The Riigikogu continued the deliberation of a Bill concerning taxes which had been declared to be a matter of confidence

The deliberation of the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and the Act on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and Other Acts (145 SE), initiated by the Government, which had been declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading, was adjourned at today’s sitting. The Bill will raise the excise duty rates on alcohol and tobacco products in order to increase excise revenue and to influence the availability of alcohol and tobacco products.

According to the Bill, alcohol excise duty which was last raised in 2018 will rise by five per cent per year in 2024–2026. The excise duty on cigarettes and smoking tobacco which has been raised by five per cent per year in recent years will rise to the same extent in 2024–2026. The excise duty on tobacco liquids will also increase by five per cent per year over the next three years, and the minimum amount of excise duty paid will grow to the same extent in the case of cigars and cigarillos.

In the case of cigars and cigarillos, the Bill will establish the accuracy intervals of the maximum retail price in order to reduce the range of prices and thereby the workload of businesses and tax authorities. Before the second reading, the Government had introduced an amendment into the Bill according to which the maximum retail price of cigars and cigarillos would be announced to an accuracy of 10 cents, instead of 50 cents as planned earlier, if their price is up to 10 euro.

In addition, with a view to supporting the competitiveness of Estonian agricultural producers, according to the Bill, the rises in the excise duties on diesel fuel for specific purposes planned for 2024–2027 will be cancelled. This means that the rate of excise duty on diesel fuel for specific purposes will remain at 21 euro per 1000 litres.

The Bill initiated by the Government passed the first reading on 17 May, and 230 motions to amend it had been submitted by the deadline. On 8 June, the Government had decided to declare the passing of the Bill a matter of confidence before the second reading and thereby also taken over the duties of the lead committee. Motions to amend a Bill that has been declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government are not put to a vote.

During the debate, Jaak Aab, Tanel Kiik, Kersti Sarapuu, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Lauri Laats, Andre Hanimägi from the Centre Party Group, Ants Frosch, Kalle Grünthal, Evelin Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Riina Solman, Mart Maastik and Helir-Valdor Seeder from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor. The debate where all members of the Riigikogu can take the floor was also adjourned. After the end of the debate, a final vote on the Bill will be held.

During the deliberation of the Bill, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to shorten the working hours of Thursday’s sitting and to conclude the sitting at 11.30 a.m., but the plenary did not support the motion. 27 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 48 were against.

At its Thursday’s sitting, the Riigikogu could not deliberate three Bills – the Bill on Amendments to the Gambling Tax Act (146 SE), the Bill on Amendments to the Value-Added Tax Act (147 SE), initiated by the Government, and the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Military Service Act (148 SE), initiated by the Government, – which had been declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading.

In addition to them, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act (2 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, the Bill on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act (4 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group,  the Bill on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act and the Language Act (11 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, the Bill on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act (18 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, the Bill on Amendments to the Language Act (1 SE),  initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, the  Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act (5 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Group, the Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Health Insurance Act (7 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Group, and the Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act (15 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Group, will be deferred due to the end of the working hours.

The replying to the interpellations concerning the integral impact of the tax package (No. 235), the removal of the statue of the Bronze Soldier (No. 45), the border infrastructure (No. 195), the use of electronic cigarettes (No. 377), the allowance for sick leave days (No. 39), the establishment of Tallinn Hospital (No. 53 and No. 117), the health care situation (No. 104 and No. 494), the funding of health care (No. 519), alcohol-related deaths (No. 485), the treatment waiting lists (No. 486), drug-related deaths (No. 496), the situation of Ida-Viru County (No. 12 and No. 56), the sustainability of the postal service in Estonia (No. 22), cormorants (No. 276), the halting of urbanisation, and the disappearance of rural life (No. 376) and regional disparities (No. 495) will also be deferred as there was no time to deliberate them. The Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo did not reply to the interpellation concerning the integral impact of the tax package (No. 433) because the interpellators withdrew it.

Today’s sitting of the Riigikogu began with the submission of interpellations and the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions which lasted for about an hour. After that, Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi declared a recess. A meeting of the Board was held to discuss the issue relating to the conclusion of the opening of the sitting in order to start the deliberation of the Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations on the agenda. As the Board was not unanimous and there was no consensus, a vote to stop the submission of interpellations and the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions at the ongoing sitting was held. With 53 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention, the deliberation of the Bills on the approved agenda began.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel. (Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Eleen Lindmaa
+372 631 6456, +372 5551 4433
eleen.lindmaa@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu continued the deliberation of a Bill concerning taxes which had been declared to be a matter of confidence

Source: Parliament of Estonia