Estonian parliament discussed civil society developments

On January 20, 2005, Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) conducted its first
public hearing and debate on the implementation of the Estonian Civil
Society Development Concept (EKAK) for 2004-2006 as a topic of significant
national importance.

Jaan Õunapuu, Minister of the Regional Affairs who chairs the joint
committee of EKAK gave a full report of the progress of the implementation
plan of EKAK, adopted by the Estonia government in August 12, 2005. Minister
Õunapuu was followed by the Chair of the Estonian Parliament's
Constitutional Committee, Mr Urmas Reinsalu reporting on the results and
proposals of the nonprofits. Finally, the Head of the Riigikogu's EKAK
Support Group, Mr Avo Üprus reported what different ministries and
nonprofits have done in order to implement EKAK. All speakers received
numerous questions from all political parties elected to the Riigikogu. The
discussion lasted 3,5 hours.

Reporting on the implementation of EKAK on parliamentaty level takes place
every two years. The discussion in the parliament was preceded by a meeting
of three standing committees of the Riigkogu (Constitional, Social andCultural)
and the representatives of citizens’ associations. It was
recognized together that first steps have been taken but some notably
important actions are still to be done. The main speakers from the nonprofit
side included Kristina Mänd from NENO and Mall Hellam from Open Estonia
Foundation as well as the Estonian NGO Roundtable.

During the upcoming years, there is an urgent need to work out transparent
and clear funding schemes targeted to support the development of nonprofits
and the civil society from the state budget, set adequate and informational
register of non-profit organizations, and data collection methods describing
civic engagement, develop uniform mechanisms for the involvement of
nonprofits to the development and implementation of policies and legislative
acts and enahnce civic education and public awareness. The need to establish
a civil society endowment, as proposed by the nonprofits, was stressed several times.

EKAK was approved by the Estonian Parliament December 2002. It is a strategy
that specifies the mutually complementary roles of the public authority and
citizen initiative and the principles of cooperation for shaping and
implementing public policies and building up a civil society in Estonia. The
general aim of the document is to express common understanding of the public
authority and the nonprofit sector about cooperation as social partners in
order to build up a civil society and a social economy in Estonia with the
active participation of its citizens. Many countries have reached success in
this area. Estonia’s EKAK, English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Compacts,

Canada’s Accord and Croatian agreement are documents to prove it.

EKAK is available at www.ngo.ee.

Kristina Mänd
Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations (NENO)
Uus 5, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia
Tel: (372) 631 1430
Fax: (372) 631 1432
www.ngo.ee