NordenBladet — Today, the members of the Estonian delegation to the Baltic Assembly participate in the video meeting of the Welfare Committee of the BA to discuss the strategy for exiting the crisis and the possible future scenarios.

Chairman of the Welfare Committee of the Baltic Assembly Urmas Espenberg said that besides the future scenarios, recent events would also be spoken about at the video conference, and the MPs and the ministers of social affairs of the Baltic States would be given an overview of the crisis readiness of health care institutions at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis as well as of the measures for combating the crisis. “It is clear that none of us was actually ready for such a large-scale crisis, regardless of the tangible signs of danger. Blocking of information by China and the inaction of the WHO also had a certain role here. In order to manage the possible future crises successfully and quickly, it is necessary to take steps and share experience with colleagues so that we all could learn from the mistakes. Especially if human lives are the price of the mistakes,” Espenberg pointed out.

Member of the Welfare Committee Helmen Kütt added that, at the meeting, the lessons of the crisis would also be discussed in the light of the social crisis and from the aspect of employment. “We will focus on ensuring the livelihoods of people through different measures, and exchange information about best practices of neighbouring countries. Many lost their jobs because of the crisis, and unfortunately, many people may still have to face it, because redundancies and closures of companies are not over yet. Although the number of infections has dropped almost to minimum, it does not mean that we can consider the issue closed, because the health crisis will be followed by both social and economic crisis,” Kütt said.

The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States, which discusses issues of mutual interest. A 12-member delegation of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) represents Estonia in the Assembly. This year, Estonia is holding the Presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.

NordenBladet — Today, the Governor of Eesti Pank Madis Müller presented the central bank’s annual report for 2019. Müller highlighted the major aspects in the work of the central bank, and shared the assessment of Eesti Pank of the economy and economic policy choices.

Speaking about the activities of Eesti Pank, Müller began with the topic of currency circulation in Estonia, which ran smoothly last year. He noted that access to cash had clearly improved over the last few years. The Governor also emphasised that Estonia was a trailblazer in the introduction of the so-called instant payments, which allow money to move between accounts in different banks in a matter of seconds.

In 2019, the investment portfolio of the central bank saw a huge increase, reaching EUR 1.2 billion by the end of the year. “The profitability of the Eesti Pank investment portfolio is exceptional, and we made a profit of nearly EUR 39 million on investments. This allowed us to allocate a larger part of the annual profit than usually into the state budget, in total nearly EUR 19 million,” he said.

Müller explained that the economic situation in the beginning of June has rarely departed so much from the expectations six months earlier. “While at the end of 2019 we could observe a modest recovery of the global economy after international trade wars, today we are facing a global recession,” he said. Müller recalled the International Monetary Fund January Outlook, which predicted an over 3% economic growth for this year; however, by April, the IMF was predicting a similar global economic recession. “Moreover, in developed countries, the economic recession will be twice as fast. A recession of this magnitude over such a short period has been rarely experienced before,” the Governor explained.

“We know that as early as the first quarter, the quarantine measures led to a nearly 4 % economic drop in the euro area in quarter comparison, and in the second quarter the downturn is likely to speed up,” Müller said. “If there is no need to implement new quarantine measures to control the virus, and the measures so far turn out to be efficient, the economy could restart quite rapidly on the second half of the year. But this is not enough to return to pre-restrictions levels by the end of the year,” he said. Müller added that all the outlooks are currently speculative, but the total production of the euro area is not likely to return to the pre-pandemic level before 2022.

Müller described the standing of the Estonian commercial banks as financially sound, both compared to banks in other countries as well as the last crisis. “Nevertheless, Eesti Pank decided to circumvent any problems by alleviating the capital requirements for banks, and take the systematic risk buffer from one percent to zero. This clears EUR 110 million in capital for the banks, allowing these to offer additional loans to individuals and businesses during a difficult time, or cover the losses from loans,” he said.

“It is very significant that the banks have been offering their clients flexible grace periods. They have also managed to agree between themselves that changing the payment schedule does not lead to imposing increased interest rates due to increased risks, nor charging the normal fee for changing contracts,” Müller said. He added that this has made the crisis considerably easier to bear for both businesses as well as families with housing loans, for example.

The Governor of Eesti Pank explained that in the near future the central bank would concentrate its attention on how to support post-crisis recovery, both by participating in shaping euro area monetary policy as well as by contributing to Estonia’s economic policy choices. Müller listed the areas that would benefit from strong governmental contribution. He predicted an increasing importance of economic digitalisation and the growing need to support retraining. He also emphasised that when we launch large-scale investment projects, it would be worth considering their alignment with climate goals which Estonia has already assumed and which demand major efforts from the government as well as the private sector.

During the debate, Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Maris Lauri (Reform Party), and Sven Sester (Isamaa) took the floor on behalf of their factions..

One Bill passed the second reading in the Riigikogu

Bill on Amendments to the Environmental Charges Act (109 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading.

The Bill would amend the principles for calculating environmental charges for activities which cause the introduction of pollutants into the environment to feed live organisms.

The Bill would provide a specification under which the pollution charge is not imposed if the substances and compounds specified in subsection 17 (1) of the Environmental Charges Act are emitted into a water body, groundwater or soil for the purpose of cultivating live organisms, including plants, animals or fungi. Water pollution charge is paid at an increased rate of the environmental charge if the maximum quantities set out in or regulated under the Water Act. Compared to the current Environmental Charges Act regulation, the amendment does not lead to the responsibility for cultivators of live organisms to pay additional charges.

The first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Fire Safety Act and Other Acts (120 SE), initiated by the Economic Affairs Committee, was adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the sitting. The deliberation of the Bill will continue at Wednesday’s sitting.

NordenBladet — The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) decided to make a proposal to the Government to prepare the Asian strategy of Estonia.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that the Committee had taken into account the initiative of the Asian Centre at the University of Tartu to create a strategy for realising the long-term plans of Estonia concerning the developments, opportunities and challenges in Asia. “Estonia’s targets in connection with Asia have been a topic of discussion in our Committee for a long time. In 2012, the report “The Opportunities and Interests of Estonia in Asia until 2025” was prepared on the basis of hearings in the Foreign Affairs Committee. In eight years, very many changes have taken place in the region, and it is time to map new directions and challenges,” Eesmaa explained.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee added that the Committee intended to continue with the issue during the autumn session, when parliamentary hearings on topics relating to Asia are planned to be held.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson recalled the Estonian Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030, which had recently been discussed in the Riigikogu, and where the need for preparing comprehensive strategies for regions of strategic importance was underlined. “A more specific action plan in regard to Asia could be one of such strategies. It is certainly necessary to keep in mind that the strategy has to be applicable, should set specific objectives and create a context that could serve as a basis for establishing bilateral relations with states,” Mihkelson said.

In the opinion of the representatives of the University of Tartu Asian Centre, Estonia currently lacks a cross-sectoral and long-term Asian strategy that could be used by different interest groups as a basis for planning their activities. They believe that a new strategy that is created for the state and the public of Estonia could establish new guidelines, considering the need to protect the security of Estonia.

NordenBladet — The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts in connection with the Reorganisation of the Agricultural Board and the Veterinary and Food Board into the Agricultural and Food Board (164 SE), initiated by the Government, and sent it to the third reading.

Under the Bill (164 SE), on the basis of the Agricultural Board and the Veterinary and Food Board, the Agricultural and Food Board will be set up and it will start operating on 1 January 2021. The amendments conform to the state reform action plan 2019–2023 approved on the basis of the Government’s action programme. The merger of the authorities proceeds from a more general principle of the state reform, namely to reduce the duplication of activities in different state offices, to reduce the number of administrative agencies and to improve the quality and availability of public services.

The Agricultural and Food Board to be formed after the merger of the agencies will perform all the current main functions of the two agencies, which will require retention of the present staff, among other things. With the reorganisation of the two agencies, the capability of risk-based inspection will increase, the management of information in the entire food production chain will improve, and the quality of the prevention and information activities to reduce offences will grow. The communication aimed at clients will be more comprehensive, and the administrative burden to clients will be reduced.

Ivari Padar (Social Democratic Party) took the floor during the debate.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of two Bills

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act and the Local Government Financial Management Act (194 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee, will extend the deadlines by which local governments must adopt amendments to the budget strategy and the development plan and, on the basis of that, submit the draft budget and the explanatory memorandum to the municipal councils.

The purpose of the Bill is to propose an operational and functioning solution for 2020. As a result of the emergency situation caused by the spread of COVID-19, the relevant provision of the State Budget for 2020 Act was applied, and therefore the adoption of the state budget strategy was postponed to this autumn. In connection with this, it will be necessary to extend the deadlines by which local governments must adopt amendments to the budget strategy and the development plan, and submit them to the municipal councils. This will enable local governments to take into account the information set out in the state budget strategy when making management decisions.

In addition, the Bill will provide for a simplification for the presentation of information in the explanatory memorandum to the budget. A similar rule is in place for the state budget strategy which enables the Government to make generalisations and simplifications in the state budget strategy as compared to the normal situation.

The main amendment provided for in the Bill on Amendments to the National Audit Office Act, the Political Parties Act and Other Acts (controlling body for political party funding) (193 SE), initiated by the Faction Isamaa, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party Faction, is to transfer the functions of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee as a monitoring body to the National Audit Office.

The initiators of the Bill say in justification that the purpose of the Bill is to make the monitoring of the funding of political parties, election coalitions and independent candidates more professional. For that, the surveillance competence will be given to the National Audit Office. As the monitoring activities will become more professional, the monitoring of the funding of political parties will become more understandable and the transparency of the funding will increase.

The National Audit Office will continue the ongoing monitoring activities of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee. The National Audit Office will also participate in the ongoing judicial proceedings as the legal successor of the Political Parties financing Surveillance Committee. The performance of the additional task will require reorganisations in the National Audit Office, recruitment and training of officials, etc. The Act provides for a sufficient period for entry into force in order to allow for preparation and implementation of the changes.

During the debate, Kaja Kallas (Reform Party), Priit Sibul (Isamaa), Tõnis Mölder (Centre Party), Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party) and Siim Pohlak (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

Kallas referred to the fact that the tasks of the National Audit Office did not include the exercise of oversight over the activities of political parties. Therefore it is unjustified to make such an amendment. She moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. Sibul expressed support to the Bill. In his opinion, the discussion should be taken to the Supreme Court if necessary, in order to bring clarity as to whether the amendment is in conformity with the Constitution. He added that proceedings on the ongoing matters would definitely have to be continued on the basis of legal continuity. Mölder analysed the activities of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee so far, and was very critical of it. He therefore considered it necessary to make changes regarding the issue of the oversight of the funding of political parties. Saar explained that if the National Audit Office were given the task of monitoring the covert funding of political parties, it might become more politically biased. Saar also drew attention to the fact that, now that the crisis situation was over, the Riigikogu was expected to address much weightier matters instead. Saar also moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. Pohlak justified why the Bill was necessary and called on to make proposals to amend the Bill in the course of the proceedings.

The results of the vote to reject the Bill at the first reading: 46 votes in favour and 53 against. The motion was not supported. The first reading was concluded. The deadline for submission of motions to amend is 15 May.

At the open microphone session, Helmen Kütt took the floor.

NordenBladet — Agenda for the 16th Working Week (1 June 2020–4 June 2020) of the 3rd Session of the Riigikogu Plenary Assembly

Monday, 1 June

1. Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts in connection with the Reorganisation of the Agricultural Board and the Veterinary and Food Board into the Agricultural and Food Board (164 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Second reading
Report by Merry Aart, member of the Rural Affairs Committee

2. Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act and the Local Government Financial Management Act (194 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee
First reading
Report by Aivar Kokk, Chairman of the Finance Committee

3. Bill on Amendments to the National Audit Office Act, the Political Parties Act and Other Acts (controlling body for political party funding) (193 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and the Faction Isamaa
First reading
Report by Kert Kingo, Member of the Riigikogu
Report by Taavi Rõivas, member of the Constitutional Committee

Tuesday, 2 June

1. The 2019 Report of the Bank of Estonia
Report by Madis Müller, Governor of the Bank of Estonia

2. Bill on Amendments to the Environmental Charges Act (109 SE), initiated by the Environment Committee
Resumption of the second reading
Report by Erki Savisaar, Chairman of the Environment Committee

3. Bill on Amendments to the Fire Safety Act and Other Acts (120 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
First reading
Report by Mart Helme, Minister of the Interior
Report by Toomas Kivimägi, Deputy Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee

Wednesday, 3 June

1. Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts (formation of the Education and Youth Board, renaming of the Language Inspectorate as the Language Board) (163 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Third reading (Majority vote of the members of the Riigikogu)

2. Bill on Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act and the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens (prevention of mass immigration) (110 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Third reading

3. Bill on Amendments to the Aliens Act (135 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Third reading

4. Overview of courts administration, administration of justice and uniform application of Acts
Report by Villu Kõve, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

5. Bill on Amendments to the Foreign Service Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (45 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Second reading
Report by Marko Mihkelson, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee

6. Bill on the Ratification of the Protocol amending the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (143 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
First reading
Report by Raivo Aeg, Minister of Justice
Report by Paul Puustusmaa, Chairman of the Constitutional Committee

7. Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act (187 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
First reading
Report by Taavi Aas, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure
Report by Paul Puustusmaa, Chairman of the Constitutional Committee

8. Bill on Amendments to the Salaries of Higher State Servants Act (166 SE), initiated by the Faction Isamaa, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party Faction
First reading
Report by Viktoria Ladõnskaja-Kubits, Member of the Riigikogu
Report by Paul Puustusmaa, Chairman of the Constitutional Committee

Thursday, 4 June

1. The 2019 Report of the Financial Supervision Authority
Report by Kilvar Kessler, Chairman of the Management Board of the Financial Supervision Authority

2. Bill on Amendments to the Courts Act and the Code of Civil Procedure (175 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Second reading
Report by Paul Puustusmaa, Chairman of the Constitutional Committee
On Monday, 1 June, after all items on the agenda have been discussed, the time for unscheduled statements begins, to continue until no further requests for the floor are made, but not longer than until 12 midnight.

On Wednesday, 3 June, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., Question Time takes place.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu did not pass unamended the Act on Amendments to the Rescue Act and the Weapons Act, which the President of the Republic had refused to proclaim.

88 members of the Riigikogu voted against passing the Act unamended again.

Consequently, the Riigikogu will continue proceeding the Bill. The deadline for motions to amend is 4 June. Possible amendments are subject to further debate.

The amendments proposed to the Act on Amendments to the Rescue Act and the Weapons Act (128 SE), which the President of the Republic refused to proclaim, are linked to the launch of the crisis information service, involvement of volunteer rescuers, tasks of the Rescue Board, and specification of the Weapons Act.

The provisions of the Act recognise the role of volunteer rescuers. The social guarantees in place for volunteer rescuers involved in rescue work are also extended to volunteer rescuers involved in prevention work. In addition, the five-year validity period of the medical certificate of rescuer is eliminated. In the future, family physicians are able to determine the validity period on the basis of the person’s health indicators.

The amendment creates 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, it establishes the requirements for marking locations for blasting explosives during explosive ordnance disposal, and ensures the supply of food and drinking water to all people engaged in rescue work.

The Bill also introduces specifications into the Weapons Act and grants the right to carry and use firearms for self-defence to explosive ordnance disposal specialists of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Centre of the Rescue Board.

The classification of weapons is also specified. The data on the weapons belonging to weapons collections of museums does not need to be entered in the Register of Service and Civilian Weapons. The requirement that a person may acquire, own or possess a sporting firearm only if they are a member of a shooting sports club is restored.

The Act increases the tasks of the Emergency Response Centre, which consist in processing assistance and information notifications by providing crisis information service. The Emergency Response Centre may involve volunteers in the provision of crisis information service.

During the debate, Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party), Signe Riisalo (Reform Party), and Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.

One Bill passed the second reading in the Riigikogu

Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts (formation of the Education and Youth Board, renaming of the Language Inspectorate as the Language Board) (163 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Bill concerns establishing an Education and Youth Board in the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research, and the Language Inspectorate would be renamed the Language Board.

The Bill provides the establishment of the Education and Youth Board in the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research. It would be formed on the basis of the services of the Foundation Innove, Archimedes Foundation, Information Technology Foundation for Education, and Estonian Youth Work Centre, a state authority governed by the Ministry of Education and Research. As a result, the activities that are of implementational nature and are not related to policy shaping in the Ministry of Education and Research will also be relocated to the new Board. The State Shared Service Centre will begin to perform the tasks of accounting, salary calculation and personnel records as well as those of the 2^nd level intermediate body for structural assistance. According to the Bill, the Language Inspectorate, a government agency operating in the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research, will be renamed the Language Board. The Language Board will continue to provide all the services currently provided by the Language Inspectorate. In addition, the language policy implementation activities in the Ministry of Education and Research and Archimedes Foundation will be transferred to the Language Board.

During the debate, Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) and Katri Raik (Social Democratic Party) took the floor on behalf of their faction to propose suspending the proceeding of the Bill. 8 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of the motion and 56 were against it. The motion was not supported and the second reading of the Bill was concluded.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At its today’s sitting, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) amended the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act. In the future, it will also be possible to hold the plenary sittings so that the members of the Riigikogu do not have to be physically present in the room where the sitting takes place, and they can participate with the help of electronic means.

Holding of a sitting by remote attendance is decided by the Board of the Riigikogu if there are strong reasons for it. The President of the Riigikogu notifies the members of the Riigikogu of holding such a sitting through the media at least three days before the date on which the sitting is to take place. The time for giving notice may be shorter if there are strong reasons for it.

Pursuant to the Act on Amendments to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act (176 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee, a sitting may be held by remote attendance if the members of the Riigikogu are ensured the opportunity to follow the sitting and carry out the proceedings of the sitting from a remote location. This means that it has to be possible to submit Bills, present reports, ask oral questions, make comments, protest and vote at the sitting. There also has to be a possibility of reporting of impediments to performing such activities.  If there are impediments that do not allow conducting a sitting by remote attendance, the chair of the sitting suspends the sitting until such impediments are removed.

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