Several ministries in Estonia have criticised the Ministry of Climate’s proposed new climate law, ERR reports. The ministries argued that the bill’s structure and purpose were unclear, and that the bill failed to define the rights and obligations under the proposed law. Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets and Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta said that the bill…
Estonia has voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution urging Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories, ERR reports. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted that international law must apply to all UN member states. At the same time, he stressed that the vote did not change Estonia’s support for Israel. The US…
Estonia’s three-party coalition government has reached agreement on tax changes, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced, ERR reports. He said that the government would raise the corporate profit tax, personal income tax, and VAT to finance increased spending on defence. The government will raise the VAT rate by 2 percentage points as of 1 July 2025…
Estonia’s Ministry of Finance has proposed postponing the introduction of a unified tax-free income threshold until 2026, ERR reports. The ministry said that the move would ensure that Estonia’s state budget deficit did not exceed 3% as required under EU law. Under the current system, gross income of EUR 1,200 per month is exempt from…
Some talks have started on a possible candidate for Estonia’s next president in 2026, ERR reports. The president is elected by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, provided an agreement is reached by a two-thirds majority of MPs. The current three-party ruling coalition is two seats short of the 68 votes needed in the 101-seat parliament….
Estonia’s Foreign Ministry had “no role whatsoever” in organising or initiating a recent visit by six Estonian MPs to China, the ministry’s director of media relations, Liisa Toots, stated, ERR reports. She said that the visit was organised by the Chinese embassy in Estonia in cooperation with the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, which…
Estonian President Alar Karis stressed that the state budget must remain under strict parliamentary control, BNS reported. Speaking at the opening of the autumn session of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, Karis said that MPs should not engage in bargaining for budget funds for their supporters, but instead focus on making the most important decisions…
Members of the Estonia-China friendship group of the Estonian parliament will probably no longer travel to China on trips paid for by the host country, the group’s chairman, MP Toomas Kivimägi of the Estonian Reform Party, stated, ERR reports. Earlier, controversy arose when a group of Estonian MPs paid a visit to China, with costs…
Long-time Estonian MP, former prime minister Siim Kallas will step down from the parliament, the Riigikogu, ERR reports. Timo Suslov, secretary general of the Estonian Reform Party, said that Kallas, 75, was stepping down due to health reasons. His seat in the Riigikogu will now be taken up by Reform’s Jüri Jaanson. Kallas said that…
