NordenBladet — The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on the coming year’s state budget (254 SE) and sent it to the third reading. The deadline for submission of motions to amend is 30 November.

Under the State Budget for 2021 Bill (254 SE), initiated by the Government, the expenditure of the next year’s state budget will amount to nearly 13 billion euro and the revenue will amount to nearly 11 billion euro. The gap is due to necessary investments in the restoration of economic growth, due to which the amount of expenditure will exceed the revenue growth. According to the main scenario of the forecast of the Ministry of Finance, Estonia’s GDP will shrink by 5.5 per cent this year and will grow by 4.5 per cent next year, falling short of the level of the end of 2019 by about one per cent at the end of 2021.

The next year’s state budget is based on ordinary rules and takes account of the exceptions due to the crisis. Next year, the government sector budget is projected at a nominal deficit of 6.7 per cent of GDP and a structural deficit of 6.6 per cent.

The volume of the investments planned by the government sector will amount to approximately 1.9 billion euro next year. More than 1.4 billion euro of EU support is planned in the state budget for 2021.

Tax revenue will increase to 9.3 billion euro next year compared to the approximately nine billion euro this year. Tax burden will fall to 32.7 per cent of GDP next year compared to the 33.8 per cent this year.

Of the 44 motions to amend submitted at the second reading, a consolidated motion submitted by the Finance Committee was supported. On the deciding on the remaining motions, they had not been supported at the voting in the committee because the financial sources proposed to cover them had been unacceptable, as they would have changed the achievement of the objectives set out in the budget.

Chairman of the Finance Committee Aivar Kokk said that, during the preparation for the second reading, the budget had been specified in view of the implementation of the plans in the Government’s action programme. In connection with the need to support the continuation of international maritime transport through Estonian ports and to motivate consignors to direct their trade flows through Estonian ports, the Finance Committee had proposed that the ships entering Estonian ports be exempted from the payment of fairway dues to the extent of 50 per cent until the end of next year and that the loss of revenue be compensated in the state budget. Funds had also been allocated for holding a referendum.

25 members of the Riigikogu took the floor in the debate. They analysed the content of the draft state budget and presented their positions. Jürgen Ligi (Reform Party), Kalle Laanet (Reform Party), Aivar Sõerd (Reform Party), Liina Kersna (Reform Party), Andres Sutt (Reform Party), Mart Võrklaev (Reform Party), Heidy Purga (Reform Party), Annely Akkermann (Reform Party), Vilja Toomast (Reform Party), Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party), Jaak Juske (Social Democratic Party), Siim Kallas (Reform Party), Johannes Kert (Reform Party), Oudekki Loone (Centre Party), Kersti Sarapuu (Centre Party), Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party), Leo Kunnas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Sven Sester (Isamaa), Maris Lauri (Reform Party), Valdo Randpere (Reform Party), Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party) and Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

The Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Social Democratic Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The result of voting: 41 votes in favour and 54 against. The motion was not supported. The second reading of the Bill was concluded.

Two other Bills passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Tourism Act and the Consumer Protection Act (234 SE), initiated by the Government, will update the requirements for the provision of the accommodation service. The requirements that are not directly necessary or in which self-regulation works well, like in the case of quality requirements, are reduced. The definition of the accommodation service and the description of the types of accommodation establishments will be renewed. As a result of the amendments, the rules for the provision of the accommodation service will become more flexible, and the number of claims and the costs to meet the requirements will decrease.

The offering of temporary sleeping accommodation by an undertaking will be deemed to be accommodation service. Accommodation service is a tourist service which is not for residential purposes but which is intended for temporary accommodation of visitors for holiday or business or other purposes and which is offered for example by day, week or month. The introduction of the short-term (temporary) service will help differentiate the accommodation service more clearly from residential lease contracts. In the case of accommodation for a period longer than three months, the special rules for residential lease contracts already set out in the Law of Obligations Act apply.

Another major amendment is that the issues relating to the categories of accommodation establishments will remain for the sector to be arranged. In the future, in order to assign categories (stars of hotels) to accommodation establishments, it will not be necessary to apply for the approval of the minister, and the accommodation sector will be able to continue quality development without state restrictions.

New digital solutions and the changed expectations of clients are phasing out the need for separate reception rooms (“table service”) and several other services, and therefore other requirements of the Regulation of the Minister will be reduced as well. No special rules are established for the sharing economy, but the principle is that requirements apply uniformly to all undertakings.

The establishments providing accommodation will also be able to register their guests electronically and the obligation to preserve visitor’s cards in paper format will be abolished.

Under the Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts (merger of the Civil Aviation Administration, the Road Administration and the Maritime Administration) (236 SE), initiated by the Government, the civil aviation, road and maritime administrations will be merged. According to the Bill, the name of the new merged administration will be the Transport Administration. The merger of the authorities proceeds from a general principle of the state reform to reduce the number and duplication of administrative agencies and to improve the quality and availability of public services.

The new administration is intended to establish a centre of excellence covering different types of transport that will have the capability to plan smart mobility solutions and to implement projects covering different types of transport. With the merger, the position of the deputy secretary general for maritime affairs will be established in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

During the debate, Kristen Michal (Reform Party), Kalvi Kõva (Social Democratic Party), Sven Sester (Isamaa), Kalev Kallo (Centre Party) and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor.

The Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Social Democratic Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The result of voting: 33 votes in favour and 53 against. The motion was not supported. The second reading of the Bill was concluded.

A Bill was rejected in the Riigikogu:

The Bill on Amendments to the Social Tax Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (244 SE), initiated by the SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, provided that the employee would be paid sickness benefit for the first eight days of his or her sick leave in the cooperation of the state and the employer, so that the Estonian Health Insurance Fund would compensate for 40 per cent of the average wages of the person who falls ill and the employer would compensate for the remaining 40 per cent. From then on, starting from the ninth day, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund would bear the costs as per current regulation. The explanatory memorandum to the Bill points out that the compensation of the days of sick leave on the first eight days would help ensure that persons who fall ill or come into contact with an infection do not go to work but stay home.

During the debate, Signe Riisalo (Reform Party), Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) and Mart Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

The Social Affairs Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 51 votes in favour and 26 against. The Bill was dropped from the proceedings.

The new Minister of the Interior Alar Laneman took his oath of office before the Riigikogu.

The sitting ended at 1.16 a.m. on 19 November.

NordenBladet — The Bill on amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act and other acts passed the second reading in the Riigikogu. The purpose of the Bill is to decrease poverty among the elderly and to raise their subsistence and welfare.

According to the Bill (253 SE), initiated by the Government, the base amount of the national first pillar pension will be increased by additional 16 euro on 1 April 2021. The pension rise will concern around 320,000 people. The pension supplement for rearing children will also be increased. This will concern around 203,000 people. For example, a pensioner who has two children will receive a pension supplement of 7.104 euro. The Bill will increase the rate of national pension by 30 euro. This will concern slightly more than 3000 people.

In the course of the second reading, several amendments were made to the Bill. For example, the periods that would be used as the bases for the calculation of the insurance part and the combined part of the sum of the insurance components were defined. Equal bases were provided for for the calculation of the old-age pension of the old-age pensioners with respect to whom there are no data on individually registered social tax due to employment abroad. When a person assumes employment in Estonia, his or her old-age pension should be recalculated and it may decrease. In the future, the payment of old-age pension will be continued in the current amount in such cases. An amendment was also made according to which the Social Insurance Board will be able to supplement the pension calculator with the data of the second pension pillar to which it has no access under the current law. According to an amendment, in the future a person will receive more information on his or her data entered in his or her pension account and the data relating thereto.

During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party) and Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform Party) took the floor.

The Riigikogu passed two Acts

The Act on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Amendment and Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Government of the Republic of Estonia on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (240 SE), initiated by the Government.

The Act provides for the ratification of the agreement on the amendment and termination of the agreement between the Estonian and Swedish Governments on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, which will be concluded by exchanging notes after the adoption of the Act on ratification in the Riigikogu.

The agreement between Estonia and Sweden was signed in Stockholm on 31 March 1992 and it entered into force on 20 May 1992. With its note of 27 February this year, Sweden proposed to Estonia to amend the agreement and to terminate it. The Agreement must be amended before it is terminated, because it provides that, in respect of investments made during the time that it is in force, the Agreement remains in force for twenty years after the termination of the Agreement. Termination of the agreement is necessary in order to ensure that investors from all EU Member States are accorded equal treatment based on European Union legislation.

90 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on the Ratification of the Agreement for the Termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties between the Member States of the European Union (218 SE), initiated by the Government.

The purpose of the Agreement for the termination of bilateral investment treaties between the EU Member States is to terminate the intra-EU bilateral investment treaties in a coordinated manner. There are approximately 300 bilateral investment treaties in force between EU Member States. When the treaties concluded, their aim was to promote investments by offering mutual guarantees against political risks that may have a negative impact on investments.

After the accession to the EU, the Member States no longer need such additional guarantees because similar EU single market rules, including ones concerning cross-border investments, apply in regard to all Member States. According to the case law of the European Court of Justice, the possibility of access to arbitral tribunals as provided in the treaties is not in conformity with EU law.

The agreement terminates eight of the twelve intra-EU investment protection treaties Estonia has concluded. They are with Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Germany and the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union.

The treaties with Finland and Sweden will be terminated bilaterally. Austria has also announced that it wishes to conclude the bilateral agreements on termination with the Member States with whom Austria has investment protection treaties in force. It is not definitely clear yet what will become of the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Estonian Government for the Promotion and Protection of Investments. This will become clear in the process of the UK exiting the EU.

88 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

Three other Bills passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to § 28 the Citizenship Act (217 SE), initiated by the Government, will amend the Act by including commission of serious criminal offences against the state as a new ground for deprivation of citizenship. Section 28 of the Act will be amended by adding a new subsection under which the Government may deprive a person of Estonian citizenship if a judgment of conviction in treason, intelligence activities or terrorist offence has entered into force with regard to him or her.

Under the Bill on Amendments to the Organic Farming Act and the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act (260 SE), initiated by the Government, in the future, the holdings of the persons who sell unpacked organic products to the final consumer in small quantities, for example small organic shops, will no longer need to have the recognition currently required of them. In the future, it will be sufficient if they inform the Agricultural and Food Board, which will be established on the basis of the Agricultural Board and the Veterinary and Food Board, of their activities.

The exemption will be granted to operators that sell unpacked organic products to the final consumer, provided that they do not produce, prepare, store other than in connection with the point of sale, or import such products from a third country, or subcontract such activities to another operator. The sale of unpacked organic products must not exceed 5 000 kg per year; such sales must not represent an annual turnover in relation to unpacked organic products exceeding EUR 20 000; or the potential certification cost of the operator exceeds 2 % of the total turnover on unpacked organic products sold by that operator. In order to prevent fraudulent use of the indications referring to organic farming, the bases for the repeal of decisions on recognition will be changed and the fine for selling non-organic products as organic products will be increased.

The Bill will bring the Act into conformity with the European Union organic farming Regulation to be applied from 1 January 2022 which aims to eliminate the obstacles to the development of organic farming in the EU, to ensure fair competition to farmers and operators, to increase consumers’ trust in organic products and to bring legislation into conformity with the Lisbon Treaty. According to the explanatory memorandum, the result should be simpler provisions, more effective procedures and products that are reliable for the consumer.

The purpose of the Bill on Amendments to the Feed Act (225 SE), initiated by the Government, is to bring the Feed Act into conformity with the European Union Regulation establishing a list of intended uses of feed intended for particular nutritional purposes and the modes of use necessary to achieve them applicable as of 25 December. The provisions of the Bill and the provisions of the current Act do not differ in terms of content. The amendments are of a technical nature – references to the directly applicable Regulation will be included. The amendments will involve no new obligations for feed business operators or supervisory officials.

Two Bills passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Other Acts (257 SE), initiated by the Government, will define at the level of Act the aim of the working environment database, the data collected and the retention periods of data on the basis of the Personal Data Protection Act. The Bill provides for a new requirement for the employer to draw up a risk assessment of the working environment in the working environment database or to forward the risk analysis to the Labour Inspectorate in a format which can be reproduced in writing.

The Bill will also include into the scope of application of the Act service providers, such as persons working under an authorisation agreement or a contract for services to whom certain provisions of the Act are applied. In addition, the Bill sets out an obligation for the employer to investigate occupational accidents that occur with service providers. The Bill will increase the employer’s liability for violation of the requirements established for the parties of an employment relationship.

The purpose of the Bill is to facilitate the creation of a safe working environment and to reduce the administrative burden for employers in complying with occupational health and safety requirements. For this, the working environment database will be developed, facilitating the communication of agencies and businesses with the state and offering new services. The Bill will increase the extent of the liability of the employer and the employee in the working environment.

The purpose of the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Financial Management Act (282 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee, is to enable local governments to increase their net debt burden, in order that, in the emergency situation due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and in the period following it, local governments could take larger loans as necessary to stimulate economy and make investments in the circumstances of a slowdown of revenue growth in 2020–2027, without breaching the upper limit for net debt burden provided for by law. In ordinary circumstances, the upper limit for net debt burden for each local government is a sixfold value of its operating result or 60 per cent of its operating revenue. At present, the upper limit for net debt burden has been set at the tenfold value of operating result or 80 per cent of operating revenue as an exceptional case for 2020 and 2021. The Bill will extend the exemption for the upper limit for net debt burden until the end of 2024. From then on, the upper limit will gradually decrease in 2025–2028.

Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party) took the floor during the debate.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the Bill on Amendments to the Social Tax Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (244 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, will be deliberated at tomorrow’s plenary sitting.

The Bill provides that the employee will be paid sickness benefit to the extent of 80 per cent for the first eight days of his or her sick leave in the cooperation of the state and the employer, so that the Estonian Health Insurance Fund will compensate for 40 per cent of the average wages of the person who falls ill and the employer will compensate for the remaining 40 per cent. Starting from the ninth day, according to the Bill, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund will bear the costs as per current regulation. The explanatory memorandum justifies that the compensation of the days of sick leave on the first eight days will help ensure that persons who fall ill or come into contact with an infection do not go to work but stay home.

The sitting ended at 1.53 p.m.

Members of the press,

In view of the COVID-19 virus disease outbreak, the Chancellery of the Riigikogu is taking the necessary precautionary measures. Members of the press are asked to wear face masks and maintain social distance from interviewees where possible when visiting Toompea Castle.

Thank you for your understanding.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — The Riigikogu approved its agenda for this working week, which includes 13 items.

No deliberation of Bills or replies to interpellations have been scheduled for Monday’s sitting.

At Tuesday’s sitting, six Bills will be at the second reading. They are the following: the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Amendment and Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Government of the Republic of Estonia on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (240 SE); the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement for the Termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties between the Member States of the European Union (218 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the State Pension Insurance Act (253 SE); the Bill on Amendments to § 28 the Citizenship Act (217 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Organic Farming Act and the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act (260 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Feed Act (225 SE).

Three Bills will be at the first reading. They are the following: the Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Other Acts (257 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Financial Management Act (282 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Social Tax Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (244 SE).

At the sitting on Wednesday, three Bills will be at the second reading. They are the following: the State Budget for 2021 Bill (254 SE); the Bill on Amendments to the Tourism Act and the Consumer Protection Act (234 SE); and the Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts (merger of the Civil Aviation Administration, the Road Administration and the Maritime Administration) (236 SE).

At Thursday’s sitting, the matter of significant national importance “New generation of teachers and valuing of teacher’s profession as a mainstay of the sustainability of the state of Estonia” will be deliberated. Aadu Must, Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee; Madis Somelar, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian History and Civics Teachers Association, coordinator of the network of subject teachers, and teacher, class teacher and Director of Studies at Tallinn Secondary School of Science; Professor Margus Pedaste, Head of Pedagogicum at the University of Tartu; and Mailis Reps, Minister of Education and Research, will make reports.

The new Minister of the Environment Rain Epler took his oath of office before the Riigikogu.

During the open microphone, Jaak Juske, Kalle Grünthal and Peeter Ernits took the floor.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — In his address on the Day of Declaration of Sovereignty, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas underlined that the Declaration on the Sovereignty of the Estonian SSR, adopted by the Supreme Soviet of Estonia in 1988, had been an important step in the collapse of the Soviet Communist empire of evil.

“Today we are celebrating a significant day in the legislative history of Estonia and the history of Estonia after restoration of independence, the day of national importance which we today call the Day of Declaration of Sovereignty,” Põlluaas said. He recalled that the Declaration of the Supreme Soviet on the Sovereignty of the Estonian SSR, adopted in 1988, was the first legislative step towards a free and democratic Estonia after the nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation and oppression.

“It was the first legislative step of the liberation process of Estonia, which became an example to all the other nations occupied by the Soviet Union,” Põlluaas emphasised. “It was an important step in the collapse of the communist empire of evil.”

Põlluaas thanked the members of the Supreme Soviet who, regardless of the tumultuous times, had had the courage not only to think, but also to speak about the importance of national sovereignty and territorial autonomy to our people. “Those activities paved the way for the restoration of Estonia’s independence, which took place just a few years later, in 1991,” he said.

“Today, I call the people of Estonia to unite in order to make our society more democratic and more serving our national interests, so that we may keep the sovereignty we have won and ensure the everlasting survival of our small nation on our ancient homeland.”

The Day of Declaration of Sovereignty is a day of national importance. On 16 November 1988, the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the Declaration on the Sovereignty of the Estonian SSR. At the same time, an amendment to the Constitution, which asserted the supremacy of the laws of the Estonian SSR over the laws of the Soviet Union, was passed.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed four Acts and two Resolutions. The fundamentals of legislative drafting policy and criminal policy until 2030 were adopted as Resolutions.

The Act on Amendments to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act and Other Acts (restructuring of the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit into a governmental authority) (259 SE), initiated by the Government, makes the necessary amendments to the legislation, so that the Financial Intelligence Unit currently operating as a structural unit of the Police and Border Guard Board will be transferred to the area of government of the Ministry of Finance as an independent governmental authority from 1 January 2021.

The amendments concern the status of the Financial Intelligence Unit as a governmental authority and in particular the availability of the information necessary to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism and the ensuring of legal certainty upon the distribution of information to other authorities. In addition, the Act specifies the right to sign the agreements concluded before 1 January 2021 and administrative acts.

The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit as a governmental authority can exchange information and cooperate with other authorities in Estonia and abroad largely on the same bases as it has been doing until now while the Financial Intelligence Unit has been a structural unit of the Police and Border Guard Board.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Labour Dispute Resolution Act (214 SE), initiated by the Government, amends the principles for the remuneration of lay assessors of labour dispute committees.

Under the Act, the remuneration of a lay assessor is equal to the minimum hourly wage rate, which is 3.48 euro this year. At present, the remuneration of lay assessors is calculated on the basis of the Salaries of Higher state Servants Act according to which the hourly wage is 3.07 euro. In the future, the work of lay assessors of labour dispute committees in preparation for sessions will be remunerated. At present, remuneration is paid only for the time spent on attending the sessions of a labour dispute committee.

Two lay assessors must attend a session of a labour resolution committee: a representative of employees and a representative of employers. Similarly to lay judges, the purpose of lay assessors’ attendance is to view the labour dispute matter from a human rather than juridical aspect in the resolution of a labour dispute, taking into account the particularities of the views of the employees and the employers where they are of importance in the resolution of the labour dispute matter. The bases for the calculation of the remuneration paid to lay assessors have not been changed since 2013, and, under the current procedure, the remuneration paid to lay assessors is lower than the minimum hourly wage rate. This restrains employees and employers’ willingness to contribute to the work of labour dispute committees in the resolution of labour disputes.

In addition, the Act introduces amendments aiming at specification and amendment of the current procedure in the interests of legal clarity. For example, it is specified how many people can have recourse to a labour dispute committee with a joint petition, and the additional option of conducting sessions via a video bridge is provided.

85 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Tax Information Exchange Act (238 SE), initiated by the Government.

In order to facilitate the overcoming of the economic difficulties accompanying the emergency situation due to the coronavirus, the European Union member states have agreed by a relevant Council directive that member states can defer the beginning of the exchange of information on cross-border arrangements by six months. In view of this, the Act makes amendments to the time limits for filing the arrangements, while no substantial amendments are made. The exchange of information concerns cross-border arrangements that enable aggressive tax-planning and the concealment of the beneficial owner of assets or complicate the exchange of bank account information. Under the current law, providers of tax advice, banks and taxpayers would have to begin to communicate the information on the arrangements to tax authorities from 31 July 2021. According to the Act, 31 January 2021 is the new deadline.

85 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (277 SE) (consolidated Bills 131 SE, 132 SE and 172 SE) includes the Children’s Day, celebrated on 1 June, in the list of days of national importance. The Children’s Day and the Grandparents’ Day, which is already now celebrated as a day of national importance on the second Sunday of September are included in the list of flag days.

Three Bills were consolidated in the course of the proceedings: the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act (131 SE), initiated by Liina Kersna, Annely Akkermann, Andres Sutt, Mart Võrklaev, Signe Kivi, Signe Riisalo, Andrus Seeme, Toomas Kivimägi, Vilja Toomast, Jüri Jaanson, Yoko Alender and Kaja Kallas, the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (132 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, and the Bill on Amendments to the Public Holidays and Days of National Importance Act and the Estonian Flag Act (172 SE), initiated by the Government.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted for the passing of the Act.

The Riigikogu also passed two Resolutions

Under the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Fundamentals of Legislative Drafting Policy until 2030” (53 OE), submitted by the Government, the long-term vision of the Estonian legislative drafting policy and the principles of good legislative drafting are agreed upon. In the future, they will serve as the basis in proceedings on Bills, the development of legal language, and the organisation of cooperation and development. The explicit formulation and enforcement of legal policy objectives is also important to stakeholders and society more broadly in order to ensure foreseeability and openness of legal policy.

During the debate, Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) and Paul Puustusmaa (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

78 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Fundamentals of Criminal Policy until 2030” (52 OE), submitted by the Government.

The fundamentals of criminal policy have been drafted due to the need to increase security in society and to make the criminal justice system more citizen-centred. The main goal of criminal policy approved by the Riigikogu is to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system, to prevent offences committed by young people and due to addictions and mental health disorders and to enhance the penal policy. Criminal policy includes the prevention of offences, and treating offenders so that the security of society and the rights and needs of victims would be ensured and the rehabilitation of offenders would be supported.

Kert Kingo (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.

73 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution.

Members of the press,

In view of the COVID-19 virus disease outbreak, the Chancellery of the Riigikogu is taking the necessary precautionary measures. Members of the press are asked to wear face masks and maintain social distance from interviewees where possible when visiting Toompea Castle.

Thank you for your understanding.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet  – At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu adopted a resolution on the appointment of a member of the Public Broadcasting Council from among the members of the Riigikogu.

Under the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among the Members of the Riigikogu” (280 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, Anti Poolamets, member of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, is appointed as a member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council in connection with the premature termination of the mandate of member of the Council Urmas Reitelmann.

The Public Broadcasting Council includes a representative from each faction of the Riigikogu until the end of the mandate of the Riigikogu, and four experts from among the acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting with a five-year mandate.

48 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, 29 voted against, and there were four abstentions.

The Riigikogu did not pass a Resolution

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Organise the Work of the Estonian Pre-school and General Education Institutions on Uniform Bases in the COVID-19 Virus Situation” (242 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, was intended to make a proposal to the Government of the Republic to prepare a plan for organising all the work of Estonian pre-school and general education institutions in the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research on uniform bases in the COVID-19 virus situation, together with a plan for implementing the necessary changes.

The initiators found that the plan should be drafted keeping in mind the restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the virus and the restrictions must not infringe disproportionately or unnecessarily the right of nursery school and school children to high-quality education, learning social skills and hot school meals. It was also found that the changing of the organisation of studies due to the spread of the virus and the risk of infection, including the implementation of distance learning, should be on uniform bases in the whole country and unambiguously understandable to teachers, students, parents and heads of school and should be based only on objective indicators and action plans agreed on previously. Finally, it was pointed out that extensive use of distance learning should be permissible only on the basis of a recommendation of the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board advising the Government or another scientific grounding, and with the approval of the Health Board.

During the debate, Marko Šorin (Centre Party), Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) and Heidy Purga (Reform Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions.

The proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee as the lead committee was to hold a final vote on the draft Resolution. A majority vote of the members of the Riigikogu was needed for the draft Resolution to be passed. 38 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and 42 voted against; thus, the draft Resolution was not supported.

Source: Parliament of Estonia