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?
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 |
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