The Riigikogu passed two Acts which had been declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government

NordenBladet —

The Act on Amendments to the Earth’s Crust Act (296 SE), initiated by the Government and declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading, provides for an eight-year transition period for the fees for the grant of use of an immovable in state ownership for the extraction of mineral resources. During the transition period, the fee for the grant of use of an immovable in state ownership for extraction will increase by up to 50 per cent every year compared to the current fee until new fee rates that are in line with the taxable values obtained as a result of the mass valuation of land in 2022 will be reached.

The purpose of the amendments is to enable producers to gradually adapt to the increased fees for the use of land, including to alleviate the price pressure on consumers. The annual fee rate for the grant of use of an immovable in state ownership for extraction is three per cent of the assessed value of land.

The Bill initiated by the Government had passed the first reading in the Riigikogu on 19 October and 201 motions to amend it had been submitted by the deadline. On 16 November, the Government had decided to declare the passing of the Bill a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading and thereby had 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.

The Riigikogu had begun the second reading of the Bill at its previous regular sitting when the Minister of Climate Kristen Michal had made a report as representative of the Government. At today’s sitting, the deliberation of the Bill continued with a questions and answers session that had been adjourned on 23 November due to the end of the working hours. Thereafter Arvo Aller, Rene Kokk, Evelyn Poolamets and Siim Pohlak from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Andres Metsoja from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Tanel Kiik from the Estonian Centre Party Group and the Minister of Climate Kristen Michal took part in the debate.

51 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 31 were against.

The Act on Amendments to the Traffic Act and the Road Transport Act (302 SE), initiated by the Government and declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading, amends the rates for the road user charge for trucks. The rate of the charge depends on the gross laden weight, the EURO-emission class and the number of axles of the lorry and its trailer.

According to the amendments, the daily road user charge rate which is currently 9–12 euro will remain between 4 and 400 euro. The annual road user charge rate will increase from the current 500–1,300 euro to 200–2,000 euro. When road user charges are differentiated, higher road user charges will be paid for more polluting and heavier vehicles than for less polluting vehicles. In addition, the rates of fines will be changed for persons who allow others to drive or drive themselves trucks or lorries without paying the road user charge or when the road user charge has been paid at a lower rate than required.

The Bill initiated by the Government had passed the first reading in the Riigikogu on 19 October and 209 motions to amend it had been submitted by the deadline. On 16 November, the Government had decided to declare the passing of the Bill a matter of confidence in the Government before the second reading and had 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.

After the report by representative of the Government and the questions and answers session a debate was held where Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Lauri Laats from the Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group, Kert Kingo, Evelin Poolamets, Siim Pohlak and Arvo Aller from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and the Minister of Climate Kristen Michal took the floor.

51 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 33 were against.

The Minister of Regional Affairs Madis Kallas replied to the interpellations concerning regional policy (No. 294), the ensuring of food independence (No. 127) and cormorants (No. 276).

On the motion of interpellators, the interpellation concerning the integral impact of the tax package (No. 297) was removed from the agenda for the sitting.

The interpellations concerning the integral impact of the tax package (No. 301)  and the rise in VAT (No. 323) were not discussed due to the absence of interpellators.

The sitting ended at 8.07 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu passed two Acts which had been declared to be a matter of confidence in the Government

Source: Parliament of Estonia