NordenBladet —
At the beginning of today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine, made a video address before the members of the Riigikogu. Three drafts were deliberated at the sitting of the Riigikogu.
The Riigikogu passed a Resolution
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among Members of the Riigikogu” (550 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee. Indrek Saar was appointed as a member of the Council. The current member of the Council Jevgeni Ossinovski resigned on his own initiative. 71 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution.
A Statement of the Riigikogu and a draft Resolution were not supported
The Riigikogu did not support the Draft Statement of the Riigikogu “On Estonia’s National Interests in the Negotiations on the ‘Fit for 55’ Climate Package” (526 AE), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Priit Sibul, Urmas Reinsalu, Mihhail Lotman, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Heiki Hepner, Tarmo Kruusimäe, Üllar Saaremäe, Aivar Kokk, Sven Sester, Kalle Grünthal, Peeter Ernits, Henn Põlluaas, Uno Kaskpeit, Riho Breivel, Anti Poolamets, Jaak Valge, Ruuben Kaalep, Alar Laneman, Kert Kingo, Leo Kunnas, Paul Puustusmaa, Andres Metsoja and Merry Aart. 25 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the draft Statement and 42 were against.
The interpellators’ justification was that, considering the significant impact of the issue, it was important to formulate a political approach at the level of the statement of the Riigikogu regarding the principles the Republic of Estonia should follow in presenting its positions connected with the abovementioned proposal. In the opinion of the initiators, giving a mandate to the Government’s positions at the level of the EU Affairs Committee is not sufficient.
The Riigikogu has approved the Fundamentals of Climate Policy until 2050 with a plenary decision. The ‘Fit for 55’ climate package has a wide-ranging impact on the competitiveness of business, as well as on the consumers, home owners and employees in Estonia.
During the debate, Merry Aart (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Andres Metsoja (Isamaa), Raimond Kaljulaid, Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), Tõnis Mölder (Centre Party) and Yoko Alender (Reform Party) took the floor.
The Riigikogu did not support the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic “To eliminate the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease”” (527 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction. It made a proposal to the Government to lift immediately the restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The result of voting: 20 votes in favour and 39 against.
During the debate, Priit Sibul (Isamaa) and Hanno Pevkur (Reform Party) took the floor.
During the open microphone, Ruuben Kaalep, Peeter Ernits, Heiki Hepner and Tarmo Kruusimäe took the floor.
The sitting ended at 6.52 p.m.
Text of the speech by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine:
Source: Parliament of Estonia