NordenBladet —

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Henn Põlluaas was elected as the President of the Riigikogu, and Helir-Valdor Seeder and Siim Kallas were elected as Vice-Presidents.

Chairman of the Social Democratic Party Faction Indrek Saar nominated Ivari Padar as a candidate for the President of the Riigikogu, and Deputy Chairman of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction Alar Laneman nominated Henn Põlluaas.

93 members of the Riigikogu took part in the secret ballot. 50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Henn Põlluaas, who was elected the President of the Riigikogu, and 41 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Ivari Padar. Two ballot papers were invalid.

Chairman of the Faction Isamaa Priit Sibul nominated Helir-Valdor Seeder as a candidate for a Vice-President, and Deputy Chairman of the Estonian Reform Party Faction Taavi Rõivas nominated Siim Kallas.

93 members of the Riigikogu took part in the secret ballot. 51 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Helir-Valdor Seeder, and 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of Siim Kallas. Two ballot papers were invalid. Thus, Helir-Valdor Seeder was elected the First Vice-President of the Riigikogu and Siim Kallas was elected the Second Vice-President.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — The Riigikogu approved its agenda for this working week and decided to change its working schedule so that sittings will be held on Monday and Wednesday, and Question Time will take place on Wednesday.

Under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the election of the Board of the Riigikogu is due to be held at the last sitting of this sitting week. Thus, the election of the Board will be held on Wednesday, 25 March.

One Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu:

The amendments proposed in the Bill on Amendments to the Rescue Act and the Weapons Act (128 SE), initiated by the Government, are linked to the launch of the crisis information service, the involvement of volunteer rescuers, and the tasks of the Rescue Board.

The Bill values the role of volunteer rescuers. According to the proposal, the social guarantees in place for volunteer rescuers engaged in rescue work will also be extended to volunteer rescuers engaged in prevention work.

In addition, the five-year validity period of the medical certificate of rescuer will be eliminated. In the future, family physicians will be able to determine the validity period on the basis of the person’s health indicators. This amendment will significantly reduce the frequency of the need to pass a medical examination. In the future, a medical certificate of a driver of a power-driven vehicle will be accepted as a certificate of medical examination. Moreover, in the future, an amendment will also allow volunteer rescuers to certify the absence of health disorders with other permitted medical certificates, e.g. a medical certificate of assistant police officer or police officer, a medical certificate obtained upon application for a weapons permit, etc.

The amendment will create a legal basis for the Rescue Board to process the causes of fires, and legal clarity about the content and activities of prevention work. In addition, the requirements for marking the locations for blasting explosives upon explosive ordnance disposal will be provided for, and the supply of food and drinking water to all people engaged in rescue work will be ensured. As explosive ordnance specialists of the Explosive Ordnance Centre of the Rescue Board will be granted the right to carry and use firearms for self-defence, the Weapons Act will also be amended.

The Bill will also amend the tasks of the Emergency Response Centre. The processing of help and information notifications, which also means provision of the crisis information service, is mentioned as a task of the Emergency Response Centre. The Emergency Response Centre may involve volunteers in the provision of the crisis information service.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Enn Eesmaa sent an appeal on behalf of the Committee to the foreign affairs committees of the national parliaments of the European Union member states, calling on solidarity, support and operational information exchange.

The Chairman of the Committee pointed out that, due to the spread of the coronavirus, many citizens of the EU, including the citizens of the Republic of Estonia, were encountering difficulties when returning home through the territories of member states. “We are asking our colleagues from the foreign affairs committees of the EU national parliaments to remind their governments of the need to ensure the preservation of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union to the highest possible extent, and to enable the transit of citizens of other member states in the spirit of mutual solidarity,” Eesmaa said.

The appeal underlines that, as soon as possible, the European Union should agree upon all-European crisis area measures focusing on the defence of the external borders of the Union, on safe movement of internal transit, persons and goods, including personal protective equipment, and on coordinated activities in combating the crisis. Also, the colleagues in the national parliaments will be informed of the organisation of work of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu during the crisis, and of the sittings of the Committee in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian ambassadors in other countries constantly participate via electronic means.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson emphasised that in a crisis situation it was necessary to support each other and to learn from experience. “In these complicated times, we should ensure operational exchange of information and ideas between the national parliaments of the European Union. By exchanging experience and informing our colleagues of each other’s organisation of work and life, the member states are not left alone in their search for solutions, and the crisis will be resolved in cooperation,” he said.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — On behalf of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), Chair of the Committee Anneli Ott sent an appeal to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, recommending the European Commission to assume leading role in organising the returning to homeland of the citizens of member states and the transport of vital goods, so that each member state would not have to seek for solutions by themselves, but the crisis would be resolved in cooperation.

Anneli Ott said that the current practice in resolving the crisis resulting from the spread of COVID-19 differed by member states, and this had brought along the situation where the citizens of the European Union had become trapped on the internal borders of the Union. “We recognise that the member states have the right to take appropriate measures to protect the health of their citizens, but we underline that this has to be done accordance with the Free Movement Directive,” Ott pointed out.

Therefore, Ott sent an appeal on behalf of the European Union Affairs Committee to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. The appeal calls on the European Commission to take the leading role in coordination of the resolution of the crisis. “First of all, the challenge of the free movement of the citizens of the European Union should be resolved. Transit corridors for the movement of the citizens of member states across closed borders to their homeland should be created,” Ott emphasised. Besides that, free movement of goods between member states should be ensured, and adequate supply of medicines and medical equipment for fighting the pandemic should be organised jointly.

Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Riina Sikkut added that approving of the guidelines on border management submitted by the European Council on Tuesday had given a strong signal that the member states felt the need and the desire to cooperate.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Today, the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed holding the sittings of the committees of the Riigikogu in the form of teleworking during the emergency situation. The Committee decided by consensus that the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act allowed the committees of the Riigikogu to telework.

“We reached a consensus that the current legislation may be interpreted so that teleworking is allowed if all relevant conditions for participating in the sitting, like making remarks, asking questions and voting, are ensured,” Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Paul Puustusmaa said.

“Considering the emergency situation, it is important that the work of the committees is not interrupted and can continue in the form of teleworking,” substitute member of the Committee Kaja Kallas expressed the joint position of the Committee. “There is no hurry to change the rules of procedure, but we think that when the emergency situation is over, we should analyse the rules of procedure and make the necessary amendments to achieve better legal clarity.”

Puustusmaa added that the Constitutional Committee would send a letter to the factions of the Riigikogu, asking them to evaluate whether it was necessary to amend the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act in the interests of clarity. “We have to review the issue of attending and participation,” Puustusmaa said. “For legal clarity, we have to define the situations where electronic participation in committee sittings can be implemented.”

Puustusmaa emphasised that amendments to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act were always made by consensus.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Today, the Council of Elders of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) decided to reorganise the work of the Riigikogu in connection with the emergency situation declared by the Government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

At the meeting with the representatives of the factions, the Board of the Riigikogu decided that, until 1 May this year, the Riigikogu would resolve only time-critical issues.

The Council of Elders proposes to the Riigikogu to change the working schedule of plenary sittings of the Riigikogu at each Monday’s sitting so that, until the end of the emergency situation, plenary sittings will be held only on Mondays, and Question Time on Wednesdays. The public and the media can watch live coverage of the sittings on the web.

The Committees of the Riigikogu will meet on Mondays, and more often only in the case of unavoidable necessity. Guests are invited to the committee sittings if necessary, and it is advisable that the guests participate in sittings via a video bridge.

All official travels of the members of the Riigikogu have been cancelled, and the Board of the Riigikogu decides if a travel is unavoidably necessary. Members of the Riigikogu are strongly advised not to travel abroad, and in the case of domestic meetings, to avoid holding meetings in Toompea Castle.

The entry to Toompea Castle complex will be temporarily restricted for the people whose visits are not directly connected with the work of the Riigikogu. Visiting of Toompea Castle for guided tours, for the art exhibitions and for watching the sittings will be prohibited.

We ask all members of the press to kindly make use of the possibilities of teleworking when covering the work of the Riigikogu, and to ask comments from the members of the Riigikogu via telephone. For photos and video materials, please turn to the Public Relations Department of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu.

The Council of Elders of the Riigikogu has also instructed the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu to prepare a regulation that would enable to hold committee sittings via electronic means of communication during emergency situations.

All restrictions will be temporary. We will follow the development of the situation and inform you about our new decisions.

The Council of Elders of the Riigikogu will meet regularly to evaluate the situation and to discuss further activities, presumably on Wednesdays at 9.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s plenary sitting, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas made a political statement before the Riigikogu on the situation due to the spread of coronavirus.

“Taking into account the global epidemiological situation and the spread of coronavirus in Europe, the increasing threats to the Estonian economy, the difficulties of the supply chains in the business sector, the domestic and foreign policy challenges and the need for a more efficient management structure for various state authorities, in my opinion, it can be clearly said that we have reached an emergency. However, we will overcome it as a society and with everyone’s contribution,” Prime Minister Jüri Ratas said.

The Prime Minister said that the Government had decided to take the following additional measures:

– to postpone the reception of cruise ships until 1 May;

– in the organisation of official missions of state authority employees, local governments, as well as the private and non-profit sector, the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to be considered;

– to recommend to postpone public events with more than 100 participants;

– to obligate the Health Board to coordinate the authorisation of public events with more than 100 participants, and to task it with the assessment of the conformity of the authorizations already issued;

– to postpone all planned tours in state authorities from today;

– to open a coronavirus crisis hotline number 1247 from 16 March at the latest.

The Prime Minister said that the Government had also formed a committee that would manage the addressing of the situation related to COVID-19, and the search for solutions to the resulting public health and economic problems.

The head of Government said that, at the same time, it was definitely very important to make sure that a balance was maintained between the freedoms of people, the overall functioning of society, and the steps needed to contain the virus. “There is a risk that the health crisis will evolve into a wider crisis affecting our economy, our welfare, and people’s jobs. The European Union Member States and institutions are engaged in close cooperation and information exchange to address these issues,” the head of Government confirmed.

The Prime Minister appealed to everyone to take care of their own and their close ones’ health and to pay attention to their behaviour regarding the people around them, particularly the elderly people belonging to risk groups and other fellow people with poorer health.

“If we all act together and everyone makes efforts, with calm thinking and common sense, respectful of one other and contributing as a society, we will overcome the current difficult situation,” Ratas said.

As at today, 464 COVID-19 tests have been carried out in Estonia, and there are 17 known cases of the virus at the moment.

The Prime Minister also answered questions from members of the Riigikogu. During the debate, representatives of the factions took the floor and discussed the current situation. Kaja Kallas spoke on behalf of the Reform Party Faction, Kersti Sarapuu on behalf of the Centre Party Faction, and Siim Pohlak on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction. Priit Sibul spoke on behalf of the Faction Isamaa and Indrek Saar on behalf of the Social Democratic Faction.

A Bill passed the second reading in the Riigikogu: 

The Bill on Amendments to the Liquid Fuel Act (126 SE), initiated by the Government. As of 2020, the obligation to add biocomponents to fossil fuels will be made more flexible, and the transparency and efficiency of the trade in the statistics on the biocomponent and renewable electricity will be increased.

From 2020, the obligation to add biofuel to every litre will be replaced with a semester-based obligation which can also be met by contributing biomethane or electricity into final consumption in the transport sector. According to the Bill, the supplier will decide how to most efficiently meet the biofuel obligation over the semester. As another amendment, an electronic database for trade in statistics will be implemented. It will provide a transparent opportunity for suppliers to sell to suppliers who need statistics the statistics in excess of the minimum share of the obligation to add biofuel.

The Bill aims to support the domestic production of biomethane and the use of electricity in the transport sector. The Bill is intended to reduce the demand in Estonia for first generation biofuel produced from food crops, and to reduce the price pressure on the final price of fuel relating to the addition of biocomponents.

Amendments were also made to the Bill, and trams and trolleybuses, which use electricity and are part of road transport, were included. A year-based calculation will be implemented instead of the semester-based calculation, and the sanction in the amount of 5 million euro, provided for the failure to comply with the semester-based obligation, was replaced with a year-based sanction in the amount of 10 million euro.

The trade in the statistics on renewable energy was also made more flexible.

The requirements in the regulation of the Liquid Fuel Act (including the obligation to add biocomponents) will no longer be applied to the petrol used in lawn mowers and chain saws.

If the Act is passed, it will enter into force on 1 April.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed an Act that simplifies the transfer of shares of private limited companies and eliminates unnecessary restrictions and formal requirements.

Under the Act on Amendments to the Commercial Code (transfer of share) (148 SE, consolidated Bills 101 SE and 117 SE), initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee and the Government, the minimum value of a share is set at one cent instead of the current one euro. The formal requirement for a transaction constituting an obligation to transfer or pledge a share that currently applies to all private limited companies is repealed. A private limited company with a share capital meeting the minimum requirement is allowed to provide in its articles of association with the consent of all partners that a disposition for the transfer or pledge of a share can be carried out under a simplified procedure, that is, in a format which can be reproduced in writing.

The minimum value of a share is set at one cent instead of the current one euro, which will allow the amounts of the shares of private limited companies to be determined more flexibly. Under the current law, a transaction constituting an obligation to transfer or pledge a share, as well as a disposition, must be notarised (except in the case when the shares of the private limited company have been entered in the Estonian register of securities).

Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) who took the floor in the debate noted that the Act created competitive conditions for engaging additional capital. He said that would avoid undertakings moving to neighbouring countries where so far more lenient requirements regarding the engagement of capital had been in place compared to Estonia, and thus would avoid causing damage to the Estonian economy and enterprise.

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

The Bill on Amendments to the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank) Act (97 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee, passed the second reading. It will specify the bases for the formation of the membership of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia, and the requirements for members of the supervisory board, and the term of their mandate.

According to the Bill, the Supervisory Board includes representatives of the factions of the Riigikogu, and four experts in the field nominated by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. It will be specified that the members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia will have to have sufficient knowledge and experience to participate in the work of the board, and no member of the Supervisory Board may be appointed for more than two consecutive terms. The amendment will ensure legal clarity in the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia and will preclude a situation where the appointment of a new membership of the Supervisory Board may be delayed in the future.

The second reading of the Bill was suspended at the sitting of the Riigikogu on 17 December, and after that the European Central Bank was asked to provide its opinion on the Bill in order for the proceedings to be continued. During the second reading, the Finance Committee submitted two motions to amend the Bill which aimed to ensure sufficient clarity of the definitions used and the proceedings provided for in the Bill. The motions will specify how the factions of the Riigikogu will nominate their candidates to the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia and how the representatives of the factions will be appointed. They will also specify the procedure for the appointment of alternate members and the duration and functioning of their mandate in cases where a judgment of conviction in a criminal case enters into force with regard to a member of the Supervisory Board of the Estonian Bank or prohibition on business is imposed on him or her.

The Bill on Amendments to the Estonian Public Broadcasting Act (122 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, passed the first reading. It will extend the target group and the range of persons with hearing disabilities to whom the Estonian Public Broadcasting must ensure the availability of the original programmes offered by the television programme services as far as possible.

With the Bill, the word “vaegkuuljatele” (“persons with hearing disabilities”) will be replaced with the words “kuulmispuudega inimestele” (“persons with hearing disabilities”) in the third sentence of clause 5 (1) 1) of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Act. The essential meaning of this sentence is that the original programmes of the Estonian Public Broadcasting must be made available to the maximum extent to people with hearing disabilities as far as possible. Original programmes also include, among other things, public communications, speeches and welcoming addresses by heads of state that are intended for the whole society and are broadcast on national television which currently do not always come with translation into sign language.

Jüri Jaanson (Reform Party) who presented the Bill pointed out the different communication needs of people with different extents of hearing loss. He said that people who were hard of hearing needed subtitles, and deaf people needed their native sign language, to understand speech. Jaanson emphasised that it was important to take into account the needs of deaf people who used sign language and to involve them in the Estonian information space and society.

Member of the Cultural Affairs Committee Marko Šorin (Centre Party) presented the opinions on the Bill that had been submitted to the committee, and gave an overview of the discussions that had been held at the committee sittings. Šorin pointed out that the committee supported the concluding of the first reading of the Bill.

During the debate, Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party) and Jüri Jaanson (Reform Party) took the floor on behalf of the factions.

Source: Parliament of Estonia