Auditor General Janar Holm replied to the interpellation concerning the funding of cultural construction works of national importance (No. 600), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Priit Sibul, Tõnis Mölder, Mart Maastik, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Urmas Reinsalu and Riina Solman.

The interpellators referred to the fact that there were cultural facilities of national importance the list of which had been drawn up in the Riigikogu. Instead of including a new facility in the list, where there seems to be a consensus, it has now been decided to amend the Cultural Endowment Act and the Gambling Tax Act, instead of reviewing the list and the Act.

The interpellators wished to know how it was possible to fund, according to Estonian legislation, an additional cultural construction work so that it did not affect the completion of a cultural facility of national importance approved by Resolutions of the Riigikogu.

According to Holm, the issue is related to the fact that, according to the Bill referred to in the interpellation, the Supervisory Board of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia can decide, on the proposal of the Minister of Culture and if sufficient funds are available, the funding of a cultural construction work of national importance in addition to the cultural construction works of national importance approved by the Riigikogu, where this does not affect the completion of the cultural construction works of national importance approved by the Riigikogu.

The question of whether the funding of an additional cultural construction work may affect the completion of a cultural construction work of national importance approved by a Resolution of the Riigikogu arises in another case where the cost of facilities rises or where the construction of the facilities specified in the Resolution of the Riigikogu can be started earlier. “In my opinion, if an additional cultural construction work is added, this will not hinder the completion of the cultural construction works approved by a Resolution of the Riigikogu earlier as long as this does not postpone the start of their construction or prolong the construction period,” Holm said.

Holm said that, as the Auditor General, he was not in a position to provide an opinion on whether granting the decision-making power to the minister was justified or unjustified. By amending the Cultural Endowment of Estonia Act, it is possible for the Riigikogu to decide on different ways of distributing the funds received for cultural construction works, including in the form proposed in the current Bill. “From the point of view of procedural economy, however, the Riigikogu would have been able to achieve the aim sought with the Bill in a simpler way and with less procedural effort, if it had wished to do so,” Holm explained.

He pointed out that, according to the explanatory memorandum to the Bill, changes would be made to the decision-making process for the establishment of cultural construction works of national importance in order to create the possibility for the construction of a new television building for the Estonian Public Broadcasting. “In order to achieve this goal, it would have been enough for the Riigikogu to amend by its Resolution the shortlist of cultural objects of national importance by including a new facility: a new TV building of the Estonian Public Broadcasting,” Holm said.

Starting from 1996, the Riigikogu has granted the status of a proposed cultural facility of national importance. If the Bill is adopted, the Minister of Culture will decide on the cultural facility of national importance to be presented for approval to the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu and for decision to the supervisory Board of the Cultural Endowment.

The interpellators referred to the fact that the Riigikogu had made a decision to fund the film industry hub, one of the five facilities mentioned in the Act. Now it has emerged that an international film studio complex in Jõhvi is going to be established from the funds of the Transition Fund.

Holm explained that, according to the data of the National Audit Office, no decision had yet been made on the financing of the construction of the Jõhvi international film studio complex. According to the information we have received, a decision will be made in March or April. However, at the end of January, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications approved a programme for incubation services in Ida-Viru County which is part of a comprehensive programme to establish two incubation centres in Jõhvi for film industry production support services and the development of digital multimedia services.

Holm pointed out that, whether channelling public money from different sources to the establishment of various film industry hubs was justified, could also be assessed by the Riigikogu itself who had approved the list of cultural construction works of national importance.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas replied to interpellations that concerned the critical demographic situation in Estonia (No. 597), the Estonia-based business activities relating to Russia during the war in Ukraine (No. 598) and the negative impacts of the car tax on families with children  (No. 602).

The interpellators withdrew from the proceedings the interpellation that concerned the Government’s plan to close down Koidula border crossing point (No. 426), submitted  to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

The sitting ended at 7.21 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

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

Link uudisele: The Auditor General replied to an interpellation concerning the funding of cultural construction works

Source: Parliament of Estonia