Secretary of State

The Secretary of State is in charge of organizing the work of the Government of the Republic and heads the Government Office.

The Secretary of State prepares the agenda for each government sitting and takes part in sittings with the right to speak. The Secretary of State ensures that the draft legal acts of the Government of the Republic are in conformity with the Constitution and other legislation, and co-signs all government regulations and orders as well as the minutes of government sittings.

The Secretary of State heads the work of the Competition and Evaluation Committee of Higher State Public Servants and gives the government its opinion on appointment and release from office of secretary generals of ministries.

The Secretary of State is the keeper of the state seal and keeps records on use of the seal.

The Secretary of State is appointed and released from office by the Prime Minister. Only a person with a higher education in law may serve as Secretary of State. As the head of the Government Office, the Secretary of State has the same rights as those granted to ministers as heads of their respective ministries.

The Government Office is a government institution established at the Government of the Republic and its function is to support the Government of the Republic and the Prime Minister in planning and implementing policy and ensuring good governance.

The Government Office:

• supports the planning of the government’s work, prepares the government’s programme and coordinates its implementation;
• prepares and organizes government sittings and cabinet meetings;
• ensures that the government’s draft legal acts are constitutional and in conform to other legislation;
• coordinates the shaping of Estonia’s positions and advises and supports the Prime Minister in European Union affairs;
• organizes public relations for the government and the Prime Minister and internal public relations work related to the European Union;
• advises the Prime Minister on national security and organizes the work of the Government Security Committee;
• advises and supports the Prime Minister in directing the work of the Research and Development Council;
• organizes recruitment, selection and development of top-level public servants.

The Government Office also organizes matters related to state and local government insignia and performs other obligations imposed on it by legislation and other legal acts.