Kalev Stoicescu

Decision of the Riigikogu "Approval of the "Basics of Estonian Security Policy""

Estonia · Riigikogu · 7 May 2026

Uuendatud Eesti julgeolekupoliitika alustel on kolm peamist eesmärki: kirjeldada julgeolekukeskkonda 2026. aasta kevade seisuga, selgitada Eesti julgeolekupoliitika põhimõtteid ning kirjeldada ohtude tõrjumiseks ja riskide maandamiseks seatud eesmärke. Riigi strateegilise planeerimise raamis on tegemist poliitika põhialuste dokumendiga, mis on valdkondlike arengu- ja tegevuskavade koostamise aluseks. Strateegiadokumendi keskne eesmärk on seada sihte Eesti julgeoleku tugevdamiseks viies omavahel seotud tegevusvaldkonnas: ühiskonna sidusus ja elanikkonnakaitse, majandusjulgeolek ja elutähtsad teenused, sisejulgeolek, sõjaline kaitse ning rahvusvaheline tegevus. Julgeolekut käsitletakse läbivalt laia riigikaitse põhimõttel, kus oma roll on riigil, kohalikel omavalitsustel, elutähtsaid teenuseid osutavatel ettevõtetel, kogukondadel ja igal inimesel endal. Võrreldes eelmise, 2023. aastal heaks kiidetud JPA-ga on 2026. aasta julgeolekupoliitika alustes tugevdatud mitmeid olulisi suundi. Suurem rõhk on elanikkonnakaitsel kui eraldiseisval ja süsteemsel valdkonnal, millega kaitstakse inimesi kriisidest tingitud ohtude eest ja aidatakse neil nende tagajärgi leevendada. Ühtlasi on vajalik inimeste valmisolek vähemalt seitse päeva iseseisvalt toime tulla. Esile on toodud kogu ühiskonna kriisikindluse ja varustuskindluse suurendamise siht, mille kohaselt peaks ühiskonnal tervikuna olema toimetulemist võimaldavad varud vähemalt 30 päevaks. Oluliselt on laiendatud majandusjulgeoleku käsitlust, sealhulgas elutähtsate teenuste ja varustuskindluse tagamisel. Senisest konkreetsemalt käsitletakse energia- ja varustuskindlust ning riigi rolli kriisiolukorras, sealhulgas vajadust tagada toimivad ühendused. Digitaalses ruumis rõhutatakse küber- ja infoturbe läbivat tähtsust ning iga osapoole vastutust. Täpsustatud on ka hübriidohtude käsitlust, keskendudes haavatavuste vähendamisele ja paindlikule reageerimisele. Meie julgeolekut käsitletakse tihedas seoses kogu Euroopa sisejulgeolekuga, mille fookuses on piiri tugevdamine, sanktsioonide rakendamine ja parem valmisolek tegutseda muutunud julgeolekuolukorras. Sõjalise kaitse keskmes on Eesti tugevdatud kaitsehoiak, mis tugineb iseseisvale kaitsevõimele ja kollektiivkaitsele. Uue mõistena on kasutusele võetud aktiivkaitse põhimõte ning rõhutatakse valmisolekut tegutseda kiiresti ja otsustavalt. Üle kinnitatakse ambitsioonikam siht kulutada sõjalisele kaitsele vähemalt 5 protsenti SKP-st. Tulenevalt muutustest rahvusvahelises julgeolekukorralduses rõhutatakse Euroopa suuremat vastutust julgeoleku tagamisel. Eestile on tähtsad nii atlandiülene kui ka Euroopa ühtsus. Meie julgeoleku keskmes on Eesti kaitsetahe ja võidutahe – põhimõte, et Eesti ei alistu kunagi. Julgeolekupoliitika alused koostab valitsus ja kiidab heaks Riigikogu. Koostamist juhtis Riigikantselei ning sellesse panustasid kõik ministeeriumid ja Eesti Pank. Protsessi olid kaasatud Sisekaitseakadeemia ja Balti Kaitsekolledži teadurid, valdkonna eksperdid, ajakirjanikud, Riigikogu väliskomisjon ja riigikaitsekomisjon ning Rahvusvaheline Kaitseuuringute Keskus.

Act to amend the Cybersecurity Act and other laws (transposition of the 2nd Cybersecurity Directive)

Estonia · Riigikogu · 6 October 2025

With the draft, the 2nd cyber security directive (NIS2) is adopted into Estonian law, the aim of which is to raise the level of cyber security throughout the EU and to harmonize the rules. The State Information System Agency is appointed as the competent authority, whose tasks include the supervision of the cyber security of electricity networks based on the new regulation of the European Commission. If necessary, the government may further delegate some of the tasks in the future. Adoption of NIS2 increases cybersecurity requirements the number of followers in Estonia by approximately 3,000, the total number of followers of the requirements will increase to 6,500. The harmonization of cyber security requirements increases the security of organizations important to society and the economy and improves the competitiveness of companies. In addition, technical changes are made in several laws, including in the fields of e-identification, communications, transport and healthcare. The transposition of the directive will increase the administrative burden on large and medium-sized companies. That the administrative burden as a whole would not increase, the government plans to approve a regulation that eases the obligation to comply with cyber security requirements for network and information systems for nearly 1,200 Estonian companies and local government institutions.

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's international military operation EUNAVFOR Aspides"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 8 September 2025

The bill allows Estonia to contribute up to three defense personnel to the EU maritime security operation EUNAVFOR Aspides in 2026, which was created in response to the Red Sea crisis and whose purpose is to ensure freedom of navigation. The operation began operations on February 19, 2024, and its mandate will last at least until February 28, 2026, with an extension if necessary. The area of ​​operations includes Bab el Mandeb and the Straits of Hormuz, the Red and Arabian Seas and Aden, Oman and international waters of the Persian Gulf. Aspides activities focus on achieving maritime presence and situational awareness and ensuring safe navigation in the region. 21 EU member states are participating in the operation, Greece is the lead country. In 2025, Estonia has contributed one defense soldier to the position of assistant commander of the operational forces headquarters, and in 2026 the contribution will be increased to three defense soldiers.

The decision of the Riigikogu "Using the Defense Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's preparatory units"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 8 September 2025

In 2026, the bill allows for the contribution of up to 76 defense personnel to the readiness units of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As of July 1, 2024, the concepts of the NATO Response Force (NATO Response Force, NRF) and the NATO Readiness Initiative (NATO Readiness Initiative, NRI) were abolished in their current form. They will be replaced by NATO's lighter and more mobile rapid reaction force ARF (Allied Reaction Force) with an updated concept, which is ready to carry out military operations both inside and outside the area of ​​responsibility of SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe). The ARF conducts operations in all domains, and a rapid reaction force is assembled from the forces of NATO allies, whose task is to carry out deterrence and defense activities if necessary. Permanent NATO naval units under the NRF in the NATO Force System until July 2024 (Standing Naval Forces, SNF) remain in high readiness even under the new force model. They are not permanently part of the ARF, but Allied contributions to the SNF can also be used in the ARF with the consent of the Allies. Estonia has previously contributed to the NATO reaction force NRF as part of the SNF with naval headquarters and support ships and mine countermeasures ships, military police and demining units, special forces, movement coordination unit, staff officers and together with other Baltic states with a joint infantry battalion of NRF-14. In 2026, Estonia is ready to contribute to NATO readiness units with one minesweeper and staff officers. Since the minesweeper will be ready as part of the SNF, but it can also be used in the ARF if necessary, the mandate of the Riigikogu is given jointly for the SNF and the ARF to contribute up to 76 defense personnel.

Emergency Law and Other Laws Amendment Act

Estonia · Riigikogu · 2 June 2025

The bill establishes clearer rules and obligations for both state institutions and private companies, so that in crisis situations information reaches people as quickly as possible and people know how to behave. Several terms are added to the law, such as immediate danger notification, shelter, hiding, the national danger notification system EE-ALARM. According to the new procedure, all mass media, electronic communication, information screens in public spaces and at least 10,000 holders of national mobile applications with the end user to join the EE-ALARM system. This ensures that important information reaches people quickly in the event of a potential threat. Certain institutions and persons are entitled to use EE-ALARM. The alarm center is given the task of mediating the danger message via EE-ALARM to all transmitters. In addition, it is determined more precisely who has the right to decide on the activation of sirens. In large buildings where a lot of people move, it occurs the obligation to build a shelter or at least to adapt the existing premises to places of refuge. Public shelter must be installed in new buildings under construction with a closed area of ​​at least 10,000 m². According to the bill, this requirement will take effect from July 1, 2026. From July 1, 2028, a non-public shelter must be built if a residential, accommodation or catering building, office building, commercial or service building or entertainment, educational, a healthcare or other public or special building with a closed net area of ​​at least 1200 m2, or an industrial and warehouse building with a closed net area of ​​at least 1500 m2. Even in existing buildings, the rooms must be adapted as shelters if possible. The Rescue Board will be tasked with organizing shelter-related activities, including informing people and raising awareness. State and local government agencies must ensure that their employees, as well as vital ones service providers, would undergo the relevant civil protection training. This helps ensure that in times of crisis all public sector workers can respond quickly, help people and keep essential services running.

Law on withdrawal from the convention prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and requiring their destruction

Estonia · Riigikogu · 5 May 2025

With the adoption of the draft, Estonia withdraws from the convention prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and demanding their destruction, i.e. the Ottawa Convention. The reason for the retreat is Russia's full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine, and therefore the deteriorating security situation. In the current security situation, the Defense Forces need additional flexibility and freedom to choose weapon systems and solutions that count against us the nature of the targeted threat and the behavior of the potential adversary. In parallel with Estonia, withdrawal procedures from the Ottawa Convention have also been initiated in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland. As of May 12, 2025, the parliaments of Latvia and Lithuania have approved withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention.

Law to amend the Emergency Act and other laws

Estonia · Riigikogu · 21 April 2025

Eelnõu on vajalik selleks, et luua järk-järgult elanikele ohuolukorras varjumise võimalus, reguleerida viivitamatu ohuteate edastamist, sh sireeniseadmete kasutamist ning suurendada elanikkonna kriisideks valmisolekut läbi elanikkonnakaitse koolituse kohustuslikuks muutmise avaliku sektori ametnikele ja töötajatele ning elutähtsateenuse osutaja töötajatele.

Riigikogu decision "Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic for the procurement of ammunition in the years 2025-2028 at a cost of 1.6 billion euros"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 12 November 2024

The decision of the Riigikogu "Using the Defense Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state in the European Union's international military operation EUNAVFOR Aspides"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 9 September 2024

The bill allows the contribution of up to three defense personnel to the European Union's (EU) military operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (European Union's Naval Force Operation ASPIDES) in the Red Sea region.

The decision of the Riigikogu "Using the Defense Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's preparatory units"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 9 September 2024

The bill allows for the contribution of up to 76 defense personnel to the readiness units of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including the rapid reaction force ARF (Allied Reaction Force) and permanent naval units SNF (Standing Naval Forces).

The decision of the Riigikogu "Using the Defense Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's preparatory units"

Estonia · Riigikogu · 9 October 2023

The bill allows Estonia to prepare up to 76 defense forces within the framework of the NRF in 2024. After the end of the NRF, Estonia wants to contribute to the NATO readiness units, which include both the SNF and the ARF, with up to 76 defense personnel (minehunters, staff officers in the command of special operations and air units, and a special operations target unit). Since the minesweeper would be ready as part of the SNF, but it could also be used in the ARF if necessary, it is necessary from the Riigikogu obtain a joint mandate for SNF and ARF. In connection with the approval of NATO's new force model (NATO Force Model, NFM) at the meeting of NATO defense ministers in February 2022, the NRF and the NATO Readiness Initiative (NATO Readiness Initiative, NRI) will disappear in their current form in the second half of 2024. They will be replaced by NATO's ARF (Allied Reaction Force) with an updated concept, which is ready to conduct military operations both within SACEUR's area of ​​responsibility and outside. The NATO Standing Naval Forces (SNF), which were part of the NRF in the previous NATO force system, will still remain at a high level of readiness even under the new force model. They are not permanently part of the ARF, but Allied contributions to the SNF can also be used in the ARF with the consent of the Allies. From 2024, the participation in the NRI will be stopped, because the previous contribution based on the Scouts battalion to the armored infantry company and the support element is not no longer possible or justified. The manpower of the Scout Battalion is largely used to man a reduced infantry company on Operation Inherent Resolve. In addition, Great Britain and Denmark respectively suspend the participation of their brigade and battalion in the NRI, which included the Estonian company. In connection with the Russian military attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the North Atlantic Council activated the NRF for the defense of the alliance for the first time, and its various units in readiness were transferred to the territory of the allied countries for the purposes of deterrence and protection.