There are 12 ministers in the new government: Minister of Climate Kristen Michal; Minister of Culture Heidy Purga; Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur; Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo; Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas; Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev; Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna; Minister of Health Riina Sikkut; Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets; Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet; Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas; and Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo.
Prime Minister Kallas has confirmed that the ministers will oversee the following areas of responsibility:
Minister of Climate: overall implementation of green reforms; climate policy, incl. the drafting, implementation and supervision of climate plans in different sectors; steering enterprise towards the use of cleaner technologies; organising transport based on the needs of a cleaner environment; expediting the development of renewable energy and coordinating the implementation of renewable energy projects; organising circular-economy and waste-handling policy; organising environmental and nature conservation; organising the use, protection, regeneration and accounting of natural resources; environmental supervision; weather observation, nature survey, marine survey, water protection and water use policy; policy on the protection and use of the marine environment; policy on the protection of ambient air and radiation and nuclear safety; and organising monitoring.
This minister will also be responsible for the following areas: energy; organising the use of mineral resources; geological mapping and ensuring geological competence at the national level; the housing economy and construction; transport and transport infrastructure (incl. freight, transit and logistics); traffic management (incl. rail, road, water and air traffic); planning of transport systems, mobility and mobility services (incl. public transport infrastructure investments and major procurements in the field of transport); improving traffic safety; and reducing the harm caused to the environment by modes of transport.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology: economic policy; development of the personalised state; industry, trade and informatics; telecommunications and tourism; national organisation of media services and state supervision of the provision of media services; coordination of the development of state information systems; activities for the development of technology and innovation in the business sector; organising protective measures for metrology, standardisation, certification, accreditation, licences, registers, consumer protection and trade; managing state stockpiles; implementing national digital reforms and modernising the public services this involves, incl. ensuring export development, investments and the trustworthiness of foreign investments and managing, organising and supervising the guaranteeing of public-sector digital development and national cybersecurity.
This minister will also be responsible for the following areas: overseeing employment, the labour market, working relations and the working environment; promoting equal treatment and gender equality in working life and the economy; and foreign trade.
Minister of Finance: planning and implementing the state’s budget, resource management, taxation, customs and financial policy; financial analysis and forecasts; consultation on and coordination of state aid; coordination of accounting, auditing, national statistics, public service and national HR policy; activities related to state assets and public procurements; planning and coordination of public administration; management of the state’s cash flow; organising the use of external funding; and organising state-issued loans and guarantees.
Minister of Regional Affairs: management of the Ministry of Rural Affairs; planning and implementation of rural life policy, agricultural policy and fisheries policy; organising the guaranteeing of food safety and compliance; coordinating activities pertaining to the protection and health of plants and animals; organising agricultural education and research & development.
This minister will also be responsible for the following areas: developing and advising local government units, incl. organising the work of the special representative of the government to Ida-Viru County; financial management of local governments; organising the use of regional programme resources; planning and coordination of regional development and administration; organising and supervising spatial planning activities;
postal communication; matters pertaining to the regional development of and investments in enterprise; planning and organising activities linked to public transport within the area of competence of local governments, with the exception of major procurements; accessibility;
shaping rural policy; registering and updating land data and making such data available to the public; fulfilling tasks linked to spatial databases; managing spatial data services; organising activities linked to geological, cartographical and geodetic works and land valuation; conducting land management operations; guiding and implementing land reform operations; acquiring land needed by the state; and fulfilling any tasks issued by the administrator of state assets linked to unimproved state land.
Minister of Social Protection: planning and organising social security, social welfare and the pension system; cross-border coordination of social insurance systems; promoting gender equality and equal treatment in private life and family life; producing the draft Act Amending the Family Law Act in connection with marriage equality reforms and the draft Implementing Acts for the Registered Partnership Act; guaranteeing the rights of children and promoting their welfare; and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and coordinating related activities.
Minister of Health: protection of the health of the population; health care, incl. occupational health care; development of the health system; health insurance; medications; and medical equipment.
Minister of Education and Research, Minister of Defence, Minister of Culture, Minister of the Interior & Minister of Foreign Affairs: The areas of responsibility of these ministers will remain unchanged. Minister of Justice: There will be one change within the area of responsibility of this minister, whereby the task of producing the draft Act Amending the Family Law Act in connection with marriage equality reforms and the draft Implementing Acts for the Registered Partnership Act will transfer to the Minister of Social Protection.
Prime Minister Kallas also confirmed the procedure for the substitution of ministers: in her absence she will be substituted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, and in his absence by Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets.
Prime ministerial orders in regard to the substitution of ministers and their areas of responsibility are published in the State Gazette.
