The Riigikogu heard an overview of the implementation of the basic principles of legislative policy

NordenBladet —

Speaking to the Riigikogu, Laanet said that, in 2022, nearly a third of the Bills prepared by the Government had originated from European Union law, and the rest had stemmed from national needs. “For example, Bills aimed at the development of a specific sector, the implementation of political priorities, or the resolution of urgent issues, or resulting from unexpected changes in the external environment. All of these factors that necessitate legal intervention may change over time, but the process of preparing legislative amendments must be predictable and stable. In doing so, we will ensure that the rule of law works, and that businesses, stakeholders and the public have confidence in the Government,” he said.

According to Laanet, the legislative year 2022 will be characterised by the war that broke out in Ukraine, which directly or indirectly gave impetus to several legislative amendments. “It showed that, alongside long-term strategies and thoroughly analysed changes, the Government must also be ready to tackle unexpected challenges that need legal regulation. Several Bills related to the war in Ukraine were prepared as a matter of urgency, which was justified according to the Ministry of Justice,” he said.

According to him, business-as-usual legislative drafting had continued as well. Most of the Bills had been motivated by implementation bottlenecks in existing law, the aim of developing the sector, or the introduction of digital solutions. “The starting point for any legislative initiative is the question of why a particular issue needs to be regulated, what the problem to be solved is and what the objective to be achieved is. Clear and data-based statement of the problem is an integral part of high-quality legislative drafting,” the Minister of Justice said. He also promised to come the Riigikogu to present a report on the previous year soon.

During the debate, Urve Tiidus from the Reform Party Group, Hendrik Johannes Terras from Estonia 200 Group, Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart from the Centre Party Group took the floor. Jaanus Karilaid took the floor on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group.

Riigikogu changed membership of the Estonian delegation to PACE

The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe”” (360 OE), submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Under the Resolution, alternate member of the delegation Hanah Lahe is excluded from the Estonian delegation to PACE and Reili Rand and Tõnis Lukas are appointed as new alternate members.

The members of the delegation participate in the sittings of the plenary of PACE which convenes four times a year. The head of the delegation represents the Riigikogu in the standing committee which works between sessions, and members take part in the work of sectoral committees. The Estonian delegation, which was formed in May last year, also includes the head of the delegation Liisa Pakosta, members Aleksei Jevgrafov and Eerik-Niiles Kross and alternate member Ants Frosch.

71 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Resolution, and there was one abstention.

22 Bills were dropped from the proceedings

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Language Act (161 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to increase the rates of the fines related to violations of the Language Act and to include new sanctions in the Act in order to strengthen the protection of the Estonian language in companies and non-profit organisations as well as in the public sector.

42 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Cultural Affairs Committee to reject the Bill and 20 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (111 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Leo Kunnas. The aim of the proposal was to lower the rate of excise duty on leaded petrol from €563 to €359 per 1,000 litres from 30 April. According to the initiators, lowering the excise duty rate would have helped to reduce the decline in purchasing power and the reduction in the competitiveness of businesses due to high energy prices, while supporting businesses and helping to preserve jobs.

38 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 20 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (119 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo, Rain Epler and Leo Kunnas. The aim of the proposal was to lower the rate of excise duty on diesel fuel for specific purposes to €60 per 1,000 litres of diesel fuel for specific purposes from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €100 in the current Act.

32 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 11 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (123 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Siim Pohlak, Martin Helme, Evelin Poolamets and Leo Kunnas. It was intended to reduce the rate of excise duty on aviation spirit from €563 to €359 per 1,000 litres of aviation spirit from 30 April.

31 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 11 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (126 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Aller, Jaak Valge and Kert Kingo. It was intended to lower the reduced rate of excise duty on natural gas from €11,30 to €6 per 1,000 cubic metres of natural gas from 30 April.

31 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 11 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (129 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Leo Kunnas and Siim Pohlak. It was intended to lower the rate of excise duty on heavy fuel oil to €330 per 1,000 litres of heavy fuel oil from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €422 in the current Act.

31 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (170 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Siim Pohlak. It was intended to lower the rate of excise duty on natural gas to €6 per 1,000 cubic metres of natural gas from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €40 in the current Act.

30 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (185 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler, Siim Pohlak, Helle-Moonika Helme and Leo Kunnas. The aim of the proposal was to bring the rate of excise duty on liquefied petroleum gas to zero from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €55 per 1,000 kg of liquefied petroleum gas in the current Act.

30 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (202 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Siim Pohlak and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to lower the rate of excise duty on light heating oil to €330 per 1,000 litres of light heating oil from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €372 in the current Act.

29 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 11 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (237 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Evelin Poolamets and Rain Epler. It was intended to lower the rate of excise duty on motor liquefied petroleum gas from €193 to €125 per 1,000 kg of motor liquefied petroleum gas from 30 April.

30 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (255 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Aller, Rene Kokk and Anti Poolamets. It was intended to lower the rate of excise duty on shale-derived fuel oil to €330 per 1,000 litres of shale-derived fuel oil from 30 April. The relevant excise duty rate is €414 in the current Act.

32 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (117 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.39 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €380 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

36 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (120 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.32 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €345 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

36 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (125 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Helle-Moonika Helme, Kert Kingo, Evelin Poolamets and Leo Kunnas. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.5 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €435 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

35 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (152 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.45 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €410 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

35 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (154 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Mart Helme. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.41 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €390 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

37 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 9 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (179 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Jaak Valge. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.48 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €425 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

36 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 11 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (180 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo, Helle-Moonika Helme and Arvo Aller. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.33 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €350 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

37 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (186 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo, Helle-Moonika Helme and Leo Kunnas. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.37 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €370 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

37 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (197 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Ants Frosch and Leo Kunnas. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.46 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €415 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

38 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (219 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Kert Kingo and Helle-Moonika Helme. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.42 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €395 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

38 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 were against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (248 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas, Kert Kingo and Rain Epler. It was intended to increase the tax-free threshold for personal car allowance for employees in view of the rise in fuel prices in recent years. Under the Bill, in the event that driving records are kept, the tax-free threshold for the allowance paid to a person would have been €0.43 per kilometre, instead of €0.3, but not more than €400 per month for each employer paying the allowance.

40 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 10 voted against it.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

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

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu heard an overview of the implementation of the basic principles of legislative policy

Source: Parliament of Estonia