NordenBladet —
The Riigikogu heard replies to six interpellations.
Members of the Riigikogu had submitted interpellations to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the preparations for and the cost of the transition to Estonian-language education, the cost of the coalition agreement between the Reform Party, Isamaa and Social Democrats, and the next year’s state budget, and the supporting of businesses.
Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Natalia Malleus, Enn Eesmaa, Marek Jürgenson, Taavi Aas, Tõnis Mölder, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Anneli Ott, Kersti Sarapuu, Jaanus Karilaid, Siret Kotka and Dmitri Dmitrijev had submitted an interpellation concerning the supporting of businesses in managing the high electricity prices.
The interpellators wished to know what measures and in what volume the Government was planning to implement to mitigate the rise in the prices for energy carriers for businesses.
Kallas explained that the Government had decided to implement various measures in order to reduce the effects that the rise in energy and fuel prices was causing for the performance of businesses.
“First, we have invested in the establishment of an LNG mooring quay. We have made an agreement for a ship with regasification capacity to arrive at the quay. We have allocated 170 million to acquire a gas reserve already under the previous Government with the aim of increasing gas supply. We have decided that micro and small enterprises, sole proprietors, non-profit organisations and foundations with a consumption volume of up to 1 GW per year will be able to join the universal service,” Kallas said.
She added that, in order to help large businesses to make it through the energy war, the Government was offering liquidity measures that could be used to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis. There is also a possibility to replace natural gas with other fuels and a possibility to apply for investment support to ensure energy supply security. “In addition, we have extended the lower tax rate established for liquefied gas, diesel fuel, diesel fuel for specific purposes, light heating oil, heavy fuel oil, shale-derived fuel oil, natural gas, motor natural gas, motor natural gas in liquefied form, and electrical energy,” Kallas noted.
The Prime Minister explained in what financial volume the Government was planning to support businesses in managing the high energy prices, and gave an overview: 40 million for a mooring quay, 170 million for the acquisition of a gas reserve, an estimated 210 million for the effect on Eesti Energia’s profit as a universal service will be provided to micro and small businesses, an estimated 100 million for liquidity assistance to large businesses through the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, 43 million for the resource efficiency measure provided by the Environmental Investment Centre, and 10 million for agricultural and food industry businesses with separate ensurance of energy supply security.
Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur replied to interpellations concerning the giving of 155-mm howitzers to Ukraine for military aid, and the further development of Estonian artillery within the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the redundancy of generals in the Defence Forces, and homosexual propaganda in the Estonian Defence Forces.
During the open microphone, Peeter Ernits and Tarmo Kruusimäe took the floor.
The sitting ended at 7.21 p.m.
Source: Parliament of Estonia