The Chair: To be allowed to vote for the Estonian Parliament you needed to be a descendant of Estonian people from before 1940.

Others applied for Estonian citizenship.

61. Considers that the level of confidence achieved should permit Estonia to take a few additional steps on the path towards a fully inclusive society, notably to encourage non-citizens to apply for citizenship, implement the language law in a liberal way which ensures respect for the principles of justified public interest and proportionality and provide for broad involvement of ethnic minority groups in the formulation of the integration policy, which should continue after the expiry of the current State programme "Integration in Estonian Society 2000-2007"; welcomes the fact that a pragmatic approach to the switch to use of Estonian ...[+++]as the language of tuition in all secondary level schools has been opted for;

52. Considers that the level of confidence achieved should permit Estonia to take a few additional steps on the path towards a fully inclusive society, notably to encourage non-citizens to apply for citizenship, implement the language law in a liberal way which ensures respect for the principles of justified public interest and proportionality and provide for broad involvement of ethnic minority groups in the formulation of the integration policy, which should continue after the expiry of the current State programme ‘Integration in Estonian Society 2000-2007’; welcomes the fact that a pragmatic approach to the switch to use of Estonian ...[+++]as the language of tuition in all secondary level schools has been opted for;

54. Observes that the governmental programme for the integration of minorities into Estonian society is bringing positive results; notes, however, that the number of stateless persons (around 165 000 according to the Estonian Citizenship and Migration Board) is still a matter that requires further efforts and encouragement from the Estonian authorities as well as increased interest and motivation on the part of the stateless persons;

54. Observes that the governmental programme for integration of minorities in Estonian society is bringing positive results; notes, however, that the number of stateless persons (around 165 000 according to the Estonian Citizenship and Migration Board) is still a matter that requires further efforts and encouragement from the Estonian authorities as well as increased interest and motivation on the part of the stateless persons;