The Estonian government approved and submitted to the Parliament (Riigikogu) a new draft law aimed at implementing the legislation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The proposal is extensive and amends or supplements a total of 19 laws. A large number of institutions participated in preparing the draft law, ranging from public sector bodies to Estonia’s third sector and international organisations. If the Parliament approves the draft law and the President of the Republic promulgates it, the law will enter into force on 12 June 2026.
According to the Minister of the Interior, Igor Taro, it was necessary to completely rewrite the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens (AGIPA), as the new EU asylum and migration management framework is extensive, detailed and directly applicable. Minister Taro stated that Estonia has already decided not to participate in the relocation of refugees under the solidarity mechanism. Instead, Estonia will contribute financially, through expertise or through a combination of both. He also noted that, since Estonia has assisted a large number of Ukrainian nationals, its contribution for 2026 has been reduced by half.
Joosep Kaasik, Deputy Secretary General for Internal Security at the Ministry of the Interior, added that implementing the reform is a large-scale process involving the renovation of buildings, the development of IT systems, and changes to current work procedures. The most urgent developments are expected to be completed by 12 June, when the package enters into force, while some larger projects will continue until 2029.
- Ministry of the Interior | Siseministeerium (19 February, 2026), Siseminister Taro: rändereform toob meile tugevama kontrolli sisserände üle [Minister of the Interior Taro: Migration reform will give us stronger control over immigration],