67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 13 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the State Budget Control Select Committee”” (336 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party, changes the principle for the formation of the membership of the State Budget Control Select Committee. According to the Resolution, in the future, the membership of the committee will be formed under the principle of equal representation of the coalition and the opposition.

During the debate, Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor.

54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 35 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee”” (337 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party, changes the principle for the formation of the membership of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee. According to the Resolution, in the future, the membership of the committee will be formed under the principle of equal representation of the coalition and the opposition.

During the debate, Eduard Odinets (Social Democratic Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.

56 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 37 voted against.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Animal Protection Act and the Nature Conservation Act (219 SE), initiated by members of the Riigikogu Indrek Saar, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Jürgen Ligi, Signe Riisalo, Yoko Alender, Helmen Kütt, Lauri Läänemets, Siret Kotka, Andrei Korobeinik, Raimond Kaljulaid, Oudekki Loone, Katri Raik, Jüri Jaanson, Toomas Kivimägi, Johannes Kert, Mart Võrklaev, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Kalvi Kõva, Jaak Juske, Riina Sikkut, Heljo Pikhof, Liina Kersna and Madis Milling, was adjourned. It will continue at tomorrow’s sitting.

For the same reason, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (370 SE), initiated by the Faction Isamaa, the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Shortlist for the Establishment and Renovation of Cultural Construction Works of National Importance”” (387 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, and the Bill on Amendments to § 55 of the Health Insurance Act (363 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction and Member of the Riigikogu Raimond Kaljulaid, was transferred to the agenda for tomorrow’s sitting.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu amended the principle for the formation of membership for three committees

Laneman said that the parliamentarians would also discuss anti-terrorist strategy. “It is important for countries to exchange experiences and engage in closer cooperation both in preventing and combating terrorism,” he said.

The Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum will take place for the 14^th time. The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness on the fight against terrorism. The forum gives parliamentarians across the world an opportunity to learn from the experiences of countries in combating terrorism and funding for terrorism, as well as a place to discuss important security topics more broadly.

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
+372 631 6456; 58 213 309
marie.kukk@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Laneman is taking part in a security forum on fight against terrorism

Katri Raik is the Chairperson and Marek Jürgenson is the Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee of the Riigikogu. Mart Nutt, Paul Puustusmaa and Andres Sutt are members of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee.

Jürgen Ligi is the Chairman and Martin Repinski is the Deputy Chairman of the State Budget Control Select Committee of the Riigikogu. Peeter Ernits, Aivar Kokk and Kalvi Kõva are members of the State Budget Control Select Committee.

Photos (will be uploaded with a delay)

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
Phone: +372 631 6456; +372 5821 3309
E-mail: marie.kukk@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Select committees of the Riigikogu elected their chairs

The Chairman of the Select Committee will also meet the Estonian Ambassador to the United States Jonatan Vseviov to discuss cooperation between Estonia and USA, as well as the current security situation.

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
+372 631 6456; 58 213309
marie.kukk@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Raivo Aeg is taking part in the 12th Parliamentary Security Forum in Washington D.C.

Head of the Estonian delegation Raivo Aeg thanked the member states for their motions to amend which helped getting closer to compromise in drafting the cooperation framework. “We have taken into account the proposals of national parliaments, and made a great step forward,” Aeg said. “The Rules of Procedure are a framework document which establishes the general principles. We will continue with the discussion of details in Bulgaria.”  

Aeg said that the Rules of Procedure considerably increased the involvement and the scope of decision-making of national parliaments. “Our aim now is to proceed actively to substantive issues and to discuss how the member states can better contribute to the work of Europol,” Aeg said.  

Member of the Estonian delegation Kalle Laanet found that closer cooperation at the level of national parliaments and the European Parliament helped improve the cooperation between the Europol and the member states for a more secure Europe and in the fight against international organised crime.

At the meeting in Brussels, a fundamental agreement was reached on most of the clauses of the Rules of Procedure, but as consensus was not achieved, the Rules of Procedure were not approved and they will be discussed again during the Bulgarian Presidency. Discussion on the membership of Denmark will be continued. Denmark wished to become a full member of the JPSG, although it has the status of an observer in Europol. The discussion on the formation and functions of subgroups will also be continued.

The establishing of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol was decided at the Conference of Speakers of European Union Parliaments in Bratislava in April. The JPSG will politically monitor the activities of Europol. Each national parliament can appoint up to four members and the European Parliament up to 16 members to the JPSG. The Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) appointed Raivo Aeg and Kalle Laanet to the JPSG.

The meetings of the JPSG, which are held twice a year, are chaired in cooperation by the parliament of the member state holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. The first meeting of the JPSG was conducted by the European Parliament together with the Riigikogu, the Parliament of Estonia. The next meeting will be held in Bulgaria in March.

Link uudisele: Approving of the Rules of Procedure of the JPSG on Europol was postponed

Member of the Estonian delegation Kalle Laanet emphasised that in order to ensure security, we had to change our notion of information exchange in the changing world. “The effectiveness of the work of Europol depends on the readiness of the member states to provide information that is important to them,” Laanet said. According to him, Europol can succeed in the fight against organised crime only if member states provide and share their information. However, it will take place in accordance with the data protection regulations and in cooperation with the member states’ parliaments.

The first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol is held in Brussels during the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and it is organised by the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) in cooperation with the European Parliament. The meeting is chaired by Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Claude Moraes and Head of the Estonian delegation Raivo Aeg.

Today, Minister of the Interior of Estonia Andres Anvelt, European Parliament Rapporteur on the Europol Regulation Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Deputy Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia and Chairperson of Europol Management Board Priit Pärkna and European Data Protection Supervisor Giovanni Buttarelli will speak at the meeting. Tomorrow, the discussion on the priorities of the EU in the fight against organised and serious international crime will continue. Presentations will be made by Chair of the Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security Erkki Koort and Deputy Director General for Security of the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission Olivier Onidi, and Europol Executive Director Rob Wainwright.

Link uudisele: First meeting of Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group is held in Brussels

The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee is a committee of the Riigikogu which exercises supervision over authorities of executive power in issues relating to the activities of security authorities and surveillance agencies.

Riigikogu Press Service
Marie Kukk
+372 631 6456; +372 58 213 309
marie.kukk@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Raivo Aeg became Chairman of the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee

The State Budget Control Select Committee (9 OE) includes Jaak Aaviksoo, substitute member Andres Metsoja; Andres Ammas, substitute member Külliki Kübarsepp; Kristjan Kõljalg, substitute member Meelis Mälberg; Henn Põlluaas, substitute member Martin Helme; Mihhail Stalnuhhin, substitute member Tarmo Tamm; and Tanel Talve, substitute member Kalvi Kõva. 85 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of the formation of the committee, one member abstained.

The purpose of the State Budget Control Select Committee is to ensure, in cooperation with the National Audit Office, control over the Government in terms of the implementation of the state budget and sustainable, efficient and lawful use of the state assets and state budget funds.

The Anti-Corruption Select Committee (10 OE) includes Raivo Aeg, substitute member Kalle Muuli; Ants Laaneots, substitute member Johannes Kert; Jaanus Karilaid, substitute member Kersti Sarapuu; Jaanus Marrandi, substitute member Helmen Kütt; Raivo Põldaru, substitute member Arno Sild; and Artur Talvik, substitute member Jüri Adams. In the course of the proceedings, an amendment was made to the draft Resolution according to which Jaanus Karilaid is member of the committee instead of Lauri Laasi. 84 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of the formation of this committee.

The Anti-Corruption Select Committee monitors that the anti-corruption measures provided for in Estonian Acts are actually implemented. The committee also discusses and assesses the potential incidents of corruption involving officials specified in the Act, exercises supervision over compliance with the restrictions on activities of the members of the Riigikogu and verifies the declarations of interests.

The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee (11 OE) includes Krista Aru, substitute member Andres Herkel; Uno Kaskpeit, substitute member Henn Põlluaas; Martin Kukk, substitute member Kalle Laanet; Erki Savisaar, substitute member Aadu Must; Ken-Marti Vaher, substitute member Mart Nutt; and Hardi Volmer, substitute member Andres Anvelt. 82 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the formation of the committee, one member abstained.

The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee has been formed for the verification of the lawfulness of the activity and surveillance activities of the Internal Security Service and the Information Board. The committee also verifies the compliance of the activities of the Police and Border Guard Board, the General Staff of the Defence Forces, the Prisons Department of the Ministry of Justice, and the Investigation Department of the Tax and Customs Board with the Code of Criminal Procedure.

There are 11 standing committees and three select committees in the Riigikogu. For the solution of problems of special importance, investigation or study committees are formed.

The Riigikogu Press Service

Epp-Mare Kukemelk

T: 631 6356; 51 53 903

epp-mare.kukemelk@riigikogu.ee

Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Riigikogu approved membership of three select committees