18.03.25 OPINION ... Enhancing police work through innovative technologies, particularly in traffic surveillance, has sparked societal debate in Estonia for years. However, when the state begins presenting mass surveillance of its own citizens under the guise of innovation and efficiency, the issue takes on an entirely new level of urgency, writes Sten Tikerpe.

17.03.25 OPINION ... It is deeply concerning to read that Prime Minister Kristen Michal plans to stimulate the economy in the new coalition by expanding the exploitation of natural resources even further, writes Kaarel Võhandu.

16.03.25 OPINION ... In Estonia, responsibility for demographic issues formally falls to the minister of social protection, but these issues make up only a small part of their portfolio. To mitigate the demographic crisis, the government needs a cabinet-level official dedicated to identifying the obstacles to having children and proposing solutions to remove them, writes Riina Solman.

16.03.25 OPINION ... Sometimes, even in what seems like the madness of our era, there may be an underlying system. But whether understanding it helps in any way — I wouldn't dare say. The times we live in are like looking through a kaleidoscope — one small turn and the picture changes, writes Raul Rebane in his daily commentary on Vikerraadio.

13.03.25 OPINION ... The Social Democrats must also acknowledge that while some decisions may have been made with noble intentions, their execution and outcomes did not reflect that. Here are a few examples that contributed to the government's poor standing and weak approval ratings, writes Madis Kallas.

12.03.25 OPINION ... The Environmental Board has managed to optimize its operations through difficult decisions and will continue to do so in the future — but this requires cooperation, writes Rainer Vakra in response to Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas' claim that the Environmental Board has grown too large and requires drastic intervention.

12.03.25 OPINION ... Although the new ruling coalition presents the expulsion of the Social Democrats from the government as opening a window in a stuffy room, the long-awaited fresh air will not reach the Estonian people. In reality, one-party rule remains in effect, writes Mihhail Kõlvart.

11.03.25 OPINION ... Bureaucracy in Estonia is excessive. If an entrepreneur has to spend most of their time filling out reports, they have little time left for their core work, making success nearly impossible. Our goal is to turn bureaucracy into a tailwind that propels businesses forward rather than a stumbling block in their path, writes Kristen Michal.

11.03.25 OPINION ... Winning entry of the essay competition "The Next 100 Years of Estonian Culture," organized in 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Cultural Endowment.

10.03.25 OPINION ... Not every rule automatically turns a society into a nanny state, but the more the government regulates personal choices, the greater the risk of losing the balance between freedom and protection, writes Külli Taro in her Vikerraadio daily commentary.

10.03.25 OPINION ... Donald Trump's willingness to accommodate Russia would amount to a temporary attempt to save the country from yet another smuta — a period of decline, chaos and disorder — that is bound to come sooner or later, as it is inherent in the trajectory of Russia as a totalitarian empire, writes Jüri Saar.

09.03.25 OPINION ... The Reform Party is laying the groundwork for dropping the Social Democrats from government. As is always the case in such situations, one must distinguish between the real reasons and the theatrical performance presented to the public, writes Jevgeni Ossinovski.

08.03.25 OPINION ... The prime minister's party has failed for the second consecutive government with its current policies, Isamaa chair Urmas Reinsalu writes.

07.03.25 OPINION ... Staging a crisis is a useful way to draw attention to a new initiative, but when not paired with a follow-up move, it only sows uncertainty, notes political sociology associate professor Mari-Liis Jakobson in Vikerraadio's Friday daily comment.

07.03.25 OPINION ... Artificial intelligence does not replace teachers or students; rather, it complements and supports them by offering new opportunities for acquiring and reinforcing knowledge, writes Gert Jervan.

05.03.25 OPINION ... Understandably, many European countries are cutting their budgets and redirecting funds primarily toward security, but this must not come at the expense of foreign aid. It is time for both the Estonian government and the European Union to increase humanitarian funding to fill the growing gap, writes Eero Janson.

04.03.25 OPINION ... The majority of individuals with undetermined citizenship are, in fact, already loyal to Estonia — they simply need additional motivation and practical support to obtain Estonian citizenship, writes Kirill Jurkov.

04.03.25 OPINION ... The main issue at hand is not the friction between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy — something that was perhaps inevitable given their differing interests — but rather the unexpectedly close brotherhood between Vladimir Putin and Trump and the potential consequences it may yield, writes Meelis Oidsalu.

04.03.25 OPINION ... If AI bias is not addressed in the learning process, it could amplify discriminatory prejudices that students are already exposed to through social media and other channels, argues Oliver Laas in his Vikerraadio daily commentary.

03.03.25 OPINION ... Paradoxically, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may indeed be guilty of not preparing adequately for war. But that is hindsight. Now, we face a greater problem than Zelenskyy's pre-war indecision, writes Ilmar Raag.

03.03.25 OPINION ... A small nation triumphed over industry giants at the Oscars with a seemingly modest yet big-hearted film. It doesn't take much effort to draw parallels between this victory and the current geopolitical landscape, writes ERR's culture portal editor Kaspar Viilup.

02.03.25 OPINION ... If the number of traffic fatalities continues to rise and the cost of vehicle ownership becomes increasingly burdensome, the government must find ways to invest in road maintenance and traffic safety instead of administrative buildings, writes Anneli Ott.

27.02.25 OPINION ... When wealthier parents systematically enroll their children in better, more distant schools, it can increase the risk of stratification, as less privileged schools may lack the necessary pressure to improve their quality, writes Eneli Kindsiko.

26.02.25 OPINION ... While NATO has provided a formidable security umbrella, a strong and secure Ukraine, fully integrated into the European community of democracies, remains the most effective barrier against Russian imperialism, writes Associate Professor of European Studies at the University of Tartu Stefano Braghiroli.

26.02.25 OPINION ... Blaming a victim for something that should never happen to anyone — and which they may have had no control over preventing — is neither just nor humane, writes Lisett Hansen.

26.02.25 OPINION ... Donald Trump's administration's recent statements regarding Ukraine, Russia and Europe leave little doubt that the liberal world order, at least in its old form, is fading, writes Tõnis Saarts.

26.02.25 OPINION ... Estonia's defense industry is prepared for its next phase of development — one in which startups and small subcontractors evolve into major companies or integrators with a more global impact, writes Jaanus Tamm.

24.02.25 OPINION ... Fear and anxiety are of no use; only an industrious spirit and smart action will lead us forward. But how can we make our next developmental leap, and to where? President Alar Karis asked in his Independence Day speech.

24.02.25 OPINION ... Future military escalation is more likely than hypothetical, but for now we are still shaping our destiny ourselves, said Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces Maj. Gen. Andrus Merilo in his first Independence Day speech.

24.02.25 OPINION ... Despite occasional feelings of discontent and criticism, it can still be said Estonia is the best place to live, said President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200) during his Independence Day speech.

21.02.25 OPINION ... In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, hybrid warfare and information manipulation, deterrence has become a key concept in security discussions. As Estonia navigates these challenges, strengthening psychological defense and fostering social cohesion are critical to countering adversarial deterrence efforts, writes Andreas Ventsel.

19.02.25 OPINION ... Harri Tiido examines a report prepared for the Munich Security Conference, noting that Donald Trump's return to power has buried the post-Cold War foreign policy consensus in the U.S., which held that the grand strategy of liberal internationalism was in America's best interest.

19.02.25 OPINION ... We cannot see inside Donald Trump's head, nor can we see inside Vladimir Putin's. We can make assumptions, but it is clear that neither of them thinks in the same way as most Europeans or Estonians, writes Maris Lauri.

18.02.25 OPINION ... Instead of eliminating Tallinn's districts, we should consider increasing their influence to allow citizens to have greater say and participate more closely in shaping life in the capital, writes Sander Andla.

18.02.25 OPINION ... If we create an environment where everyone can participate through their own culture and language, that will not only strengthen cohesion in our society, but also expand our understanding and acceptance of one another, writes Estonian Association of the Deaf (EKL) chair Sirle Papp.

17.02.25 OPINION ... The United States is no longer a reliable partner for Europe and Estonia on critical issues — and this isn't just about Donald Trump. America's inward turn is a deeper, long-term process. Rather than despairing over the current situation, we should see the chaos created by Trump as a wake-up call — an opportunity for Europe to emerge from its long slumber and take responsibility for our continent's present and future, writes Jevgeni Ossinovski.

17.02.25 OPINION ... The Song Festival has always been a concert — one performed by the great Estonian choir — not some other kind of social or mythological phenomenon. The Song Festival is accessible to everyone who can learn the required songs, regardless of social background, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities that do not interfere with singing or any other factor, writes composer and conductor Rasmus Puur.

14.02.25 OPINION ... A moment long discussed has finally arrived. If Europe fails to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, it stands to lose far more than just Ukraine itself. Whereas Russia has not grown stronger, but Europe's fragility has become more apparent, writes Ilmar Raag.

13.02.25 OPINION ... When the VAT rate on basic food products of an economic back marker in the EU is second only to Denmark, it begs the question whether it is the best way to ensure our security? After all, national security is more than military defense spending, Ülo Kivine writes.

13.02.25 OPINION ... If chef Vladimir Putin will be allowed to gulp down his colonial Ukraine omelet and gifted a box of fresh eggs to boot, this will only increase the Kremlin's motivation to try and restore spheres of influence in its near vicinity and the Baltic region. Donald Trump's brand on neo-colonialism seems to be downright conducive of these developments, writes security expert Meelis Oidsalu.

12.02.25 OPINION ... A direct military attack on Estonia remains unlikely in 2025, writes Kaupo Rosin, director general of Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, in the introduction of the agency's annual report. But he also hopes the free world can "overcome its self-imposed collective inertia" and "consign the drive for aggression to the ash heap of history."

11.02.25 OPINION ... The rules-based world order is under increasing pressure. The democratic world must ask itself if will we allow the threats to grow until it is too late or if will we resolutely take a stand to defend our values, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) in his annual speech to the Riigikogu on Tuesday.

29.01.25 OPINION ... Rein Lang writes about three topics regarding which it remains unclear what the ruling coalition has decided.

28.01.25 OPINION ... The malicious use of drones against critical infrastructure has become a real and serious security threat. Effective drone defense is not merely about acquiring random technologies, write Kristian Sirp and Tõnu Pärn.

28.01.25 OPINION ... The Estonian IT sector is not dead in the water following the end of the startup boom but is instead evolving into a part of Estonia's advanced industry, increasingly driven by engineering, writes Andri Haran.

27.01.25 OPINION ... To ensure Estonians can access ultra-fast internet at affordable prices, the market needs greater competition. The prices at which a dominant market player allows competitors access must be fairly regulated and audited by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA), writes Margus Nõlvak.

27.01.25 OPINION ... Estonia's new challenges demand grounded policies based on a strong economy and proven solutions — not capabilities that may or may not materialize by 2030, writes Jüri Tiidermann.

27.01.25 OPINION ... The prospect of Isamaa being invited into government hinges on its performance in the local elections, economic forecasts and, paradoxically, the fate of Eesti 200, writes Tõnis Saarts in his commentary for Vikerraadio.

23.01.25 OPINION ... The overall condition of Estonia's natural environment has been in decline for decades. In an era marked by the loss of biodiversity and high industrial pressures, strengthening the Nature Conservation Act is essential. However, the Ministry of Climate is quite openly shirking this nationally significant responsibility and has instead taken a path that favors industry, writes Eliisa Pass.

23.01.25 OPINION ... The only realistic way to decisively strengthen defense capabilities is likely to utilize European Union joint funding — such as defense bonds — and to ease EU budget rules. This approach is fair to Estonian taxpayers, writes Peeter Tali.