Estonia will not join the global migration pact negotiated by the United Nations. The government announced after a cabinet meeting in Tallinn. "In forming a coalition, we have agreed to make decisions by mutual agreement, but unfortunately have not reached such consensus today," the State Chancellery quoted Prime Minister Jüri Ratas in a statement.
A debate on the pact had previously broken out in the EU and NATO states. While Foreign Minister Sven Mikser pled for accession, Justice Minister Urmas Reinsalu and his Conservative party Pro Patria expressed legal concerns. They fear that the pact will become part of international customary law and thereby restrict the national sovereignty of migration issues.
Before Estonia, the United States, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary and Australia had also declared their refusal. Poland also raised concerns.
The migration pact adopted by the UN member states should help to better organize flight and migration. It is the first agreement of this kind and is considered a milestone in the migration policy of the United Nations.
The measures include:
- that the data should be collected by migrants and issued with identity documents if they do not have one.
- The UN also undertakes to fight against discrimination against immigrants and in particular to take care of the situation of women and children.
- In addition, migrants should gain access to social protection systems.
The legally non-binding document will be adopted at a summit on 10 and 11 December in Morocco.