Estonia

At the opening of the annual conference on technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation on May 24 Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) said that it is important to seize the opportunity to invest in defense technology because it will strengthen security and boost the economy. In her speech she emphasized that \"The changed security situation in Europe has clearly shown the need for increased investment in defense.

In their election manifestos for the European Parliament, the political parties have paid a lot of attention to environmental issues; there is talk of steps towards climate neutrality, but also of issues that directly affect Estonian entrepreneurs and rural life. The Reform Party\'s program links the environment with security. According to candidate Hanah Lahe, the party emphasizes restoring and preserving biodiversity.

Estonia\'s e-Governance Academy (eGA) is leading a digital transformation project in Ukraine that will improve the efficiency, security and access to public services for citizens and businesses. The project will develop services for the government e-service app Diia, improve data exchange between registers and service providers and further develop eID infrastructure.

While work on Estonia\'s newly drafted National Security Concept began before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) says that the changed security situation has made its adoption all the more pressing.

The Estonian Riigikogu recently condemned the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declared the Russian regime terrorist.

While the state does need to find new revenues, there will not be any substantive debate on taxation over the next four months, new Finance Minister Annely Akkermann (Reform) says.

Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur (Reform) is on an official visit to the United States, and will meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin while in Washington.

In recent weeks, the topic of Russian travel into the European Union has become the subject of public debate in Estonia and Finland. Many Russians are taking advantage of the fact that the Finns lifted the pandemic restrictions this July as the opening of the Finnish-Russian border is an opportunity for them to use Finland as a transit point to other European countries.

Estonia has witnessed several changes of government in the last few years. In July 18, there has been another one. However, Estonia\'s success story as the most economically and technologically developed country in transition has not stopped yet. The previous Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, has now retaken his position as the new Prime Minister, thus ensuring that his country manages well under transition.

Estonia is doing all it can to maintain its current income tax system in the EU tax debate, Minister of Finance Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform) told ERR on Tuesday, confirming reports of Estonia, alongside Hungary, blocking a revised set of EU tax rules.