The blast was so strong that the government will likely decide against joining the global compact. Minority coalition partner Pro Patra is unanimously against Estonia signing the pact, while the ranks of the Center Party also include skeptics.
Inconspicuous fall of 2016
The UN General Assembly approved a declaration for refugees and migrants, tasking the organization with negotiating a global migration pact. The aim was to bring countries of origin and destination together on concepts of migration.
Officials and politicians spent the following months writing up countries’ positions. An event involving the Estonian Refugee Council, human rights center, Estonian Red Cross and the human rights institute was held in September of 2017.
Active spring 2018
A year and a half had passed. Estonia’s positions were largely set by March 13 which is when Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser presented them to the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee. Three items on the agenda took about 40 minutes to cover. Records reveal a single question by Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform) after which members of the committee, including Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) MP Henn Põlluaas, acknowledged information presented by Mikser.
Mikser took the positions to the government a few days later. Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu (Pro Patria) kept the government from deciding on the day even though it was planned. His main concern was whether the declaration could later morph into a presumed custom that countries would be obligated to honor. The discussion was postponed by one week.