Hannes Hanso

Riigikogu decision "Using the Defense Forces in the fulfillment of the international obligations of the Estonian state in other international military operations led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its member states, the European Union or the United Nations, when contributing to it for the first time"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 5 November 2018

The draft provides for the use, if necessary, of up to 50 defense forces of the Defense Forces in a military operation organized for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace and security, or in other international military operations in accordance with the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, on the basis of the provisions of Chapters VI or VII of the UN Charter, led by NATO or its member states, the EU or the United Nations, when contributing for the first time. Granting such mandate arises from the need to respond as flexibly as possible to a situation that can quickly escalate, for example, if Estonia's security political interest requires the rapid deployment of Defense Forces units to an operation that does not fit under other exceptions enabling rapid response provided in the National Defense Act (e.g. participation in NATO response forces). In 2018, Estonia also contributed up to 50 defense personnel.

Amending the Law on the Organization of the Defense Forces and consequently an Act to amend other Acts

Estonia · Riigikogu · 5 March 2018

With the changes, the structure of the Defense Forces and the levels of its establishment are organized in order to make the activities of the Defense Forces more flexible and enable a faster response to new tasks. The structure of the Defense Forces, the names of the structural units and their tasks will be stipulated in the future, similar to other government agencies, at the level of the statute. After the amendment enters into force, the tasks and rights and obligations of the Defense Forces will still be regulated at the level of law. The current regulation does not allow operational and flexible changes to the structure of the Defense Forces. The law also excludes the government's obligation to establish the standard size of military units, their structure, names of subunits, belonging to a military type and type of weapon, as well as the division of military units into military units in permanent readiness, rapid reaction military units, and military units in basic readiness. With this, the Commander of the Defense Forces is given greater scope for the tasks of the military unit in the organization of execution. Also, the job titles of the commanders of the structural units of the Defense Forces will be omitted from the Defense Service Act and they will be replaced with an indication that it is a position appointed by the government or the minister responsible for the field. In the future, the law will only deal with the appointment of the head of the Defense Forces. According to the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Defense Forces, no additional positions appointed by the government will be created, but the government will be left with the option to anticipate them. The Minister of Defense appoints the Deputy Commander of the Defense Forces, the Chief of the General Staff of the Defense Forces, the Commander of the Navy, the Commander of the Air Force, the Commander of the Special Operations Command, the Commander of the Intelligence Center and the Commander of the Support Command. The draft statute envisages giving the defense minister a new right to appoint the commander of the cyber command and the commander of the military police. The bill provides for the possibility of involving reservists in international military operations to increase the ability of the defense forces to respond more quickly to immediate threats. The bill also stipulates misdemeanor punishments for using an unmanned vehicle on the territory of the Defense Forces without the permission of the Defense Forces and for photographing or recording without prior permission. Defense facilities where the recording or transmission of an image or image is prohibited are generally marked with a prohibition sign or a reminder of this upon entering the facility. The bill also changes the active military the rules of long-term assignment.

Riigikogu decision "Using the Defense Forces in the fulfillment of the international obligations of the Estonian state in other international military operations led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its member states, the European Union or the United Nations, when contributing to it for the first time"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 November 2017

The draft provides for the use, if necessary, of up to 50 active-duty members of the Defense Forces from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, in a military operation conducted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its member states, the European Union, or the United Nations, on the basis of the provisions of Chapter VI or VII of the Charter of the United Nations, for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace and security, or international in another international military operation in accordance with the generally recognized principles and norms of law, when contributing to it for the first time.

Riigikogu decision "Extending the deadline for the use of the Defense Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state in the European Union military mission EUNAVFOR Med/Sophia"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 November 2017

The bill provides for the extension of the deadline for the use of up to six active servicemen of the Defense Forces as part of the EUNAVFOR Med/Sophia military mission led by the European Union until December 31, 2018, starting from January 1, 2018. The purpose of the operation is to prevent the activities of human traffickers in the central Mediterranean between the territorial sea of Italy and Malta and Libya. Estonia has been participating in the EUNAVFOR Med/Sophia operation since August 2015. The bill allows up to six the continuation of active serviceman's participation in the operation.

Law on the Ratification of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America

Estonia · Riigikogu · 17 April 2017

In the spring of 2014, the US launched Operation Atlantic Resolve in connection with Russia's aggression in Ukraine, which significantly increased the US military presence in all eastern NATO member states, including Estonia. The agreement is also based on the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA), which gives the right to specify it with bilateral agreements of the member states. In 2015, an agreement was signed between Estonia and the USA on areas held by the Defense Forces and the Building Use Agreement, which will now be replaced by a new and more detailed one. The new agreement regulates the status of the US armed forces, their dependents and contractors, tax exemptions, import and export of property, environmental protection, customs procedures, sharing of criminal jurisdiction between Estonia and the US, etc. An effective legal basis creates the best conditions for the presence of US troops in Estonia. Both those who decide on the presence and the armed forces it is safer and easier for you to send your units to a country where there is a functioning procedure for solving practical issues. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Defense and the US Ambassador on January 17, 2017 in Tallinn. After signing, it is necessary to ratify the agreement in the Riigikogu, because in order to implement it, it is necessary to amend the VAT Act and the National Defense Act. The agreement shall enter into force on the date of a later note by which the parties have sent each other a notice on the completion of the domestic procedure necessary for the agreement to enter into force. In Estonia, completion of the procedure means ratification.

Act on Amendments to the Value Added Tax Act and the National Defense Act (Implementation of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 17 April 2017

The bill amends the VAT Act and the National Defense Act. The amendment to the VAT Act adds to the list of persons to whom tax exemption applies when importing goods for personal use and VAT refund when receiving goods or services in Estonia, if this is stipulated in an international agreement. An employee of a contract partner of the foreign armed forces is added to the list, to whom the Republic of Estonia and the United States of America respectively apply tax exemption for the government's defense cooperation agreement on the import of things needed for personal use. According to the amendment to the National Defense Act, it is possible to grant an entry permit to Estonia to an employee of a contractual partner providing services to the armed forces of a foreign country on the same basis as to a person connected to the armed forces of a foreign country. The bill supports defense cooperation within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and promotes the principle of collective self-defense within the framework of the arrival of the armed forces of the allied countries in Estonia and their long-term stay here. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2017.

Riigikogu's decision "Approval of the foundations of Estonian security policy"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 March 2017

The purpose and principles of the security policy create a framework for assessing the security environment and determining the directions of action necessary to ensure security. The purpose of the security policy derives from the Constitution of Estonia, according to which the independence and independence of the Estonian state, the continuity of the people and the state, territorial integrity, constitutional order and the safety of the population are ensured. Principles are understood as viewpoints that lead to a goal to be based on when achieving and from which a whole leading to the best result is created. The scope of what is covered by the security policy changes over time. Based on a broad concept of security, the document focuses on those areas of the state's activities, with the help of which security can be created and secured. Similar to the previous document, its starting point is the implementation of security policy while respecting fundamental rights and freedoms and protecting constitutional values. Compared to now the current document now specifies the wording of the principles.

About the closing of Sõmera Kodu

Estonia · Riigikogu · 23 February 2017

Riigikogu decision "Establishment of the Estonian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 11 May 2015

The bill provides for appointing Hannes Hanso as head of the delegation and Eerik-Niiles Kross and Mailis Reps as members. The substitute members are Raivo Aeg, Mart Helme and Andres Herkel.