 13th Riigikogu (2015–2019).
The Resolution of the Riigikogu “The Fundamentals of the State Reform and Good Administration”, adopted on 20 February 2019, sets out seven general principles that primarily the members of the Riigikogu should keep in mind when initiating draft legislation in the Riigikogu in the future.
Concerning the state reforms and the related debates in Estonia, it is important to take note not only of the choices made, or the choices that the political powers and interest groups mainly wish to make, but also the choices that have not been discussed.
The record proportion of votes cast electronically in the Riigikogu elections is the result of the voters’ confidence in this way of voting.
In Estonia, judicial control has been applied to administrative rulings for the past one hundred years. The 1992 Constitution ensures the protection of the individual rights in separate administrative courts.
During the last 25 years, the Estonian legislation has been characterised by frequent and fundamental changing of the laws. At the same time, the Constitution of Estonia has been amended very little, only for five times.
Lessons for the World Bank?
The article assesses the impact of the Estonian administrative-territorial reform of 2017 on settlement and regional economic development.
When we are concerned about the size and welfare of the population of Estonia, for many people, this concern has a common subtext or principal tone – how are the Estonians doing, the native inhabitants of this corner of the Earth, the small nation of less than a million? Throughout the duration of its existence, a threat has been hanging over its head – to be or not to be, can it preserve the population size needed to preserve its own culture, so that the neighbours and the immigrants arriving here will not assimilate it?
This article presents the main results if an integrated long-term employment and population projection for Estonia until the end of the 21st century.
Over the next decades, the Estonian state and society will have to adapt to population ageing, which will be the most significant demographic change with far-reaching implications across several domains of social life.
The article deals with the interconnections between the development of population and society’s capability to innovate.
* Peer-reviewed article.
Besides the number of population, the connections of people with Estonia are also important in population policy.
My goal in writing this article was to examine motherhood from the perspective of the expectations of the society, as well as the individual experiences of a woman and her lifeworld.
* Peer-reviewed article.
One of the innovative focuses of population policy is the inclusion of empowerment and quality of life. The article discusses these issues, proceeding from the point of view of essential citizenship, or the subjectness of people in the society and the state.
Ten years have passed from the great economic recession of 2008. Although the economy started to recover rapidly from the first stage of the crisis, it became clear in a couple of years that it had revealed several significant deficiencies in the functioning of the European Economic and Monetary Union and the common currency euro.
This article deals with the development trends that await us in the coming 20–25 years. On the basis of these trends, an overview of the skills and knowledge that will probably be necessary on the future labour market is drafted.
* The article was written with the support of the financing of the study of the Foresight Centre “Supply of Labour Force in Estonia: Long-term Perspective” and RITA1 project “Migration dependency and integration challenges for Estonia, employers, communities and educational system”.
The development of economy in Estonia during the last two decades has brought us among the developed countries, but future economic progress will not take place by itself. In order to achieve that, we need structural changes in business sector, and political decisions to support those changes. The article highlights ten activities that might speed up the development of Estonia. Five of them concern business, and five are related to government.
The Financing and Organisation Task Force for Research and Higher Education was formed on the initiative of the Research and Development Council and operated with the support of the Government Office. One of its tasks was providing an assessment of the current situation of the competitiveness of Estonia’s research and higher education system and submitting proposals on how to improve the situation.
The article asks what the possibilities and stimuli for moving towards knowledge economy are in Estonia today, and how to create such stimuli. Estonia can choose between market-based and coordinated market economy models, and in the case of the latter, it has to be decided whether the coordinator is the state, the social partners or large corporations. International comparison shows that coordinated systems develop more rapidly, and it seems that as a result of the market-based model, education, research and production systems all develop in their own way in Estonia.
Estonia could become a pioneer of bio-economy if we increase the use of renewable resources to replace the non-renewable ones. Forest is for our country what oil is to some others, and it is up to us to make wise choices in managing this resource.
Alcohol excise duty has several purposes. The most important of them is restricting consumption through increasing the retail price, but the revenues of the state budget, suppressing of shadow economy and the problems of border trade are also relevant factors. Several factors (among other things, the prices in neighbouring countries and the competitiveness of companies) have to be simultaneously taken into account in establishing optimal excise duty rates, and if a mistake is made with the level of the excise duty rates, it will be accompanied by negative consequences in the society.
The article compares three possible paradigms for explaining the processes taking place in global economy and macroregions: globalisation-centred, geopolitical and geo-economic paradigms. Their focus topics are dealt with, and the limits of their explanatory capacities for comprehending the processes that are going on are discussed. It is found that although globalisation continues, the normative type of globalisation-centred approach, which requires that the states move to the background is not longer sufficient. Business and technology centred globalisation has setbacks, it can be noticed that the states have started to make stronger attempts to curb globalisation (neo-mercantilism, certain protectionist tendencies, in Ian Bremmer’s terminology: gated globalisation).
* The article is written in cooperation of the author and the Foresight Centre of the Riigikogu.
Director of International Centre for Defence and Security Sven Sakkov analyses the state of world affairs and its developments since the end of the Cold War.
The article proceeds from the observance that technology is developing ever more rapidly, and applied science has an unquestionable impact on the processes in society and the lives of individuals, bringing along notable changes in the perspective of a decade, not a century. The focal research question discussed is in which sectors the emerging technologies will find military application and how much it will influence warfighting over the next 10 years.
* The article is a shorter version of the argumentative essay in English by the author, with the same title, which contains references to the sources of all statements and facts reflected here. In comparison to the original text, several sub-topics and arguments have been omitted due to restrictions on length, but on the other hand, some new ideas have been added. The presented military prospect for the use of innovative technologies is the author’s personal opinion, with a certain aim to intrigue and provoke the readers to think actively.
End of the Cold War and breaking up of the Soviet Union in 1991 caused real exhilaration in the West, and also in Russia. It was thought that now the age of great wars was over for ever in Europe, where two of the bloodiest world wars of humanity had taken place, and from then onwards, the countries would live in friendship and constructive mutual cooperation. And this is how it more or less happened during the last decade of the previous century.
Russia carries out and encourages ‘active measures’ in Europe to destabilise and confuse governments and societies. However, these are often opportunistic and shaped by local conditions. There is no grand strategy, beyond weakening the EU and NATO and creating a more conducive environment for itself.
* Galeotti, M. (2017). Controlling Chaos: How Russia manages its political war in Europe. European Council of Foreign Relations. ECFR. ‒ http://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/controlling_chaos_how_russia_manages_its_political_war_in_europe
National defence is no longer merely military defence that includes the activity of the armed forces to combat conventional threats. National security and the ensuring of national security affect the whole society, and therefore all segments of the society, both the public, private and third sector, must contribute to the protection of the state.
Is Estonia doing everything possible and necessary in its national defence legislative drafting to ensure its security? Unfortunately, not sufficiently so far, considering the regulation of the activities of courts under state of emergency, especially the state of war.
Essentially the problems of the European Union are not different from the problems faced by each democratic state. There are people who enjoy the open world and also get material benefit from it. And there are people who have lost the foothold that used to seem secure, and ask – what will become of me? The European Union should help the second category of people to cope better with their lives. But unfortunately they think that this union is the cause of all their problems.
Organization of meetings and events in the Presidency country as well as laying out of the agenda and facilitating the agreements have always been the main tasks of the Presidency country of the EU. The increased number of Member-States and discussion topics has also increased the importance of the Presidency country in influencing politics throughout the EU’s history. As the number of Member-States has increased, their interests have also become more diverse. And when the European Parliament received more rights to participate in the decision-making processes the Presidency country was forced to work more actively towards finding compromises in the EU legislation. From that point onwards it went beyond merely organizing meetings.
* Responsibility for the views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Before the coming Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we would like to shed light on the digital issues that will be spoken about during the next six months and the events that deserve attention, and discuss what kind of inheritance Estonia plans to leave to the following presidencies.
We can use the public interest in the new building of the Estonian National Museum (ERM) to tell its story. This has given us an excellent opportunity to speak about the main events in the history of the Estonian nation over the last one hundred years, and more.
In 2016, the Estonian National Museum got a home of its own. For the first time in history, the Estonian National Museum has a house that has been designed and built especially for the museum. The environment that has been created for the museum gives it new possibilities for development, and it also gives us the right to ask what the significance of the Estonian National Museum is in the 21st century.
Innovation is considered one of the main driving forces of economy. Info-technological innovation as the basis and precondition of economic competitiveness is often mentioned in the national policies of Estonia, and in this context, small Estonia with its image of e-state has gained recognition. But is this enough for making a society innovative? What is the innovativeness of a society based on? What role creativity and education have, and what the historical experience of the Estonian society is in this field – these are the questions this article tries to answer.
Regional institutions of higher education have an important role not only in education and research policy, but also in the social-economic development of the whole region and shaping its long-term strategies.
In the future, the amount of digital information is going to explode, changing the role of the libraries. This will bring along new obligations and new challenges, and lead to the development of totally new services.
Dealing with the cultural heritage is always controversial. In its core lies an attempt to balance the interests of the owner with the interests of the general public in preserving the heritage. Heritage management can be successful only if it manages to grasp both the material assets that exist objectively in time and space, as well as taking an interest in the subjective categories of identity, values, and perception.
The paper entitled “Proposals for Management of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Landscapes” examines the problems related to the administration and protection of landscape, rural life and other traditional values in an era in which, even for rural populations, agriculture is being rapidly demoted to a subsidiary source of employment and income.
The nature of culture has been discussed both at its general level, as a network of traditions, values, creativity and layers of time, and in terms of fine arts and research. The article deals with national culture, a special phenomenon that combines both the original and the borrowed elements.
Studies have shown that while many indicators qualify Estonian businesses as innovative, they seem unable to convert this innovation into money. This article argues that the main reason why process innovation dominates and product innovation is low in the Estonian businesses is that meeting orders is the predominant business model among them. This means that the businesses have no contact with the end product, while their development methods mainly involve diversification of production opportunities and increase in quality and volumes. The issues of product development, supply chain management, marketing, and sales are largely ignored.
The Estonian migration policy must be managed and forward-looking. This is complicated because the preservation of the Estonian culture as well as managing in international competition must be kept in mind. The migration policy is a sensitive issue. Estonia has a numerous non-Estonian population and, through them, there is a continuous influx of “new immigrants” from the former USSR republics. Integrating them is a demanding challenge and therefore our social opinion is not very willing to listen to rational arguments.
It is a basic human right to leave one’s country freely. To enter another country freely is not. Permission is needed. It is common decency to give shelter to refugees when they are few. But one has the right to control one’s borders when there are so many refugees or other would-be immigrants that the society would crumble under their weight, or would change beyond recognition.
Social resources have so far been underestimated in Estonia, but if they were taken into use, it may bring along growth of productivity in economy and better functioning of all sectors of society. Economic activities, production, product development and marketing are actually work with people, involving them, listening to them and explaining your ideas.
When analysing the economic growth of Estonia that has slowed down, and the factors that influence the growth of productivity, it is inevitable to pay greater attention to the issues of product development. If product development is scarce, the goods produced and exported remain valued lower, and there is no movement from the raw material based economic model to the innovation model with greater added values.
In twenty-five years, Estonia has become a capable space nation. The intelligent and brave decisions of the 1990s on reorganising the network of research institutions, establishing a competition based system of research grants, introducing international expert analyses in assessing the performance indicators of research, and reshaping the decision making mechanism of higher education and research policy were instrumental in reshaping the Soviet style research system into a Western system in only a short time. Long-term strategic planning and strategic management increased state funding, and also supported the increasing presence of research in the private sector. A strong push towards the development of the research system has come from the EU Structural Funds. This has helped to create a contemporary research environment, improve the quality of research, and increase the overall volumes.
This article has two aims: to offer a theoretical approach to defiing of state identity, taking into account the context of multicultural society, and to analyse the data of the latest monitoring of the integration of Estonian society in the light of such an approach.
The Estonian Public Broadcasting Act sets nine goals for Estonian Public Broadcasting, and formulates eleven functions Estonian Public Broadcasting has to perform in order to achieve these goals.
On 28 September at 6.55 a.m., the programme director pushed the button at the control centre of the brand new TV studio of Estonian Public Broadcasting and started the fist direct broadcast of the Russian-language TV programme. The long-planned ETV+ rose into the air, with new enthusiastic pilots on board, and these pilots knew nothing yet of the number of potential passengers, and just hoped at the bottom of their hearts that the flght that had started would last a long time.
This paper sets out to provide an analysis of refugee integration policies in Sweden and Norway, by means of comparative analysis.
In 2014, the fist legislative amendments were adopted in Estonia that will change the current policy of payment of the pension for incapacity for work – starting from 2016, the conditions for payment will be changed, and the requirements of being active will be established for people with partial capacity for work who receive the benefi. The related political process has been controversial, it has brought about demonstrations of disabled people, and a petition and a memorandum were submitted to the parliament.
The universities have been studying how their alumni cope in the labour market since the beginning of the 2000s. However, a comprehensive simultaneous research covering all universities was conducted for the fist time in 2011, when the graduates of 2009 were interviewed (Eamets, Krillo, Themas 2011). The alumni study of 2012 dealt with the factors inflencing the choice of specialty, satisfaction with studies, working during studies, plans after graduation, success on the labour market and acquired competences. The assessment of foreign alumni of the higher education given in Estonia was also studied. The article focuses on two questions: 1) How do university graduates cope in the labour market? 2) To what extent are they satisfid with the studies they have completed? The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Archimedes Foundation.
Laura Kirss, Miko Kupts, Reelika Leetmaa, Märt Masso, Liina Osila, Magnus Piirits, Mari Rell, Pirjo Turk.
The Estonian population is decreasing, and consequently so is the number of people of working age. This is mostly caused by the negative natural increase rate as well as emigration.
The salient feature of the economy today is the extremely fast pace of development. It has become extremely important for businesses, organisations, regions and states alike to remain competitive and to ensure sustainability.
Estonia might lose its edge in education, which in turn would affect the competitiveness of the country, if no rapid and fundamental changes are made in the situation of teachers.
The article analyses the possibility to amend the Estonian Constitution that entered into force in 1992, and outlines an action plan for this purpose.
The article presents the organisation of work, objectives and results of the committee of experts set up by the Government in the years 1996 – 1998.
The presentation dedicated to the problems of the Constitution analyses the practice of constitutional review carried out by the Supreme Court to date.
The article provides an international perspective on the questions of corruption and the fight against this scourge.
For the first time, the Riigikogu, the Government of the Republic and the general public have at their disposal official material “An Overview of the Application of the Anti-Corruption Act in 1999”. The legislator now has feedback on how the law is interpreted and how its requirements are observed.
The full Estonian language text of the report is available on the Riigikogu homepage at: http://www.riigikogu.ee/rk_komisjonid.html#P49_3935
The article discusses certain widespread confusing notions about social sciences and their place in the society.
*peer-reviewed article
Psychology can aid policymaking in three main areas.
* peer-reviewed article
The article focuses on two interrelated topics.
* peer-reviewed article
The article looks at the Estonian earth’s crust and bio-economy resources on the basis of two large applied research projects. The concept of the article has been prepared with the support of funding from the Estonian Research Council. On the basis of the experiences of the practical carrying out of these projects, it can be discussed if, why and how Estonia as a country with a large renewable and non-renewable resource stock should invest in the research and development of resources in order to realise its development potential.
* Peer-reviewed article
Tourism has become the most important source of income in many countries. World practice has shown that no country has become tourist destination by itself, but with years of targeted work in developing and implementing national tourism policies. Recent years have been successful for the Estonian tourism. According to the statistics, 2.14 million foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in 2018, the export of tourism services accounted for 10.2% of the Estonian goods and services exports and the share of tourism in GDP and employment was approximately 8 per cent, taking into account indirect effects.
* Peer-reviewed article
The democratic potential of the Estonian society can be assessed through the younger generation – what the patterns of their participation, their attitudes towards social-political topics and their barriers to being active citizens are.
* Peer-reviewed article.
In recent years, the education researchers at the University of Tartu have focused on ways to support the development of students’ generic skills in Estonian schools, where the national curriculum is subject-based and teaching has traditionally focused on subjects.
* Peer-reviewed article
Should all children, regardless of their mother tongue, study in the Estonian language? What is the most effective linguistic arrangement for minority pupils in Estonia? Is bilingual education more effective for minority pupils, compared to monolingual education in Russian as the mother tongue with Estonian as the second language?
* Peer-reviewed article
Nikolai Maim (1884–1976) was the only professor present at the opening of the Faculty of Law of the Estonian-language University of Tartu on 1 December 1919.
* Peer-reviewed article
There are not many places where Russia would be so close to Europe as in Narva: one only needs to cross the river.
EU financial perspective 2014–2020 continues to support Estonian investment into the objectives prescribed by the Cohesion Policy. The share of ESF measures will increase thanks to the common floor set by the Council decision.
Education, scientific research, development of technology and innovations play an important role in the development of modern societies. Today, but even more tomorrow the wellbeing of the society and clean environment are dependent on the development of science, innovations and their practical applications.
Culture as a purposeful coordinated joint activity surrounds us everywhere and it is difficult to find in any human community something which would not constitute culture or have no relation to it.
The article discusses the translation of EU documents into Estonian by the EU institutions, and the changing role of translators in this process.
In the author’s opinion, the trends that characterise the development of population in Estonia at present generally are not positive.
In the second part of Cervantes’s famous novel about the adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, the latter is appointed governor of the island Barataria.
*The essay is published in Estonian with the permission of the author. Translated from German by Krista Räni.
*Quotes from the book: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Teravmeelne hidalgo don Quijote La Manchast (The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha). Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, I–II, 1987–1988, translator Aita Kurfeldt.
The author divides the Estonian foreign policy after the restoration of independence into three large periods.
*This article reflects the personal views of the author.
The main objective of medicine is to stop the suffering of patients or, in certain cases, at least to alleviate it. However, the impact of medicine on the unfolding of a human life manifests itself in a considerably wider perspective than solely by restoring the normalcy of life opportunities of a particular person.
The author recalls that the Estonian Human Development Report 2009 was recently deliberated in the Riigikogu as a matter of national importance.
The writer discusses whether we have a moral right to leave problems we have not succeeded in coping with for future generations to resolve. We cannot even foresee what will happen in the next 100 years, yet nuclear waste remains hazardous for tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Our geographical location is immutable as well, and geography will determine more than politics in the long run.
The poor condition of the Latvian economy is common knowledge, the author acknowledges. There has been very much discussion and writing on the subject recently in Estonia. But what does the average Estonian know about other facets, corners and recesses of life in Latvia?
When she accepted the challenge of being appointed Estonia’s cultural attaché in Moscow, the writer was aware of all of the risks and historical baggage as well as the possibilities represented by Estonian-Russian relations on the political and cultural front.
This essay draws on the author’s academic activities in the field of human rights law and scholarship. A major “ideological” controversy in the field is the question whether human rights are truly universal or culturally conditioned. Another, related question is what the human rights policy of the European states should look like.
*The writing of this essay was supported by the Estonian Research Council Grant No. 7182.
As is well known, the concept of memory entered into contemporary discussions by way of its opposition to history.