Ramon Loik
FIELD OF RESEARCH: 2. Culture and Society; 2.13. Political Science and Administration; CERCS SPECIALTY: S170 Political and administrative sciences ; SPECIALITY: International Comparative Security Studies. Theory and Practice of EU Security Integration. European Studies, incl. security and defence cooperation, int. internal security and law enforcement cooperation. EU Studies of CSDP and JHA/AFSJ. Educational Cooperation of Internal Security & Law Enforcement, External Dimension and Europeanization. Baltic Security Policy.
Phone: +37253498302
Address: Estonian Academy of Security Sciences
University of Tartu
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
Phone: +37253498302
Address: Estonian Academy of Security Sciences
University of Tartu
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
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Papers by Ramon Loik
Community volunteers play an important role in raising public awareness of and preparedness for potential crises. National defence and internal security volunteers, acting as a “bridge” between state institutions and civil society, practice a substantial role in developing readiness for potential crises and society’s resilience.
There is a significant need for volunteers in both national defence and internal security, and the authorities are looking for ways to expand the base of well-prepared and motivated human resources additionally available in emergency situations as recently experienced during COVID–19 challenge in Estonia.
National defence and internal security volunteers, such as members of the Estonian Defence League, assistant police officers, volunteer rescuers and volunteer maritime rescuers, are also an essential part of building a comprehensive chain of resilience from a cross-sectoral perspective and enhanced opportunities for civil-military cooperation planning, which also follows NATOʼs view of developing a whole-of-society approach as a principal basis for deterrence and a cornerstone of the NATO CIMIC Vision 2025.
The first chapter of the policy paper outlines the rationale and principles for involving volunteers in national security, defence and safety functions in Estonia. The second chapter examines the characteristics of such involvement and compares them with those found in countries that rely extensively on volunteers in their security sector – Austria, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
The following chapters focus on the legal competences, the organisational arrangements for involving volunteers, and some of the factors that motivate volunteering in this sector, such as training and needful social guarantees. The overlapping demand from different state agencies for the same volunteer resources is highlighted, as well as considering some options for establishment outlook of a so-called internal security reserve corps in Estonia.
According to amendments adopted in April 2020, security sector volunteers have some extended authority in emergency situations in Estonia. As debates in the Parliament enlightened, the proportionality between legal competences, public tasks and actual skills of volunteers should be guaranteed to avoid drawbacks in action. Thus, any significant enhancement of law enforcement powers must be reflected in the terms and conditions of specialised training and advanced qualification assessment.
In order to support this, a comprehensive competence model and a cooperation system that correspond to a broad concept of national defence should be further developed; these should include management of voluntary functions and allow for enhancing the effectiveness of voluntary resource involvement. The Policy Paper proposes that the appropriate centre for competence should bring together the training and development capabilities of the Estonian Military Academy, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and the Estonian Defence League School.
Euroopa avalikkuse turvatunde erosiooni peegeldavad viimaste aastate Eurostati andmed, millest võib järeldada, et julgeoleku ja õiguskaitse tagamist peetakse muuhulgas rändekriisis ning majandusseisakus vaevleva Euroopa Liidu üheks olulisimaks ülesandeks.
Eelmise aasta aprillis võttis Euroopa Komisjon vastu täiendava Euroopa julgeoleku tegevuskava aastani 2020, milles sõnastatud väljakutsete fookuses on radikaliseerumise ennetamine ja varajane avastamine ning senisest tulemuslikum võitlus terrorismi ja piiriülese organiseeritud kuritegevusega. Samuti pakutakse välja meetmeid rändekriisis rebeneva piirihalduse ulatuslikumaks remondiks, et illegaalsete liikumiste „võrgusilmad“ oleksid võimalikult tihedad.
Organisatsiooniliselt olulise sammuna käivitati käesoleva aasta 1. jaanuarist Euroopa politseiameti Europol juures Euroopa terrorismivastase võitluse keskus (ingl k: The European Counter Terrorism Centre), mis peaks täiendavalt toetama liikmesriikide võitlust leviva radikaliseerumisega, tagades eesmärgina parema koordineerituse ja vastutavate asutuste vahelise sujuvama koostöö.
Kujunenud olukorrast ja järgnevatest sammudest näeme, et soovitav piiriülene tulemuslikkus on takerdunud nii liikmesriikide erinevate prioriteetide, väheühilduvate õiguskordade kui ka ametkondadevahelise infovahetuse puslesse, kuhu tuleb suunata ka jõupingutused uuteks lahendusteks. Lähiaastad näitavad, kas EL suudab sisejulgeoleku tagamisse ja turvatunde tõstmisse reaalset lisapanust anda.