Event 974

{
  "category": "Kinetic",
  "confidence": "High",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia"
  ],
  "country": "Estonia",
  "description": "Starting from 2026, Estonia will exclude non-Estonian speakers from compulsory military conscription call-ups unless they have at least B1-level proficiency in Estonian. The Riigikogu amended the Military Service Act to require minimum B1 language skills for conscripts to improve effective training, as training is conducted in Estonian and involves complex military terminology. Individuals lacking this proficiency can delay service until age 28, retaining conscript status but will not be placed in reserve until then. This reform ends Estonian language training previously provided by the Defense Forces, which cost about €50,000 annually. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted the change mainly affects young people without a high school diploma.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-11-26T13:02:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "https://news.err.ee/1609869276/estonia-excludes-non-estonian-speakers-from-conscription-call-up-from-2026",
    "Only conscripts with at least a B1 level of Estonian language proficiency will be called up for compulsory military service from 2026.",
    "The Estonian Defense Resources Agency (KRA) told ERR the requirement is necessary because training is conducted in Estonian and increasingly involves complex weapons, communications systems, and specialized terminology.",
    "\"A person with language skills below the B1 level cannot sufficiently understand instructions or course content, which in turn would prevent successful completion of effective military training,\" said communications manager Daisi Želizko-Kask.",
    "Individuals without B1-level Estonian skills will not be placed in the reserve but will retain conscript status until the age of 27 (inclusive).",
    "The EDF will also stop providing Estonian language training. Since 2019, the defense forces have offered remedial Estonian lessons to conscripts with limited language skills.",
    "Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur said the change mainly affects conscripts who have not graduated from high school."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "evidence": [
          "https://news.err.ee/1609869276/estonia-excludes-non-estonian-speakers-from-conscription-call-up-from-2026",
          "Only conscripts with at least a B1 level of Estonian language proficiency will be called up for compulsory military service from 2026.",
          "The Estonian Defense Resources Agency (KRA) told ERR the requirement is necessary because training is conducted in Estonian and increasingly involves complex weapons, communications systems, and specialized terminology.",
          "\"A person with language skills below the B1 level cannot sufficiently understand instructions or course content, which in turn would prevent successful completion of effective military training,\" said communications manager Daisi Želizko-Kask.",
          "Individuals without B1-level Estonian skills will not be placed in the reserve but will retain conscript status until the age of 27 (inclusive).",
          "The EDF will also stop providing Estonian language training. Since 2019, the defense forces have offered remedial Estonian lessons to conscripts with limited language skills.",
          "Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur said the change mainly affects conscripts who have not graduated from high school."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "location_text": "Estonia",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_974_1764270024_54e2734e.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "summary_extended": "The Estonian parliament has passed a bill amending military conscription rules, requiring all conscripts to have at least B1-level proficiency in the Estonian language starting in 2026. The new rule excludes individuals with lower language skills from compulsory service, permitting them to delay conscription until they turn 28, at which point they may be assigned to the reserve if they have not improved their proficiency. The change addresses challenges in effective military training which is conducted in Estonian and increasingly involves specialized weapons and communication systems. Approximately 20% of current conscripts began service without sufficient language skills. This reform also discontinues the defense forces' Estonian language training program introduced in 2019. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized that the change mostly affects those without high school education, as graduates have sufficient exposure to instruction in Estonian to meet language requirements. The law awaits presidential promulgation before coming into effect.",
  "summary_short": "Estonia will require B1-level Estonian language proficiency for conscripts starting 2026, excluding non-Estonian speakers from call-up.",
  "url": "https://news.err.ee/1609869276/estonia-excludes-non-estonian-speakers-from-conscription-call-up-from-2026"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://news.err.ee/1609869276/estonia-excludes-non-estonian-speakers-from-conscription-call-up-from-2026"
}