NordenBladet —Joint meeting of the Economics, Energy and Innovation Committee and the Natural Resources and Environment Committee of the Baltic Assembly (BA), where circular economy and digital issues are discussed as economic cooperation of the Baltic States, will be held today in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia).
Chairman of the BA Natural Resources and Environment Committee Erki Savisaar said that at the session devoted to circular economy, recycling of bio, textile and construction waste would be spoken about. “For example, the bio-waste decomposing in landfills is a threat to the environment because of the methane that is produced, and therefore the OECD calls upon the states to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste. At the meeting, we will discuss the recommendations according to which investments into separate collecting and treatment of bio-waste should be encouraged, and the projects that stimulate sustainable treatment of bio-waste should be supported. Establishing of landfill restrictions and bio-waste prohibition should also be considered,” Savisaar explained.
The possibility of creating joint deposit refund system will also be explored at the meeting. “If the Baltic States could develop a joint deposit refund system, that would open possibilities for extended cooperation also in other areas of waste recycling. Regional waste treatment projects make the economy viable,” Savisaar emphasised.
Chairman of the BA Economics, Energy and Innovation Committee Sven Sester said that last year the Assembly had adopted a number of recommendations on digital cooperation. “One of the recommendations was developing of regional approach in regard to the artificial intelligence and other new technologies. Cooperation is necessary, because individual projects are expensive. Besides that, the EU supports regional initiatives, and joint applications and projects have to be discussed before the EU financing plans are implemented,” Sester stated.
Speaking of digital cooperation, Sester pointed out the X-Road information exchange. “The potential of cross-border information exchange cannot be overestimated, and the three Baltic States have to make joint efforts to create a common digital infrastructure that would cover e-governance projects in different areas.”
The Baltic Assembly is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States, which discusses issues of mutual interest. This year, Estonia is the presiding country of the Baltic Assembly.
NordenBladet —Today, the Riigikogu passed with 67 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and Guernsey for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance, initiated by the Government.
The purpose of the agreement for the elimination of double taxation (116 SE) is to facilitate investments between Estonia and Guernsey. Compared to national legal acts, the agreement as an international legal act provides investors with greater legal certainty with regard to the elements of the tax system that are regulated by the agreement, because amendment of an international agreement is more time-consuming than amendment of a national legal act. To achieve the purpose, the agreement between Estonia and Guernsey for the elimination of double taxation limits the income taxes that the country of the source of income can establish for the residents of the other country, ensures equal treatment of persons and eliminates potential double taxation. The agreement also establishes an obligation of mutual exchange of information which creates additional possibilities for prevention of tax avoidance.
The entry into force of the agreement will bring about a positive impact on taxpayers who receive income from Guernsey that is subject to tax in both jurisdictions with no tax agreement in place. The agreement provides no additional opportunities for taxation for the countries, but it restricts the existing taxation rights that have been established under national law. Estonia has concluded the agreements for the elimination of double taxation with 59 countries.
A Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu:
The Bill on Amendments to the Fishing Act (136 SE), initiated by the Rural Affairs Committee, which will amend the provisions on the organisation of fishing and establish an annual catch of vendace and Lake Peipus smelt for pound nets and smelt traps on Lake Peipus. The establishment of an annual catch for a fishing gear will allow to allocate fishing efforts more evenly during the fishing season and will provide fishers with the stability to catch their catch in the designated quantity.
With the amendment, it will be possible to introduce on Lake Peipus the organisation of fishing similar to that in use for pound net catching of Baltic herring in Pärnu County. Annual catches per pound net have been established in Pärnu County starting from 2014. It is an individual quota system with an analogous principle that operators have a fixed quota for each fishing gear. The difference from individual quota lies in that the annual catch cannot be transferred or rented separately from fishing gear, and historical fishing rights do not apply to it.
A Bill passed the second reading in the Riigikogu:
The Bill on Amendments to the Sport Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (105 SE), initiated by the Government, will organise the procedure for the payment of grants and allowances to athletes, and will help combat betting fraud and the use of doping.
According to the Bill, athlete’s grant may be paid tax-free to an athlete to a total extent of up to 12 times the minimum monthly wage in a calendar year. The limit will organise the current procedure for the payment of grants, because in practice tax-free grants are also paid to athletes in the case of an employment relationship. In such cases, state taxes are not paid and the athletes have no social guarantees either. Athlete’s allowance may be paid tax-free to an athlete to the extent of up to two times the minimum monthly wage in a month, provided that a contract of employment or another contract under the law of obligations has been entered into with him or her. No grant may be paid in such a case.
The Bill will amend the provision concerning doping crimes in the Penal Code. Prescribing a substance or a method, inducing a person to use a substance or a method and assisting in the use of a substance or a method, and carriage of substances across a state border or manufacturing, producing, marketing, mediating or trafficking thereof will be deemed to be criminal offences. Under the current procedure, a punishment can be imposed only in the case of inducing a person to use a medicinal product as doping.
With a view to fighting against the manipulation of sports competitions, the Bill provides for the establishment of a contact point to train and inform the relevant organisations in regard to the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions. The Estonian Anti-Doping and Sports Ethics Foundation will implement these tasks.
The amendments will include among the elements of the Estonian sports register a sub-database to consolidate the sports results achieved in Estonian and international title events. The database will be an important tool in distributing public funds and making sports policy decisions. The results of amateur sports and exercise competitions will not be gathered into the database.
On the proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee, the date of entry into force of the Act will be changed. Under the Bill, the Act will come into force on 1 March 2020.
During the debate, Aadu Must (Centre Party) took the floor.
NordenBladet —Today, a Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu under which a member of the National Defence Committee will be obligated to submit the documents that are the basis for performance of security vetting within two months after he or she is appointed as a member of the National Defence Committee.
According to the explanatory memorandum to the Bill on Amendments to § 19 of the Status of Members of the Riigikogu Act (121 SE), initiated by the National Defence Committee, the Act that entered into force at the beginning of the term of the 13th Riigikogu provides that each member of the Riigikogu who is appointed as a member of the National Defence Committee is to undergo security vetting. If a member of the Riigikogu who is appointed as a member of the National Defence Committee fails to pass the security vetting, a new member of the National Defence Committee is appointed to replace him or her pursuant to the procedure prescribed by law. Thus a member of the National Defence Committee must undergo security vetting in any case. It has a wider meaning than just the right to access classified information of foreign states.
On the basis of the above, a member of the National Defence Committee will be obligated to submit the documents that are the basis for performance of security vetting within two months after he or she is appointed as a member of the National Defence Committee. If the member of the Riigikogu fails to meet the two-month deadline provided for by the Bill, a new member of the National Defence Committee will be appointed to replace him or her pursuant to the procedure prescribed by law.
NordenBladet —At their meeting today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas and Speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament of Sweden) Andreas Norlén emphasised the excellent relations between the two countries and discussed the security of the Baltic Sea region.
Põlluaas believes that the relations between Estonia and Sweden are excellent and close. “We cooperate bilaterally every day, and stand for common aims in international organisations,” Põlluaas said. “Estonia and Sweden have similar principles in regard to the issues relating to Russia and the increase of the influence of China.”
According to the President of the Riigikogu, Estonia is interested in having even closer relations in the areas of digital cooperation, security and cyber defence, and would like international cooperation to continue regionally, between the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States, and in the UN and the European Union. He thanked Sweden for its contribution to Estonia’s UN Security Council membership campaign.
The meeting with the Speaker of the Riksdag and the delegation accompanying him was also attended by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa, and Yoko Alender and Valdo Randpere, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Estonia-Sweden Parliamentary Group.
At the meeting, the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, the threat Russia poses to the region and the impact of information operations were discussed. The importance of the Arctic region and the increasing global influence of China were spoken about as well. The discussions also touched upon the creation of 5G network and the tunnel planned between Tallinn and Helsinki.
The meeting was followed by the discussion panel “Digital technology: managing possibilities and risks to our democracy” (video recording). Besides the Speaker of the Riksdag, member of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu and the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Oudekki Loone and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu and the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Keit Pentus-Rosimannus participated in the discussion panel. The panel was moderated by Liisa Past, Chief National Cyber Risk Officer at the Government Office of Estonia.
NordenBladet —A Bill passed the first reading the in the Riigikogu. It provides for the right of competent authorities to prohibit goods from being placed on the market and to require withdrawal of goods from the market in Estonia in pursuance of the procedure provided for in the directly applicable EU Regulation.
Based on the Regulation, competent authorities must clearly justify restriction on market access. This can be done for example on the basis of overriding reasons of public interest, and it must be evaluated whether the restrictions are proportionate to the aim pursued.
According to the principle of mutual recognition, products that have been placed on the market in a Member State under the rules in force there must be allowed to be freely placed on the market in EU Member States also when different requirements have been established for them in the country of destination.
For example, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, the Health Board, the Maritime Administration, the Agricultural Board, the Environmental Inspectorate, the Road Administration and the Veterinary and Food Board will be the competent authorities on the basis of the legislation regulating the sector. In addition, the Act regulates the obligation of these authorities to exchange information with the competent authorities of other Member States.
The Bill on Amendments to the Product Conformity Attestation Act (125 SE), initiated by the Government, will implement in Estonia the new directly applicable EU Regulation that replaces the Regulation that was in force before and concerns the mutual recognition of the conformity of goods marketed in another Member State. The Regulation helps stimulate trade in goods in the European single market and speed up and enhance the work of competent authorities in the evaluation of goods. The implementation of the new Regulation will make it simpler for Estonian economic operators to take their products to the EU market.
The Minister of Population Riina Solman replied to the interpellation concerning cooperation between the Government and civil society (No. 19).
During the open microphone, Marika Tuus-Laul and Lauri Läänemets took the floor.
NordenBladet —At its sittings yesterday and today, the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the National Defence Bill with the stakeholders and relevant agencies. The Bill aims to establish a uniform and comprehensive framework for preparation for and resolution of crisis situations.
Chairman of the National Defence Committee Andres Metsoja pointed out that the Bill was very extensive, covering practically the whole society, and therefore the Committee decided to engage as many interest groups as possible in the proceedings on the Bill.
“In two days, we have heard the positions of different agencies and organisations, and I can assure you that the discussion has been very constructive and we have reached consensus on proceeding with the Bill,” Metsoja said.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee Kalle Laanet explained that the National Defence Bill would establish the legal framework that ensured the security of the state and constitutional order during a crisis or in defence situations. “Today we discussed mainly how leadership should be built up in crisis or defence situations, so that vital services would not be interrupted,” Laanet said. “The obligations proceeding from law do not apply only to the Defence Forces, but extend to all state authorities. All agencies have clear roles, and this requires sound management.”
The National Defence Committee proposed the Ministry of Defence to prepare a model for resolving of defence situations.
According to the Bill, Estonia relies on comprehensive national defence under which representatives of both the national defence sector and the civil sector contribute to the national defence according to their competence to manage possible non-military and military security threats.
Pursuant to the Bill, in order to resolve a defence situation or to protect public order, the state may need to take into use or expropriate objects held by the civil sector or to impose one-off work obligations on persons and to involve them in law enforcement.
During the two days of discussions, the representatives of the Office of the President of the Republic, the Government Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Defence Forces, the National Audit Office, Bank of Estonia, the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association, the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, the Union of Electricity Industry of Estonia, the Estonian Security Association, the Estonian Water Works Association and the Estonian Defence Industry Association participated in the sittings of the National Defence Committee.
Motions to amend the National Defence Bill (112 SE) can be submitted until 26 February.
NordenBladet —Today, at the sitting starting at 10 a.m., the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) will discuss foreign policy as a matter of significant national importance. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa will make reports.
In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu will discuss Estonia’s foreign policy success, and the importance of international and regional cooperation. The minister will speak of Estonia’s recently attained membership in the UN Security Council, and Estonia’s presidency in the Baltic Council of Ministers and in the Nordic-Baltic cooperation format NB8. He will also speak of NATO and EU cooperation, the Eastern Partnership, Estonia’s contribution to development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and Estonia’s objectives and positions in the European Union and in relationships with Great Britain.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee will highlight the global foreign policy developments and will give an overview of the activities of the committee. According to Eesmaa, over the last couple of years, Estonia has risen to a high foreign policy orbit, which is testified by Estonia’s participation in regional partnership processes and initiatives as well as in the work of the UN Security Council.
The chairman of the committee will also discuss the importance of international diplomacy and foreign service, the development of the Eastern Partnership and transatlantic relations, the preparation of the document “Estonian Foreign Policy Development Plan 2030”, Estonia’s cooperation with the United Kingdom, and the statement of the Riigikogu calling on the Government to support the preservation of authentic historical memory.
The reports will be followed by questions to the speakers and comments from factions.
The foreign policy debate will be the first item on the agenda for the sitting. The sitting will be broadcast live on the Riigikogu website.
NordenBladet — Agenda for the 4th Working Week (8 February 2020-14 February 2020) of the 3rd Session of the Riigikogu Plenary Assembly
Monday, 10 February
1. Bill on Amendments to the Product Conformity Attestation Act (125 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
First reading
Report by Taavi Aas, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure
Report by Annely Akkermann, member of the Economic Affairs Committee
2. Interpellation concerning cooperation between the Government and civil society (No. 19), submitted by members of the Riigikogu Lauri Läänemets, Jaak Juske, Helmen Kütt, Riina Sikkut, Katri Raik, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Raimond Kaljulaid, Indrek Saar and Heljo Pikhof on 15 January 2020
Reply by Riina Solman, Minister of Population
Tuesday, 11 February
1. Foreign policy debate as a matter of significant national importance, initiated by the Foreign Affairs Committee
Report by Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Report by Enn Eesmaa, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
2. Bill on Amendments to the Fishing Act (136 SE), initiated by the Rural Affairs Committee
First reading
Report by Heiki Hepner, member of the Rural Affairs Committee
Wednesday, 12 February
1. Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and Guernsey for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance (116 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Second reading
Report by Kersti Sarapuu, member of the Finance Committee
2. Bill on Amendments to the Sport Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (105 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic
Second reading
Report by Kristina Šmigun-Vähi, member of the Cultural Affairs Committee
Thursday, 13 February
1. Bill on Amendments to § 19 of the Status of Members of the Riigikogu Act (121 SE), initiated by the National Defence Committee
First reading
Report by Madis Milling, member of the National Defence Committee
Report by Hanno Pevkur, member of the Constitutional Committee
On Monday, 10 February, 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, 12 February, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., Question Time takes place.
NordenBladet – Yesterday, on 8th February, ERM opened a new exhibition. Hundreds of fairy tales, dozens of magical objects and numerous strange encounters – the Estonian National Museum exhibition ‘Once Upon a Time…’ takes visitors on a journey through a magical forest and the underworld to meet holograms of heroes in the exhibition hall and guides them out of hell via an eight-metre laser corridor.
“By autumn of the year before last,” said Katrin Sipelgas, Head Curator and originator of the exhibition concept, “I had thought about fairy tales for so long that I finally decided to turn them into an exhibition. The original versions of the same stories that have become popular thanks to contemporary fairy tale films were told in our farmhouses 100 years ago or even earlier. This is why the Estonian National Museum is the perfect place for fairy tales.” Several creatives have contributed to making this exhibition a reality, incl. film director Jaak Kilmi, writer Andrus Kivirähk, folklorists Risto Järv and Ülo Valk, animator Priit Tender and historian David Vseviov.
No fairy tale is complete without magical objects. But where can we find them? Coincidentally, Katrin Sipelgas’ travels have taken her to faraway lands from South America to Indonesia. “I have travelled back with Aladdin’s lamp, a magic mirror and seven-league boots in my suitcases,” said Sipelgas. Moreover, a few months ago, a shipping container arrived at the museum full of decorations that did not fit into a suitcase – giant twisted tree roots to serve as the roof of the underworld and a number of flying carpets.
The Estonian National Museum’s collections include fairy-tale items that have now been moved from the depths of the storage room into display cases. The most exciting of these is a pot of money that was dug up by Nikolai Bergwald in 1933 when clearing a field at Ugametsa farm in Viljandi County. The copper cauldron was filled with jewellery and coins. The exhibition also features a peculiar bearded mask that was made 80 years ago in Hiiumaa. The Estonian Literary Museum contributed a dozen exciting books.
‘Once Upon a Time…’ will take visitors on a journey along which they encounter everything a hero might in a fairy tale; heroes are represented in the exhibition hall by holograms. As in any fairy tale, visitors will face trials and find resolutions. Be it a card came with devils in the underworld or a fight with a dragon. In order to escape hell, visitors must pass through an eight-metre laser corridor.
The fairy tale exhibition ‘Once Upon a Time…’ will remain open in the Estonian National Museum temporary exhibitions hall (A-entrance) from 8 February to spring 2021. More information on the exhibition can be found on the Estonian National Museum Website.
“The term fairy tale seemingly refers to a time long past,” explains Risto Järv, Folklorist and Curator (Estonian Literary Museum), “but the contents of these stories can be easily transferred to the present day. The poetry of fairy tales allows listeners and readers, adults and children alike, to easily relate to fairy tale heroes and heroines. These are current stories about the problems and struggles of contemporary people and how to overcome them.”
NordenBladet —Today and tomorrow, 18 members of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) are in Brussels, where they will meet with the European Commissioner for Energy, the Estonian members of the European Parliament and the Estonian officials to discuss the issues relating to the European Green Deal and the Fair Transition Fund, and the European Union regional policy.
The new multiannual financial framework of the EU, spread of false information in Europe and the counter-measures of the EU, and the new migration agreement will also be spoken about.
In the opinion of Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Anneli Ott, it is important to understand the structural functioning of the European Union, and to what extent each member state can contribute to the decisions that are being made. “Several members of the Riigikogu are in their office for the first time, and such meetings are necessary for them. Besides that, it will also be possible to meet with the members of the European Parliament elected from Estonia, who can give members of the Riigikogu a broad insight into the priorities of the European Parliament in the coming years and the cooperation between different structures in the EU,” Ott said.
The visit was organised by the European Commission Representation in Estonia. Besides Anneli Ott, the delegation also includes member of the European Union Affairs Committee Urve Tiidus, Chair of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee Katri Raik, Deputy Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee Heidy Purga and members of the Cultural Affairs Committee Kristina Šmigun-Vähi and Signe Kivi, members of the Rural Affairs Committee Merry Aart and Erkki Keldo, members of the Economic Affairs Committee Jüri Jaanson and Kai Rimmel, members of the National Defence Committee Jaak Juske and Peeter Rahnel, members of the Social Affairs Committee Marika Tuus-Laul, Signe Riisalo and Urmas Espenberg, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Raivo Tamm, and Deputy Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Toomas Kivimägi and member of the Legal Affairs Committee Heljo Pikhof.
