The Riigikogu passed the Act relating to violations of European Union sanctions

A Bill was passed

The Act on Amendments to the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Acts (Union restrictive measures directive) (584 SE), initiated by the Government, transposes into Estonian law the EU directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of sanctions. According to an amendment, violation of Union restrictive measures is considered a predicate offence for money laundering under the directive.

The Act makes two amendments to Estonian law. EU restrictive measures are included in the list of areas of activity provided for in the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Act is specified by adding a clause to the effect that the provisions on whistleblower protection also extend to reporting breaches of international sanctions.

The purpose of the Act is to establish uniform rules for determining violations of EU restrictive measures and the penalties to be imposed for them, in order to ensure uniform application of sanctions. The amendment of the Act will help to detect and prevent violations, supporting compliance with EU law and the achievement of objectives.

Anti Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.

60 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, 19 were against and there was one abstention.

A Bill passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Competition Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (609 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose the directive organising the procedure for processing infringements of competition law, using the structures of existing law.

The Bill will establish competition supervision proceedings under administrative law and sanctions will be imposed in misdemeanour proceedings similarly to other areas where administrative fines should be applied under European Union law. The Competition Authority will conduct competition supervision proceedings and will do so pursuant to administrative procedure. District courts will impose fines for committing competition infringements constituting misdemeanours in misdemeanour proceedings.

In competition supervision proceedings, it will be provided that evidence gathered can be transferred to misdemeanour proceedings which has so far been one of the main concerns in competition supervision and in proceedings on competition offences. Also, in the future, competition infringements will no longer be criminal offences, and this will eliminate the need to choose between criminal and misdemeanour proceedings.

The bill replaces the bill withdrawn by the Government at the end of March this year, which contained administrative fine regulations and self-incrimination provisions that led to many objections from legal specialists. Then the Government decided to fundamentally amend the bill and to propose an approach based on existing procedures for competition infringements.

During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group and Jaak Aab on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.

The Social Democratic Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The motion was not supported because 13 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of it and 48 were against. The first reading was concluded.

Seven interpellations were replied

Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo replied to the interpellation concerning the amendments to the Employment Contracts Act, i.e. contracts with unstable salary (No. 735), submitted by members of the Riigikogu. Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller replied to the interpellations concerning social welfare reform (No. 720) and  the livelihood of pensioners (No. 726). Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras replied to the interpellations concerning rural areas  (No. 713), the suspension of the construction of Rohuküla railway  (No. 731), the reorganisation of Kehtna Vocational Education Centre and Vana-Vigala School of Technology and Service Industry Studies  (No. 733) and the future of ferry connection (No. 739).

Riina Sikkut and Lauri Läänemets took the floor during the open microphone.

The sitting ended at 11.36 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

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

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu passed the Act relating to violations of European Union sanctions

Source: Parliament of Estonia