Member of the committee Mihkel Lees began his report by stating that children were not physically active enough. “The World Health Organisation recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. In Estonia, less than half of children meet this recommendation,” he said. “This has consequences. Approximately 78% of schoolchildren experience health problems every week. Already in the first grade, more than one in four children are overweight or obese, and by the fourth grade, their number rises to one in three. At the same time, nearly 70% of young people are unable to meet the minimum requirements of the Defence Forces’ physical fitness test at the start of their conscript service,” he noted. He added that these figures reflected not only the physical capabilities of children and young people, but also their health and future prospects.

Lees pointed out that it had been scientifically proven that regular physical activity improved concentration, academic performance, and mental well-being. Physically active children experience fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and cope better with daily stress. “Physical activity is not just a sporting activity; it is one of the most efficient preventive measures we have for mental health problems. The same applies to physical health. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases,” he said.

The member of the Social Affairs Committee described the ongoing initiatives, including the physical activity action plan, the movement education reform in schools, the “Schools in Motion” programme led by the University of Tartu’s Move Lab, and the “Sports at School” programme developed by the Estonian Olympic Committee. Lees proposed expanding these programmes to all schools in Estonia. He also stressed the need to monitor children’s physical activity and to place greater focus on increasing physical activity among preschool children. Lees said that at the same time the central government and local governments had to continue investing into public space that supported physical activity.

Lees also pointed out that the state currently invested less than one million euros per year in these programmes in total. “At the same time, estimates indicate that full implementation of these programmes would require an investment of around 13 million euros per year. I can see that some of my colleague’s eyes have gone wide. You understand that this is not a small sum. This will need funding from both the central government and local governments, and most likely also support from European funds. I know that the Ministry of Culture is already planning this, for instance for the “Sports at School” programme. But if we know that every euro invested in prevention will bring us about 16 euros in return, then this money is actually being spent wisely,” he said.

In her presentation, Representative of Move Lab at the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy of the University of Tartu Merike Kull said that low levels of physical activity were very costly for society. “Our Finnish neighbours have calculated the cost to the state. The cost of insufficient physical activity to the state has been estimated at nearly 3.2 billion – billion! – euros per year. Therefore, insufficient physical activity is not only a health problem, but also an economic challenge.”

Kull noted that parents should not be left alone with the problem of children’s insufficient physical activity, but that solutions had to be systemic. She gave an overview of four areas where children’s and young people’s physical activity could be most efficiently influenced in a systemic way. These are schools, organised sport, public space, and data-based decision-making.

Kull pointed out that it was in schools that it was possible to reach all children over a long period of time. “If we want to systematically improve the physical activity of children and young people, then movement must be a natural part of every child’s and young person’s school day. The ‘Schools in Motion’ programme is one of the evidence-based solutions that offers a comprehensive, systemic approach to the whole school day and school environment – from how the school day is organised and whether there are opportunities for movement, to creating movement opportunities across all elements of the school day, including school activities, hobby activities, and even active commuting to school,” she said. Kull added that physical activity also supported mental health, relationships between students, and thereby overall school satisfaction and motivation to learn. “This is also confirmed by a large-scale study with a sample of over 100,000 children, which shows that more opportunities for physical activity during the school day are associated with better relationships and greater enjoyment of school across all age groups,” she said. “Therefore, our first proposal is that all children and young people in Estonia should learn in schools that support physical activity and health. To achieve this, the ‘Schools in Motion’ programme should reach most schools in Estonia”.

According to Kull, the second important area affecting all children and young people is physical education. Estonia’s physical education curriculum is one of the strongest in Europe, but the curriculum alone is not enough. The speaker pointed out that while primary school students had three physical education lessons per week, from sixth grade the number of lessons decreased to two, and in upper secondary school there was on average less than one lesson per week. “It is not surprising that when upper secondary students graduate, they do not meet the minimum requirements of the physical fitness test,” she noted. “The third school stage and upper secondary school are particularly critical, and we need quick solutions there. There is no system-level support to ensure that children are healthy and strong and that their physical abilities develop.”

As a third important area, Kull highlighted participation in organised sport. On the one hand, the problem is that children from families with the most difficult economic situation participate the least. This shows that access to hobby education in Estonia is not equal for all children. On the other hand, a significant number of children stay away from sport because they do not wish to participate in competitive sport. According to Kull, transition between competitive sport and recreational sport should be smooth and possible.

Fourth, according to Kull, public space should support active movement and sports for all age groups. “This means safe school routes, cycling paths, schoolyards, and various play and activity areas that encourage movement both during and after the school day, as well as alone and with family. This is also an answer to how we can support parents,” she noted. Finally, Kull highlighted the importance of data-based decision-making, namely the need to launch a nationwide monitoring system for children’s and young people’s physical abilities. 

Director General of the Defence Resources Agency Anu Rannaveski confirmed that national defence was not merely military capability; it was the resilience of society. “This means that our defence capability depends significantly and directly on the state of our people’s health, and especially on young people’s physical readiness, mental resilience, and willingness to contribute to something greater than themselves. Young people are the ones whose task it will be to ensure the sustainability of our reserve army”, she said. 

Rannaveski gave an overview of a comprehensive study conducted among conscripts and noted that only a quarter of them were able, at the beginning of their service, to meet the physical fitness standards expected by the Defence Forces. “Although by the end of service nearly two-thirds are able to meet them, this shortfall still means a significant compromise in ensuring actual defence capability,” she noted.

Rannaveski also pointed out that, based on health assessments, nearly 5,000 young men each year are either not called up for conscript service or granted a deferment in order to treat a health condition. In both cases, the main reasons continue to be mental and behavioural disorders, as well as musculoskeletal diseases. In addition, approximately 10,000 call-up selectees undergo a health assessment each year. This means that, over the past three years, one in five assessments has resulted in a finding that the call-up selectee was either temporarily or permanently unfit for conscript service because of a mental health problem.

Director of the Defence Resources Agency noted that the most worrying trend was the polarisation of young people into two extremes. “At one end, there are young people whose life has become too comfortable and passive. They are not physically active and lack interests, responsibilities, and social skills because nothing is expected of them. As conscripts, they are characterised by a lack of motivation, anxiety, difficulties with adaptation and concentration, low resilience, and difficulty making an effort. At the other end, there are young people expected to give their best at all times – good grades, constant training, self-development, and social success. As conscripts, they show signs of burnout, anxiety, sleep problems, and difficulties adapting. The low psychological resilience is what the two extremes have in common, as part of society places no particular demands on young people, while the other part exerts constant pressure,” she explained.

“A strong state does not only mean a well-armed state. A strong state means a society that is prepared to endure physically, mentally, and within a shared value space. Each of us individually, and all of us together should ask ourselves what we can do to ensure that the next generation is stronger than the previous one. Taking care of young people’s health and their mental and physical resilience is a shared responsibility of society as a whole, just like national defence,” said Rannaveski.

The Acting President of the Estonian Olympic Committee Gerd Kanter said that Estonia was facing a silent but devastating crisis, the solution to which required a movement revolution. In his report, Kanter pointed out that physical activity was not just about the muscles – it was also a vital fuel for brain development. “Dopamine and endorphins play an important role – they are the brain’s natural way of relieving stress. A child who does not engage in physical activity is biologically vulnerable to anxiety and depression,” he noted.

According to Kanter, the role of parents in encouraging children to be physically active has been overlooked and underestimated. “If physical activity is not valued at home, and if a parent’s only way of spending their free time is in front of a screen, no school reform will be able to get a child physically active. The state must also support and educate families. An active lifestyle and spending time in fresh air should be a normal part of family life, not a punishment or obligation,” he stressed, and highlighted the need for digital hygiene. “A gadget-free school day is not about punishing children. It is the protection of their mental and physical health. If we take screens away during breaks, we will give children back their creativity, social interaction, and need for physical movement. By limiting screens, we force the brain to seek new stimuli from the physical world,” he said, and called for introducing gadget restrictions in schools at the legislative level.

Kanter also acknowledged the achievements of the “Schools in Motion” programme, whose changes increased children’s daily step counts by thousands without any coercion, and called for the creation of a “Kindergarten in Motion” programme. He also highlighted the contribution of the programme “Sports at School”, and the need to introduce it in the first stage of study. “The programme “Sports at School” in the first stage of study is our best weapon against inequality. It ensures that even children from disadvantaged backgrounds or remote areas receive professional physical education and lifelong habits,” he said.

Kanter stressed that one of the key issues in terms of building a habit of physical activity was ensuring a safe route to school. “If we want to encourage children’s independent physical activity habits, the environment and infrastructure have a very significant impact on this. Driving children door to door by car, the so-called personal taxi service, takes away their last bit of daily basic physical activity. At the same time, walking or cycling to school can provide for up to half of a child’s daily physical activity needs,” he said, and stressed the need for proper cycling paths and bicycle parking facilities around schools.

Jaanus Karilaid (Isamaa), Kristina Šmigun-Vähi (Reform Party), Tanel Kiik (Social Democratic Party), Arvo Aller (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Tanel Tein, Timo Suslov, Anti Poolamets ja Jüri Jaanson took the floor during the debate.

Photos (will be uploaded after the sitting,  Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on  the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

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Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed increasing children’s physical activity as a matter of significant national importance

Merilind noted that cancer is an issue that affects nearly every family in Estonia and gave an overview of cancer statistics, stating that, for example, 9,843 new cases of cancer had been diagnosed in Estonia in 2023, approximately 3,500 people died from cancer in Estonia each year, malignant tumours caused nearly a quarter of all deaths, and currently, about 56,000 people required cancer treatment or cancer-related monitoring. He also expressed satisfaction that participation in screening programs had risen to 62–65 per cent, HPV vaccination had been expanded to include boys, the ESTCAN cancer control network had been established, treatment options and treatment close to home had been developed, and palliative care services were be funded from 2025.

According to Merilind, these steps show that Estonia is moving in the right direction, but the interim report on Estonian Cancer Control Plan 2021–2030 states that systemic problems have not yet been resolved. “Who has read this interim assessment, knows: only 13 per cent of the actions have been systemically implemented, but 45 per cent of the actions have not yet been implemented. This means that our problem is not the lack of knowledge; the problem is the capacity to implement,” he noted. “Another OECD report states that the most successful countries, what do they do? They do more prevention, they detect earlier, and they manage the treatment more holistically. According to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, up to 40 per cent of cancers are preventable.”

In his speech, Merilind also pointed out that screening saved lives and was becoming increasingly accessible. He emphasised the effectiveness of HPV vaccines and importance of prevention work that covered all aspects of lifestyle. He also spoke of the need to strengthen the role of family physicians and primary care so that the system could find people in need of help at the right time. Merilind also spoke about the need to speed up diagnostics, the importance of a clearly managed treatment path, and noted that Estonia faced a shortage of oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, medical physicists and nurses. He explained the reasons for the rise in the number of cancer cases, acknowledged the role of patient organisations, and addressed issues related to the availability of medicines, and cancer control funding.

President of the Estonian Cancer Association Vahur Valvere highlighted the importance of addressing cancer control at national level. He thanked the Social Affairs Committee for raising the issue of cancer and noted that cancer remained a significant public health problem in Estonia, with both medical and socioeconomic impacts.

According to Valvere, cancer register data show that the five-year survival rate for cancer patients is 65 per cent, and this figure is improving. In total, there are over 70,000 cancer patients in the register; the number of cases has been on a long-term upward trend, and according to projections, the number of new cases could reach 11,000 by 2030. In his presentation, the president of the Cancer Association discussed the main types of cancer and trends separately for men and women. Among men, prostate cancer is the most common, followed by skin cancer and lung cancer. Among women, breast cancer ranks the first, followed by skin cancer and colorectal cancer. Valvere pointed out that survival rates had improved for several types of cancer, but lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, for example, were often detected at a late stage, which affected treatment outcomes. He also explained that the differences in survival rates between Estonia and the Nordic Countries were largely due to the higher coverage of screening programmes in those countries, which enabled earlier diagnosis of the disease.

Valvere also spoke about the strategic development of cancer control. He recalled the previous national strategy and the subsequent period when the comprehensive approach had been weaker. Motivated by this, the Cancer Association launched an analysis and the campaign “The Whole Estonia against Cancer,” which led to Estonia joining the World Cancer Declaration in 2019. The current Estonian Cancer Control Plan 2021–2030 was developed with the input of more than 100 experts and aims to reduce the number of cases, extend life expectancy after diagnosis, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients.

Valevere also confirmed the progress highlighted by Merilind and gave the example of mobile diagnostic solutions that had increased participation in screening programmes and led to the detection of cases at an early stage. At the same time, he emphasised that many problems persisted. The interim evaluation of the Cancer Control Plan shows that only a small portion of the planned activities have been systemically implemented. The problems are mainly related to management, the division of responsibilities, use of data, and human resources. He pointed out that there was a shortage of doctors and specialists in the field of oncology and that their workload was heavy. According to Valevere, there is a need for clearer coordination, better prioritisation, and a systemic assessment of the prerequisites for implementing activities.

In addition, Valvere focused on patient-centred approach, and support services, and emphasised the role of patient organizations. He gave examples of the Cancer Association’s activities and international cooperation, including the training of expert patients, which helped to share experience and knowledge more widely. “These four warmly smiling ladies are actually breast cancer survivors whom we can now call expert patients in the field of breast cancer; they successfully completed this training and share their experiences and theoretical knowledge through the Cancer Association’s podcast,” he noted.

At the end of his speech, Valvere underlined the need for cooperation and the inevitability of the fight against cancer. “If we do not deal with cancer together, cancer will deal with us and our close ones,” he said, adding that the goal was to move towards a healthier and cancer-free Estonia.

Clinical Lead of the Estonian Cancer Network, oncologist Rille Pihlak pointed out in her presentation that the number of cancer cases was rising and that the disease was increasingly affecting younger people. According to Pihlak, more people are diagnosed with cancer in Estonia than there are births, which illustrates the scale of the problem. Although cancer mortality has decreased somewhat, it has not fallen as rapidly as in the case of cardiovascular diseases. She explained that the situation was influenced by both the ageing of the population and the increased incidence of the disease among people under 50. Pihlak emphasised that delays in diagnosis and treatment made treatment more expensive and reduced the chances of recovery. According to her, early intervention helps save lives and save resources.

Pihlak pointed out that Estonia was not hampered by a lack of knowledge. The Cancer Control Plan 2021–2030 provides clear guidelines, but the government has not implemented them in a uniform manner. The interim evaluation shows that a large part of the activities remained unimplemented, and progress often depended on the initiative of individual people. She highlighted shortcomings related to management, coordination, data utilisation, and human resources.

Pihlak also drew attention to areas where progress had been slow, including surgical treatment, paediatric oncology, and the well-being of cancer patients after treatment. According to her, some problems can be solved through better decision-making and organisation, but several goals require stable funding and systemic planning. “The reason we are here before you again today is that we need several decisions from you. We need stable funding for the Cancer Control Plan; we need your support for the continued funding of the EU Cancer Mission; and there are also several national decisions we can make together,” Pihlak said before the Riigikogu. Regarding cancer control funding, Pihlak emphasised that the state had not established permanent funding for the control plan, while other countries invested a fixed amount per capita. Currently, the development depends on project funding and fragmented grants, which do not allow for consistent development. She also considered it important to continue funding the EU Cancer Mission.

At the end of her speech, Pihlak mentioned the decisions the government must make in her opinion: prepare a development plan for the hospital network, expand the role of nurses, ensure stable funding for patient organisations, and strengthen primary care.

Representative of the NGO Onkoloogika Kristel Leif, who was the fourth speaker at the sitting, focused on the experience of cancer patients and underlined the need to involve patients in the decision-making process as equal partners. She pointed out that, in addition to medical knowledge, it was necessary to take into account issues related to human behaviour, social needs, and service design.

Leif introduced herself as a stage IV cancer patient and explained that she wanted to ensure that cancer patients were be visible and involved. According to her, a patient’s active role is not yet common in the Estonian healthcare system. She described a personal experience where she had felt after her diagnosis that the system treated her more as an object and that decisions had been made for her. “I was surrounded by very competent people whom I trust completely and who began making choices for me. And when I had some questions, when I felt that I, too, had a say regarding my own health – that I, too, could look up information, that I, too, could make suggestions about what I needed – I quickly felt that I was becoming a little too much,” she noted. In Leif’s opinion, the patients’ desire to participate in decisions regarding their treatment is growing, and this resource should be consciously used and further supported.

In her presentation, Leif highlighted the complexity and loneliness of a cancer patient’s journey. She said that patients were often left without the necessary support at a time when they needed it the most, especially after a hospital visit or the end of active treatment. She emphasised that, in addition to patients, their loved ones also needed help, as they often lacked clear support and guidance. Leif pointed out that in society, cancer was primarily discussed in the context of prevention and donations, but daily life with cancer was spoken about less. According to her, public discussion must also address how people with cancer live, work, and participate in society. “We need to start talking about the fact that people live with cancer and that it is possible to live a very normal life with cancer – it is possible to participate in society, raise children, build a career, run marathons, stand as a candidate for the Riigikogu, and start a business,” she said, and emphasised the need to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

Leif highlighted the broader meaning of palliative care as a key issue, noting that it was often mistakenly viewed solely as end-of-life care. According to her, palliative care should begin immediately after diagnosis to support the patient throughout their entire treatment journey.

Leif also addressed the fragmentation of information systems and services. According to her, patients often cannot find the services intended for them because the information is scattered and difficult to access. She emphasised the need to create clearer treatment paths and provide patients with support in navigating, for example, with the help of patient journey coordinators.

Leif also pointed out that patient organisations played an important role today, but their activities relied heavily on volunteer work and uncertain funding. She thinks that the state should provide more support to the third-sector organisations and systemically involve them in cancer control.

At the end of her speech, Leif underlined that the patients’ experiences and knowledge must be valued and used in the development of the healthcare system. According to her, stronger cooperation between the state, experts, and patients would help better address the actual needs of cancer patients and improve their quality of life.

Jaanus Karilaid, Katrin Kuusemäe (Reform Party), Tanel Kiik, Irja Lutsar (Estonia 200) and Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Photos(Erik Peinar/ Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Video recording of the sitting is be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
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Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed the current state and prospects of cancer control as a matter of significant national importance

In addition, penalties are established for infringement of the requirements for informing of tobacco products and products which are related to tobacco products. Under the Act, failure to inform of a product is punishable by a fine in an amount of up to 300 fine units, and by a fine of up to EUR 32,000 if the act is committed by a legal person.

During the proceedings, the Riigikogu made an amendment to the Bill as a result of which the Act covers all tobacco products and their parts, regardless of the technology used. The volume of the refill capsule for tobacco products was also limited. In addition, in the future, six months before the planned placing on the market of a novel tobacco product, an economic operator importing tobacco products or devices for the use thereof into Estonia or manufacturing tobacco products in Estonia will have to submit to the Health Board a notification in electronic form containing a detailed description and the instructions for use of the devices for the use of the product.

Riina Sikkut took the floor behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group in the debate.

68 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and seven were against. There was one abstention.

The Riigikogu passed the Act directed at the elimination of discrimination against women

The Riigikogu approved the Act on the Accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Approval of an Amendment to article 20, paragraph 1 of the Convention (583 SE), initiated by the Government, according to which Estonia accedes to the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Accession to the Optional Protocol enables individuals and organisations to submit communications concerning violations of the rights set forth in the Convention to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. In the event of systematic violations of women’s rights, the Committee can initiate inquiries on its own initiative and provide recommendations to the States parties to ensure the rights set forth in the Convention and to improve the situation.

Estonia acceded to the Convention in 1991. As of November last year, the Convention had 189 states parties, and it is one of the UN human rights conventions with the largest number of state parties. As of last year, 115 countries had ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol, which entered into force in 2000.

Stig Rästa from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Reili Rand from the Social Democratic Party Group and Õnne Pillak from the Estonian Reform Party Parliamentary Group, as well as non-attached Members of the Riigikogu Peeter Ernits and Kalle Grünthal took the floor during the debate.

75 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Riigikogu appointed new members to the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia

The Riigikogu passed the Resolution on the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia who are members of the Riigikogu (629 OE), submitted by the Finance Committee. Members of the Riigikogu Tarmo Tamm and Mart Võrklaev are appointed as members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia.

Members of the Board Andres Sutt and Igor Taro became members of the Government and therefore their mandates as members of the Riigikogu were suspended.

The Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia is the oversight body of the Bank of Estonia which consists of a Chairman, representatives of the parliamentary groups of the Riigikogu and specialists in the field. The principle is that each parliamentary group nominates one of its members and the Chairman of the Board nominates four specialists in the field.

Members of the Riigikogu Aivar Kokk, Lauri Laats, Rene Kokk and Ester Karuse and specialists Ivi Proos, Krista Jaakson, Karin Jõeveer and Toomas Tamsar are also members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia. Urmas Varblane is the Chairman of the Board.

In the secret ballot, 61 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution and one was against.

Four Bills passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Municipal Council Election Act and the Churches and Congregations Act (544 SE) , initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, postpones the deadlines for the formation of electoral districts for this year’s municipal council elections, taking into account the constitutional amendment adopted in March this year.

The parliament introduced an amendment into the Bill, according to which, as an exception, this year electoral districts will be formed by 11 August at the latest and local councils will distribute mandates between electoral districts on the basis of the number of voters according to the population register as of 15 July.  Typically, electoral districts are formed no later than the 90th day before election day and mandates are distributed based on the situation as of 1 June.

Another amendment was made to the Bill amending the Act concerning elections which provided that Estonian and EU citizens and stateless residents who are at least 16 years old and whose permanent place of residence is in the respective rural municipality or city would be able participate in the local elections to be held in October this year, and after this year’s elections, only Estonian and EU citizens would have the right to vote. Earlier, the right to participate in local elections extended to third-country nationals who resided in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or the permanent right of residence, in addition to Estonian and EU citizens.

The motion to amend arises from a constitutional amendment adopted by the Riigikogu at the end of March and coming into force in July this year, according to which, this year, the right to vote in local elections is revoked for third-country nationals residing in Estonia and, from the next elections after the coming elections, for stateless persons as well. The amendment brings the provisions regulating the right to vote in the Act concerning elections into line with the Constitution.

In addition, the parliament supported the proposal to amend, in the interests of legal clarity, the Churches and Congregations Act, which until now linked the right to be a minister of religion with the right to vote in local elections. The purpose of the amendment introduced into the bill is to avoid the interpretation that the amendments to the Constitution could lead to some ministers of religion being deprived of their rights as ministers of religion. While the Act currently provides that a person who has the right to vote in local elections can be a minister of religion of a religious association, according to the new wording, an adult person with active legal capacity who has a legal basis to stay in Estonia can be minister of religion.

Juku-Kalle Raid from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.

The Act on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act (555 SE), initiated by the Government, creates a regulation for island operation capability which will enable the maintenance of the required amount of electricity generation capacity from 2026 in order to ensure the stability of the Estonian electricity system. The service of ensuring island operation capability will ensure Estonia’s ability to manage independently in a situation where the country is isolated from the electricity system of the Baltic countries or continental Europe.

The system operator, i.e. the transmission system operator Elering, will analyse and assesses whether there is enough generating capacity available at any given time to manage in a situation of island operation. According to the explanatory memorandum, Elering has estimated that the minimum need for controllable capacities in the Estonian electricity system is about 1,000 MW.

In order to ensure the service of ensuring island operation capability, Elering will carry out a technology-neutral public procurement, the main condition of which will be that the generation undertaking must be able to provide generation capacity for ten consecutive days. According to the explanatory memorandum, the estimated cost of procuring the service of ensuring island operation capability will be in the order of EUR 34 million per year.

In addition, the Bill will amend the rules for participation in demand response and for electricity storage in order to transpose a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. According to the Bill, provisions will be included in the Act to reduce the costs of operating electricity storage by eliminating double taxation, to specify the legal framework for demand response and the requirements for electricity bills and to introduce the principle of net metering during the trading period in the case of final customers.

Urmas Reinsalu and Andres Metsoja from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Mario Kadastik and Yoko Alender from the Estonian Reform Party Group, Lauri Laats from the Estonian Centre Party Group and Lauri Läänemets from the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, as well as non-attached Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Jaak Aab took the floor during the debate.

Isamaa Parliamentary Group moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. 16 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of the motion and 47 were against. Thus, the motion was not supported, and the second reading was concluded.

The Bill on Amendments to the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Act (Union restrictive measures directive) (584 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose into Estonian law the EU directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of sanctions. According to an amendment, violation of Union restrictive measures is considered a predicate offence for money laundering under the directive.

The Bill will make two amendments to Estonian law. EU restrictive measures will be included in the list of areas of activity provided for in the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Work-Related Breaches of European Union Law and the International Sanctions Act will be specified by adding a clause to the effect that the provisions on whistleblower protection also extend to reporting breaches of international sanctions.

The purpose of the Bill is to establish uniform rules for determining violations of EU restrictive measures and the penalties to be imposed for them, in order to ensure uniform application of sanctions. According to the explanatory memorandum, this will help to detect and prevent violations, supporting compliance with EU law and the achievement of objectives.

Mart Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.

The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. Nine members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 52 voted against. Thus, the motion was not supported, and the second reading of the Bill was concluded.

Under the Bill on Amendments to the Emergency Act (589 SE), initiated by the Government, a provider of an essential service whose data or equipment essential for the operation of the service are located in a foreign country must ensure connection through at least two technologically different electronic communications services in order to reduce the risk of interruptions and ensure continuity of the service.

The Bill will also provide that, in the future, instead of the Information System Authority, the authority organising the continuity of a service will exercise supervision over the information systems of a critical entity that is located in a foreign country within the framework of the supervision exercised over critical entities.

Vladimir Arhipov from the Estonian Centre Party Group took the floor during the debate.

A Bill passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Health Services Organisation Act (patient’s advance healthcare directive) (604 SE), initiated by the Government, will create the opportunity for people to opt out of life-prolonging healthcare services.

Under the Bill, the right to draw up an advance healthcare directive will be given to adults with active legal capacity and capacity to exercise their will, as well as people with limited active legal capacity if a doctor considers them competent to make decisions about their health. Mandatory consultation with a doctor will ensure that the decision is thoroughly considered. The person can amend or withdraw their advance directive later if they wish. An advance directive will be submitted digitally in the health information system, exceptionally also on paper if the person is not digitally competent. In such a case, a health care professional will enter the data.

According to the Bill, a person can specify in their advance directive which healthcare services they want at the end of their life or which they prohibit from being provided. In an advance directive, a person can opt out of all life-prolonging healthcare services, such as resuscitation, artificial respiration, tube feeding, dialysis, antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy, and surgery. The opting out will be linked to the onset of a medical condition described in the person’s advance directive which will be recorded by a doctor and will be a prerequisite for implementing the directive. It will not be possible to request euthanasia or assisted suicide by an advance directive.

The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027 to ensure sufficient time for IT developments to be completed, doctors to be trained and the public to be informed.

During the debate, Margit Sutrop took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group, Irja Lutsar on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Riina Solman on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Riina Sikkut on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.

After the sitting, it is planned to form the Intermarium Support Group on the initiative of  Anti Poolamets.

The sitting ended at 7.09 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

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

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu banned the sale of heated tobacco products with a characterising flavour

Kovalenko-Kõlvart added that at the sitting of the Select Committee on 7 October, the Prosecutor General had pointed out that public assets had not been used sustainably in the management of Nordica, and the company had also not submitted its annual report. “The management board of Nordica will submit their plan of action by 15 October, and the Select Committee considers it important to get an overview of the expectations of the Ministry of Climate regarding the action plan before that, so that it would be possible to compare them when the action plan is disclosed,” she said.

Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet and Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Sander Salmu have been invited to the public sitting of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee.

The sitting starts at 11 a.m. in Room L332 and it will be streamed online.

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

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Anti-Corruption Select Committee discusses issues relating to Nordica at a public sitting

The Bill on Amendments to § 3 of the Social Tax Act and Amendments to § 34 of the Income Tax Act (260 SE), initiated by the Social Affairs Committee, will give employees an opportunity to also preserve the average pay for pregnant employees during their sickness absence. With a view to ensuring equal treatment, the additional sickness benefit paid until the eighth day of sick leave is exempt from social tax. According to the Bill, the social tax incentive on the benefit will also extend to pregnant sole proprietors. During the second reading, an amendment was made to the Bill to preclude the possibility that the calculated sickness benefit paid to a sole proprietor who is pregnant would be deducted from income and thereby be exempted from income tax insofar as the sickness benefits paid by both the employer and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund are subject to income tax.

The Bill was initiated when the Chancellor of Justice proposed that the provisions that do not ensure that, in the event of sickness, pregnant employees have the right to a replacement income which is at least equivalent to that of other employees be brought into conformity with the Constitution.

Another Bill passed the second reading

The purpose of the Bill on Amendments to the Value Added Tax Act and the Taxation Act (225 SE), initiated by the Government, is to improve the fight against VAT fraud in cross-border e-commerce.

The Bill will establish an obligation for payment service providers to store the data regarding the payees of cross-border payments and to transmit them to the tax authority quarterly if the total number of payments per payee exceeds 25 payments in a quarter. Tax authorities will transmit the data to the European Union’s central electronic system of payment information.

The Bill is connected with an EU directive that Members States will have to transpose and implement from next year.

The Riigikogu rejected 21 draft Resolutions and Bills

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to abandon the plan to additionally tax packaging and plastics” (65 OE), submitted by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was intended to propose that the Government abandon the plan to additionally tax packaging and plastics. According to the presenters of the draft Resolution, the aim of reducing packaging waste is right but it is wrong to do this through additional taxation.

13 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the draft Resolution. A majority vote of the membership of the Riigikogu was required for the draft Resolution to be passed, thus the draft Resolution was rejected.

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to abandon the plan to eliminate the increased tax allowance for children” (66 OE), submitted by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was intended to propose that the Government abandon the plan to eliminate the increased tax allowance for children. According to the presenters of the draft Resolution, it is wrong to eliminate the tax allowance, considering the demographic situation of Estonia.

During the debate, Varro Vooglaid took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Andre Hanimägi on behalf of the Centre Party Group, and Mart Maastik on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group.

23 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the draft Resolution. A majority vote of the membership of the Riigikogu was required for the draft Resolution to be passed, thus the draft Resolution was rejected.

According to the Bill on Amendments to the Weapons Act (19 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, people of undetermined nationality would have lost the right to hold weapons permit from 15 March next year.

At present, people of undetermined nationality may hold a weapons permit, an acquisition permit, a parallel weapons permit, a permit to carry a weapon, a collection permit, or a European firearms pass until the date of expiry indicated on the permit or authorisation or until any grounds for revoking the permit or authorisation become evident. The Bill would have established that owners of weapons who are of undetermined nationality have a transition period equal to the transition period for citizens Russia and Belarus whose weapons permits will expire and who will have to give up their weapons by 15 March 2024 at the latest.

During the debate, Henn Põlluaas took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 49 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 11 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (75 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Evelin Poolamets, Helle-Moonika Helme and Rain Epler, was intended to increase the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 11.97. According to the initiators, increasing the revenue base of local governments will help compensate for the increased expenditure of recent years and will allow them to perform their tasks better.

During the debate, Anti Allas took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 41 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 19 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (88 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo, Arvo Aller and Siim Pohlak, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.08 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 16 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (110 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Leo Kunnas, Ants Frosch, Henn Põlluaas, Kert Kingo and Rain Epler, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.05 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 15 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (112 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo, Jaak Valge and Varro Vooglaid, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 37 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 15 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (116 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Martin Helme, Evelin Poolamets and Helle-Moonika Helme, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.14 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 16 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (127 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Ants Frosch, Mart Helme and Leo Kunnas, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.07 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 19 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (130 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler and Martin Helme, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.04 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 37 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 20 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (133 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Aller, Rain Epler and Evelin Poolamets, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.02 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 21 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (150 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Helle-Moonika Helme, Arvo Aller and Martin Helme, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 11.98 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 20 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (151 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler and Helle-Moonika Helme, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.16 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 42 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 20 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (155 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler, Helle-Moonika Helme and Kert Kingo, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.12 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 36 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 20 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (181 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Leo Kunnas, Mart Helme and Ants Frosch, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 11.99 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 38 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 20 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (194 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Valge, Arvo Aller and Varro Vooglaid, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.11 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 39 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 18 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (199 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Valge, Anti Poolamets and Helle-Moonika Helme, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.13 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 35 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 17 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (253 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Helle-Moonika Helme, Evelin Poolamets, Martin Helme and Anti Poolamets, would have increased the rate of the income tax transferred to the budget of local authorities from 11.96 per cent to 12.01 per cent.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 42 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 14 voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (63 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was intended to provide that, in municipal councils, the remuneration and compensation paid to local government executives may be changed only for the next membership of the council.

According to the initiators, the purpose of the amendment is to preclude cases where municipal councils raise the salaries of local government executives immediately after elections. In their opinion, it is not right that municipal councils should discuss and decide on the increase of the salaries of the chairs and deputy chairs of municipal councils, city mayors, and rural municipality mayors elected by them, or of members of city and municipal governments.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 42 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and five voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (67 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was intended to preclude the grant and restoration of Estonian citizenship to people who have been repeatedly convicted of intentionally committed criminal offences even if their convictions have been spent. According to the initiators, the same prohibition had also initially been in the Citizenship Act passed in 1995.

Under the current Act, as an exception, Estonian citizenship may be granted or restored to a person who has been repeatedly convicted of intentionally committed criminal offences and whose convictions have been spent, taking into consideration the circumstances related to the commission of the criminal offences and the person of the offender.

During the debate, Anti Poolamets took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 45 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and five voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The Bill on Amendments to the Use of Privatisation Proceeds Act (70 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was intended to allow privatisation proceeds to also be used for the maintenance, repair, conservation, restoration and reconstruction of a structure returned in the course of ownership reform and located in a heritage conservation area.

The initiators find that, if owners of returned historical structures located in heritage conservation areas could also apply for the grants allocated from the ownership reform reserve fund, this would increase the opportunities to preserve the valuable cultural heritage of Estonia.

During the debate, Anti Poolamets took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group.

The lead committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and five voted against. Thus, the Bill was rejected, and it was dropped from the proceedings.

The sitting ended at 7.36 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
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Bill concerning the payment of voluntary sickness benefit to pregnant employees passed the second reading in the Riigikogu

Deputy Chair of the Committee Riina Solman admitted that changing the system of family benefits was a very bad surprise. “The money already promised to children and included in the budget of families with many children will be taken away, in violation of the principles of legal certainty. I believe that this debate will reach the Supreme Court,” she said. Solman added that there was no comprehensive analysis of the proposed system, and it was not clear where the money saved with the reform would go.

According to the Bill, the maintenance allowance paid to a child when the person obligated to pay maintenance does not pay maintenance or does not pay it in the required amount will increase from 100 euro per month to 200 euro per month from 1 January 2024. In Estonia, single-parent families are the poorest compared to other family types – a third of single-parent households are at risk of poverty.

From 1 January 2024, the allowance for families with many children will be 450 euro per month for three to six children, and to 650 euro per month for families with seven or more children.

From 1 July 2023, the regulation on gradual termination of the allowance for families with many children, according to which the allowance for families with many children was to be paid until the youngest child attained 19 years of age, will be repealed. As the regulation was in force only for a few months, this change will not affect many families. Indexing the allowance for families with many children with the pension index, which had to enter into force from 1 May 2024, will also be dropped.

The Social Affairs Committee sent the Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act and to the Act on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act, the Family Law Act and the Employment Contracts Act (17 SE), initiated by the Government on 24 April, to the first reading at the plenary sitting of the Riigikogu on 8 May with the motion to conclude the first reading.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Social Affairs Committee sent amendments to the Family Benefits Act to first reading

In her report, Editor-in-Chief of the report Merike Sisask pointed out that Estonia had become a country with a high level of human development. The main issue of daily life is no longer survival but a better quality of life with an aspiration to be mentally healthy. In her words, human development can also continue at an insecure age of global crises – pandemics, climate change, threat of war – if people’s mental health is cared for and protected.

Sisask noted that people’s mental health and society’s preparedness for crises depended on people’s social and emotional sense of security and connectedness to the community. “If the sense of belonging and security decreases or is lost, mental health also decreases and the risk of developing mental health problems increases. When people feel that their opinions and needs are not taken into account, they become disappointed and defiant, and this fosters the emergence social media groups spreading alternative interpretations, the consumption of misinformation, and polarisation, and general mistrust of the state and other people,” she explained.

She also pointed out that the lack of mental health specialists and the poor availability of services was an acknowledged and major problem in society. “It is a signal that we are tackling problems too late. We are addressing mental health when problems have developed far and diagnosable disturbances have emerged. Then, yes, people need to access a psychiatrist. There are plenty of other opportunities to care for one’s mental health and get help before that,” Sisask emphasised. She added that the rush towards specialists’ help was not an overly bad message. “It has a positive side as well and it means that people are more aware. /—/ It is not embarrassing to look for help when you really need it. But still, it is important to have a reasonable balance between treatment of disturbances and prevention of problems.”

Helen Sooväli-Sepping, Professor at Tallinn University of Technology, pointed out that mental health was a cross-policy issue and a large share of the factors having an impact on mental health were outside the healthcare sector. “For example, spatial planning, transport and how it is planned, housing policy, regional policy, environmental policy and climate policy,” the professor listed the sectors that all affected people’s mental health.

“First off, I have positive news for you. The first positive message is something we can draw from the knowledge based on various studies: in Estonia, people have sufficient opportunities to enjoy silence and privacy in nature, away from man-made facilities. This is something extraordinary within the European context,” she said. She emphasised that a cleaner and more natural living environment contributed to stronger mental resilience of society. “Being closer to nature supports mental wellbeing.”

Sooväli-Sepping added that the elderly and children were the thermometer to a high-quality living environment. “Is it only the population segment that owns a car who can enjoy silence and rest, or how is the access to green areas in the city for socially vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and children?” According to the professor, connecting spatial planning, mobility and architecture with mental wellbeing needs more specific explanation as the public sector in Estonia does not have a good practice for assessing infrastructures, construction sites and spatial plans in terms of people’s mental health and wellbeing. Sooväli-Sepping pointed out air pollution as a risk arising from the environment. “In the immediate vicinity of child care institutions in the centres of Tallinn and Tartu, there are parking places that are in public use or intended for employees of agencies. These parking places pollute children’s play and exercise space and have a negative impact on health. In many European countries, like for example the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, parking is prohibited near child care institutions,” the professor explained.

She also pointed out that noise was a very insidious source of pollution with a negative health impact and emphasised that the effect of environmental pollution on mental health was being discussed in agriculture as well. Namely, glyphosate that is used to control weeds is causing concern. “When glyphosate gets into human intestines, this may cause changes to the microbiome that in turn can induce anxiety and depression. An audit by the National Audit Office has shown that the pollution of groundwater by plant protection products has begun to increase. The nitrate content in groundwater has also increased. The use of water contaminated with nitrate may however cause symptoms of depression,” she explained.

During the debate, Õnne Pillak (Reform Party) and Priit Sibul (Isamaa) took the floor.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Photo gallery of the sitting

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

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed mental health and wellbeing as a matter of significant national importance

At the same time, the requirement that the child must be enrolled in a school would be abandoned as a condition for the payment of child allowance for children aged 16–19. This would make both the allowance for families with many children and the child allowance available to families where the child does not continue their studies for some reason, for example due to special needs. In order to promote education, the Act would retain the rule that if a 19-year-old is studying during the current academic year, the payment of the allowance would continue until they graduate or until the end of the academic year.

The Act also provides that in the case of the death of a child under three years of age, one month’s parental benefit would be paid to both the mother and the father. An amendment would also be made in the regulation for calculating maintenance provided in the Family Law Act to the effect that the allowance for families with many children would be taken into account to the extent of 50 per cent when calculating the minimum maintenance. This amendment should make the calculation of the allowance for families with many children more clear and fair.

The Act was presented by the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Eduard Odinets and member of the Social Affairs Committee Priit Sibul.

Eduard Odinets quoted the Legal Adviser to the President who had informed the Constitutional Committee at its sitting the day before that the President had justified his refusal to proclaim the Act with the conflict between the Act and the Constitution as well as other considerations. Odinets proposed on behalf of the Constitutional Committee to not support the passing of the Act in its unamended form which had already been refused once by the President.

Priit Sibul explained that the Social Affairs Committee had also decided at its sitting the day before to not support passing the Act unamended and to correct the aspects that compromised its legally clarity. The Committee proposed allowing an hour after the end of the extraordinary session for submitting motions to amend.

During the debate, Jaanus Karilaid (Centre Party), Toomas Jürgenstein (Social Democratic Party), Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Jürgen Ligi (Reform Party), and Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa) spoke on behalf of their factions. Member of the Riigikogu Siim Kiisler also took the floor.

73 members of the Riigikogu voted against repassing the Act unamended. This means that the Riigikogu did not repass the Act unamended. The legislative proceedings continue with the submission of motions to amend, followed by the second and the third readings.

The sitting ended at 10.29 a.m.. The term for motions to amend is 11.30 a.m. today. The second reading of the Act takes place at the third extraordinary session of the Riigikogu today, starting two hours after the end of the second extraordinary session.

The second extraordinary session starts today at 11 a.m. Its agenda includes the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Health Insurance Act (725 SE), initiated by the Centre Party Faction, and in case this is concluded, also the third reading of the Bill.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later 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 did not pass the Family Benefits Act unamended

The planned date of entry into force of the Act is 1 January 2022.

During the debate, Heljo Pikhof took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party, Marika Tuus-Laul on behalf of the Centre Party Faction and Peeter Ernits on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction.

93 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act on Amendments to the Health Insurance Act (467 SE), initiated by the Government, and there was one abstention.

The Riigikogu passed ten other Acts

Under the Act on Amendments to the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure, the Traffic Act and the Taxation Act (457 SE), initiated by the Government, local governments will be able to install automatic speed cameras in their administrative territories in cooperation with the state, and a half of the proceeds from fines received for the violations detected with such cameras will be transferred to local government budgets.

With the money allocated from the proceeds from fines, local governments will be able to cover for example the costs of the procurement and management of automated traffic supervision systems or to procure new equipment, or to use the proceeds from the fines in other ways to improve local road safety.

In the future, automated traffic supervision systems will be installed on local government roads and used in trilateral cooperation. Local governments will be in charge of procuring and managing the equipment, the Transport Administration will manage the database of the automated traffic supervision system and forward data to the police information system, and the Police and Border Guard Board will be in charge of implementing the written caution procedure.

The Act also establishes the requirements regarding the location of installation of the automated traffic supervision system. Local governments will have to contact the Police and Border Guard Board and the Transport Administration to find suitable locations for automatic speed cameras. The Act provides that cameras should be installed in locations that pose traffic hazards and that cannot be made safer with other measures. The Police and Border Guard Board will decide on the suitability of locations.

The Act also increases the rate for the maximum cautionary fine, that is, the fine imposed with the automated traffic supervision system, from 190 euro to 300 euro and the maximum rate for the deterrent fine from 80 euro 100 euro. The rate of cautionary fine has remained at the same level since its establishment 12 years ago. The Act makes another amendment to enable the Tax and Customs Board to collect deterrent fines faster and more effectively without engaging an enforcement agent.

The Act specifies that the notice of fine will be sent in a registered letter with advice of delivery where receipt of a notice of fine sent by electronic means is not confirmed within 15 days of sending thereof. Until now, a registered letter had to be sent if the recipient of the notice did not confirm receipt of the notice or pay the fine within three days. The amendment will create more flexible options to pay the fine or to confirm the receipt of the notice of fine and to forward it where a breach is not committed by the owner or authorised user of the car, and will allow sufficient time to challenge the notice of fine.

During the debate, Marek Jürgenson took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction.

59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act and 27 voted against.

The Act on Amendments to the Family Law Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (474 SE), initiated by the Government, amends the procedure for the payment of maintenance to children who are minors. The current amount of minimum maintenance, which is one-half of the minimum monthly wage, will be replaced with fairer and more flexible bases for calculating maintenance.

According to the Act, the amount of a maintenance allowance will have to be established in consideration of the real needs of the child and the possibilities of the parent and the amount of time he or she spends with the child. It will also have to be taken into account how many children the parent must maintain and to whom the child benefit and the benefit for families with many children are paid.

According to the Act, the base amount for determining a maintenance allowance is 200 euro, which is indexed on 1 April every year and to which three per cent of the average gross salary in the previous year is added every year. The national child benefit and the benefit for families with many children are also included in the maintenance, and the payment obligation of the obligated parent decreases on account of that. The court will retain the right to increase or decrease a maintenance allowance in view of differences between the parents’ incomes and the needs of the child.

The Act sets out a derogation to the effect that the parent does not have to pay maintenance during their military service as the child receives the conscript’s child allowance or the allowance for a child of a person in alternative service. The Act does not change current court judgments or agreements. It does however provide for a transitional provision under which the maintenances tied to the amount of one-half of the rate of the minimum remuneration are frozen at the current level and they will not increase when the minimum wage rises.

During the debate, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction, Vilja Toomast on behalf of the Reform Party Faction, Tarmo Kruusimäe on behalf of Faction Isamaa and Indrek Saar on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction.

71 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act and five voted against.

The Act on Amendments to the Copyright Act (transposition of copyright directives) (368 SE), initiated by the Government, transposes two European Union copyright directives that entered into force in summer 2019. They were part of the “copyright reform package” published by the European Commission in September 2016. The amendments will ensure consumers better access to content protected under copyright, while at the same time protecting the rights of authors and performers.

The amendments will improve the negotiating position of authors and performers when entering into author’s contracts, and will obligate their contractual counterparts to provide information on the exploitation of the rights to them at least once a year.

It will also be possible to enter into extended collective licensing agreements upon the use of works where obtaining authorisations from rightholders on an individual basis would be too onerous for the user. This will concern for example the provision of television and radio services.

Among other things, obligations are also established for web platforms (e.g. YouTube, Facebook) the main purpose of which is to enable users of the service to upload content and to access works, performances and other content that may be protected by copyright or related rights (video clips of concerts, extracts from films and television series, music recordings, etc.).

More cases of free use are also provided where users are allowed to use protected works and subject matter of related rights (e.g. performance or phonogram) without the consent of the rightholder and without payment of remuneration. For example, it will be possible to use works without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration for the purposes of text and data mining for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. Under the current law, this is permitted only for non-commercial purposes. In addition, better opportunities are created for cultural heritage institutions (libraries, museums, archives) to use out-of-commerce works to promote cultural heritage.

81 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Environmental Monitoring Act (440 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for the legal bases for the provision of the paid services of analysing the environmental data of the Environment Agency (KAUR), and forecast. The purpose of the amendments is to reduce the workload for KAUR and the administrative burden for clients. It will be possible to enter into contracts for the provision of services with interested companies under which the companies will no longer need to submit frequent queries.

According to the Act, KAUR can provide the paid service of analysing the environmental data relating to its core activity and the paid forecast service outside the environmental monitoring programme. Such services include special-purpose weather forecast, forecast models, paid weather helpline, creating wind roses, analysis of meteorological and hydrological data, and hydrological engineering calculations. The paid services are used by clients who, due to their personal needs, need more specific data compared to the publicly available free services. Collecting such data often entails extensive analysis and drawing up separate forecasts. Media, energy and construction companies and ports are the most frequent users of the paid services.

The Act also provides for, by service, the maximum and minimum rates for the paid services, and a provision delegating authority to the Minister of the Environment to establish a specified list of the paid services and the rates of the fees.

The explanatory memorandum notes that national environmental monitoring is funded from the state budget but historically there has been a need for such paid services. For example, last year 61 clients submitted 267 orders for services to KAUR, with a volume of own revenue of about 140,000 euro. In Estonia, there are no other providers of meteorological and hydrological services because the services are closely connected with large data volumes. The predecessors of KAUR have, in addition to their core functions, already been servicing the small target groups who need these services.

In the debate, Peeter Ernits took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party.

86 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Competition Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (442 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for the bases under which the tasks of the Competition Authority would also be funded from supervision fees.

According to the Act, supervision fees are charged from monopoly-holding businesses with regulated prices. The supervision fee will be included in the price of the services provided to the end consumer. The businesses will not experience added administrative burden. The fee rates are provided in the Act and they are non-negotiable. This will guarantee the impartiality of the Authority. A similar funding model is in use in funding the Financial Supervision Authority in Estonia. It is also used by most economic regulators in the European countries. The other task of the authority – competition supervision – would continue to be funded from the state budget.

The key amendment provides for the bases for the payment of supervision fees. In addition, amendments are made to the Public Water Supply and Sewerage Act, on the basis of which the price regulation of all water undertakings is designated under the control of the Competition Authority. The Act also amends the Electricity Market Act, the District Heating Act, the Aviation Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Postal Act, and the Ports Act. The Acts are amended by including a reference to the effect that supervision fee is paid to the Competition Authority on the bases of and pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Competition Act.

No obligation to pay supervision fee is provided for companies operating in the railway sector, because the operational costs of both public railway infrastructure companies Estonian Railways Ltd and Edelaraudtee Ltd are funded from the state budget, and the supervision fee would also be paid from the state budget and not by consumers which is the principle for funding the supervision work of the Competition Authority.

During the debate, Urmas Reinsalu took the floor on behalf of the Faction Isamaa, Mart Helme on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party and Annely Akkermann on behalf of the Reform Party Faction.

68 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act and 16 voted against.

The Act on Amendments to the Act on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Other Acts, and the Act on Amendments to the Employment Contracts Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (456 SE) initiated by the Government, extends until the end of next year the procedure for the payment of sickness benefit under which employees receive sickness benefit from the second day of their sick leave.

The Act provides for continuing until the end of 2022 the procedure whereby the employer pays sickness benefit from the second to the fifth day of sick leave, and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund pays it from the sixth day of sick leave. Thus, according to the Act, the current system will continue until the end of 2022. The first day of sick leave is the employee’s own liability, the second to fifth days are the employer’s liability in the payment of sickness benefit, and the liability of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund begins on the sixth day of sick leave.

The explanatory memorandum notes that earlier compensation for days of sick leave enables people to remain at home already when the first symptoms of illness appear without a significant loss of income.

When the amendments are implemented, additional expenses of 19 million euro will be incurred in 2022, of which 12.4 million euro will be covered form the state budget and the rest from the own resources of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.

The Act is planned to be in force for a specified period of time, from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

During the debate, Siret Kotka took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction and Riina Sikkut on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction.

88 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (458 SE), initiated by the Government, transposes EU directives on excise duties.

The main amendments arising from the directive regulating the general arrangement for the payment of excise duty are connected with the establishment of the requirement of electronic delivery note for excise goods across the EU. The Act provides that, upon transport of goods subject to excise duty to other Member States, an electronic delivery note must be filled in the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS).

The EMCS is an EU-wide electronic system for delivery notes that is used to formalise delivery notes for excise goods on which excise duty has not been paid upon transport between Member States. The EU is also extending this system to formalise delivery notes for excise goods that are subject to excise duty in the place of dispatch and that are transported to other Member States. Today, Estonian businesses are using the national electronic system for delivery notes SADHES. In the future, delivery notes will have to be processed on EMCS.

For seamless export, in the future, it will also be possible to use the external transit procedure in addition to the export customs procedure. Under the current law, excise goods are deemed to have been exported from the moment when they are taken out of the EU excise territory. According to an amendment, goods can also be deemed to have been exported from the moment of the application of the external transit procedure, that is, already before the goods are physically taken out of the EU excise territory. Such an amendment will allow economic operators to save resources on account of excise guarantees. Upon application of the external transit procedure, taxes will be ensured under customs rules that also cover the excise duty.

On the basis of the amendments to the directive regulating specific issues relating to alcohol, the Act updates the codes of the combined nomenclature used to describe alcohol products, specifies the principles for exemption upon the use of alcohol for cleaning manufacturing equipment, and sets out the principles how economic operators prove their status as small undertakings to public authorities of other countries.

The costs of the implementation of the Act will be mainly connected with IT-development activities, which will be about 200,000 euro. The IT development costs will be covered from the budget of the Tax and Customs Board for 2022, and the annual maintenance costs of about 20,000 euro will be applied for within the framework of the state budget strategy for the year preceding the costs.

86 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, and one voted against.

The Act on Amendments to the Funded Pensions Act, the Taxation Act and the Income Tax Act (468 SE), initiated by the Government, creates a new solution for paying fixed-term pensions in the 3rd pillar – the supplementary pension fund. The payments will be made from voluntary pension funds, and if a person has acquired units of several different pension funds, the units will be taken back in all their funds.

This scheme is similar to that of the payment of the 2nd pillar funded pension. Upon retirement, the person will set the term specifying for how long they wish to receive the pension, and the frequency of payment. After that, the Estonian Funded Pension Registry will start making payments from the pension funds, dividing the number of units belonging to the person by the period of receiving the pension and taking into account the frequency of paying the pension. All pension funds where the retired person has acquired units will be taken into account.

The explanatory memorandum to the Act explains that the tax exemption on the pension payments determined on the basis of the Statistics Estonia average number of years left to live, or for a longer term, entered into force on already on 1 January 2021. Until now, this benefit has only been available for the 3rd pillar insurance contracts, as there was no corresponding product for payouts from voluntary pension funds. From the new year, people retiring under the 3rd pillar will now be able to opt for a fixed-term pension from voluntary pension funds, in addition to other pension options.

The Act also makes amendments in relation to the 2nd pillar. The first amendment concerns the payment of the contributions to the 2nd pillar in the situation when the employer has incurred tax arrears. According to the logic of the general prepayment account, the amounts paid are used to settle obligations according to their due dates. Under the Taxation Act, the payments of the 2nd pillar will be separated from the general order of obligations, which ensures that the payments will reach the 2nd pillar faster in the case the employers has other tax arrears. In the order of payment of the claims that arise on the same day, the payment of the 2nd pillar is in the first place also according to the existing legislation, but in the case the employer has obligations with an earlier date they will be met in the first order. The Act also amends the provisions on paying in instalments, and it will not be allowed to pay the contributions of the 2nd pillar in instalments.

Another amendment relating to the 2nd pillar concerns the derogation on the taxation of income earned from the financial assets acquired through the investment account, where the reference to the 2nd pillar pension investment account had earlier not been made. In the case of the 2nd pillar, the payout is taxed (except the lifetime pension or the fixed-term pension divided on at least the average number of years left to live, which are exempt from income tax), and therefore the income earned on investments should not be taxed in the meantime here either. With the Act, a relevant correction is made to the Income Tax Act.

92 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Act on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (469 SE), initiated by the Government, provides an income tax exemption for people of retirement age to the extent of the average old-age pension.

Under the Act, the general tax-exempt income will no longer be applied to people who have reached old-age pension age. Instead, they will receive the tax-exempt income of a person of old-age pension age to the extent of the average old age pension, regardless of the size of their income. The Social Insurance Board will be the first to apply the basic exemption on the income, followed by the Estonian Funded Pension Registry. If a person’s pension and mandatory funded pension payments combine into a lower total amount than the tax-exempt income of the person of old-age pension age, the remainder of their tax-exempt income can be applied to their other income, such as their salary. To receive this, the pensioner must submit an application to the withholding authority, i.e., the authority who makes the pension payments.

All persons of old-age pension age are entitled to apply the tax-exempt income of a person of old-age pension age, regardless of whether they have retired or which type of pension they receive. This means that people who have postponed their retirement can also deduct the tax-exempt income of a person of old-age pension age.

When a person reaches the old-age pension age during the taxation period, they receive the right to use the tax-exempt income of a person of old-age pension age for the whole taxation period, i.e., 12 times the monthly rate just like in the case of the general tax-exempt income.

The size of the average old age pension within the meaning of the Income Tax Act is set out for the taxation period under the annual State Budget Act. In 2023, according to the summer forecast of the Ministry of Finance, the average old age pension will be EUR 654, taking into account the extraordinary EUR 20 pension increase.

The Act also retains the income tax exemption on the payments of mandatory and complementary funded pensions intended for people with no capacity for work once they reach the old-age pension age. For this purpose, payments of mandatory and complementary funded pensions made to persons who were incapacitated for work immediately before reaching old-age pension age will be exempt from income tax. Currently, payments to persons with certified incapacity for work are not taxed. When such persons reach old-age pension age, they are no longer eligible for the certificate of incapacity for work, which results in them losing the income tax exemption. The planned amendment will ensure that the income tax exemption intended for persons with no capacity for work will apply to them even when they reach old-age pension age.

The Act is planned to enter into force on 1 January 2023, and the income tax exemption for persons with no capacity for work will be applied retroactively as of 1 January 2021.

During the debate, Kersti Sarapuu took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction, Aivar Kokk on behalf of the Faction Isamaa, Riina Sikkut on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction and Mart Võrklaev on behalf of the Reform Party Faction.

91 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

According to the State Budget for 2022 Act (464 SE), initiated by the Government, the volume of the revenue of the coming year’s state budget is 13.132 billion euro, the volume of expenditure 13.633 billion euro, and the volume of investments 724 billion euro. The volume of expenditure will exceed the volume of revenue, but the structural position has improved compared to both last year and the state budget strategy for 2022–2025. Defence spending accounts for 2.3 per cent of GDP, and research and development expenditure for one per cent.

The next year’s budget allocates 2.78 million euro for regional investments. During the third reading, funds were added for increasing the competitiveness of the maritime sector and continuing the support measure for international passenger shipping.

The Government has set three key priorities for the coming year’s state budget: getting the daily expenditure of the state under control, investments in people, and ensuring a rapid and sustainable development for Estonia.

Next year’s state budget is intended to ensure emergence of the Estonian society and economy from the coronavirus crisis, and making the economy future-proof. Besides emerging from the crisis, focus will again be on longer-term goals by moving towards structural budget balance. When drafting the state budget, the Government took into account its priorities: rapid exit from the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the mental and physical health of people, financial sustainability, education and innovation, green economy, active foreign policy, national defence and reducing regional inequality.

The state budget for 2022 was drafted based on the State Budget Strategy 2022–2025, the Action Programme of the Government of the Republic, the recommendations of the European Commission made within the framework of the European Semester and the summer economic forecast of the Ministry of Finance.

During the debate, Jaanus Karilaid took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction, Helir-Valdor Seeder on behalf of Faction Isamaa, Riina Sikkut on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction, Rene Kokk on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and Jürgen Ligi on behalf of the Reform Party Faction.

59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 37 voted against.

The Riigikogu passed 11 Resolutions on the use of the Defence Forces in foreign missions

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force” (444 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for participation in the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) with up to 24 servicemen.

The explanatory memorandum describes JEF as a coalition of the willing, which is initiated, owned, and led by the United Kingdom, with members from other countries. JEF brings together like-minded countries who share a common sense of danger and who are generally ready to contribute to operations quickly and flexibly over the whole range of warfare and crisis management activities, from humanitarian crises to conventional warfare. JEF can act independently or as part of a larger military unit. The use of JEF is flexible – the initiation of possible operations, or participation in these, is open to all or just interested Member States. Based on the joint decision of the Member States, JEF focuses on ensuring security in the Baltic Sea region and the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, thus enhancing the defence and deterrence stance in the Baltic states.

71 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Training Mission in Mozambique” (445 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to five servicemen to the European Union Training Mission EUTM Mozambique.

The explanatory memorandum describes participation in the new EU military mission EUTM Mozambique as important for Estonia both from the foreign and defence policy point of view. One of Estonia’s priorities is to take part in carrying out the EU common security and defence policy, and to develop cooperation with strategic allies on the EU southern flank. By participating in the mission, Estonia is contributing, in solidarity with the other Member States, towards an EU military operation. The mission is led by Portugal who puts great political focus on the events in Mozambique and has included it as one of the priorities of its current EU Presidency. For Estonia, it is important to show solidarity with Portugal because Portugal has contributed to the Baltic security by taking part in the NATO air policing mission four times in Šiauliai, Lithuania, in 2007, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and is planning to return in September 2021, and hopefully further on in the future. The support of Portugal as a NATO ally in strengthening the security on the eastern flank of the Alliance will remain important for Estonia and the Baltic Sea region more broadly.

55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act, and one against it.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the International Military Operation “Inherent Resolve”” (446 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for participating in the international, US led military operation Inherent Resolve with up to ten servicemen.

The aim of the operation is to fight against ISIL, primarily in Iraq and Syria, and an important task is to train the Iraqi security forces. Inherent Resolve focuses on supporting stabilisation in Iraq and Syria after the physical defeat of ISIL, and it supports the Iraqi government in the field of security. In supporting the training of the Iraqi security forces, close cooperation is in place with NATO and the Iraqi government. ISIL has been significantly weakened through the actions of the coalition, and no longer controls areas of Iraq and Syria; however, ISIL has remained capable of organising attacks both within the region and across the globe.

The explanatory memorandum states that participation in international military operations provides proof of Estonia’s commitment to participate in burden-sharing for the benefit of achieving peace and stability around the world. The participation of the US led coalition of will also supports excellent allied relations between Estonia and the United States, as well as defence and security cooperation. The participation at the operation also gives the Defence Forces a major operational output that benefits the integral development of the Defence Forces.

Based on the need for training in Iraq and the possible need to adjust the emphasis of the operation, the number of servicemen provided in the draft (ten) allows Estonia to make additional and flexible contributions to the operations, should the need arise. Estonian servicemen do not take part in military operations on the Syrian territory.

67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission in Iraq” (447 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for participating in the NATO mission in Iraq with up to five servicemen.

NATO non-combat training and advisory mission NMI was established in Baghdad in October 2018. The work of the mission is directed against the threats emanating from the southern flank of the Alliance more broadly, helping Iraq to build sustainable, transparent, inclusive, and efficient security structures to enhance their capability in the fight against terrorism, preventing ISIL from returning, and stabilising the country. For this end, NATO provides advising to the Iraqi security structures. NMI trains the Iraqi security forces in close cooperation with the Iraqi government. NMI advises and provides training but does not take part in battle operations next to the Iraqi forces.

The explanatory memorandum states that participation in the mission in Iraq allows Estonia to actively contribute to grounding the threats emanating from the southern flank of the Alliance, contribute to NATO collective security, and support allies and partner countries in the fight against terrorism.

63 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Military Mission EUNAVFOR Med/Irini” (448 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to six servicemen to the operation EUNAVFOR Med/Irini.

The primary goal of the EUNAVFOR Med/Irini operation is to support the implementation of the UN weapons embargo on Libya. This includes conducting inspections off the Libyan coast on ships suspected of transporting weapons or related materials to or from Libya, based on the UN Security Council resolution No 2292 (2016). In addition, the mission also supports applying UN measures to block illegal oil export from Libya, training and developing Libyan navy and border guards, and breaking down networks of trafficking and human smuggling.

In 2021, Estonia contributed two staff officers to the EUNAVFOR Med/Irini headquarters in Rome. In view of the importance of EUNAVFOR Med/Irini in responding to security challenges near the EU southern border, the number of servicemen provided in the resolution (six) allows an additional contribution to the operation when need be.

Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.

66 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Response Force” (449 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to 280 servicemen to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force.

The establishment of the NATO Response Force (NRF) was decided at the Prague Summit in 2002. The NRF is a high-readiness unit capable of conducting military operations anywhere in the world. The NRF plays a key role in launching NATO’s short-notice collective defence operations. The NRF is commanded by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The decision to deploy the NRF is taken by the North Atlantic Council. Ensuring the full manning of the NRF is directly in Estonia’s national interests because the NRF ensures NATO’s commitment to deterrence and collective defence.

In addition, Estonia is meeting its allied duties by contributing to the NATO Readiness Initiative (NRI) since early 2021. The agreement on the NRI was reached at the 2018 NATO Summit in Brussels. The purpose of the initiative is to improve the readiness of the allied forces to allow for a rapid response using national forces, incl. in situations of collective defence. These units would in that case complement the forces already in the NRF.

60 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Training Mission and the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali” (450 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to ten servicemen to the EU Training Mission in Mali, and with up to five servicemen to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The objective of EUTM Mali is to support developing the military capability of the Malian armed forces, to make sure that Mali itself is capable of defending its population and territory, and to improve the security situation in Mali. In addition to that, it supports achieving political stability and implementing the Algiers peace agreement in order to enhance state authority and restoration of the rule of law throughout Mali. EUTM Mali supports the Sahel region more broadly by improving the operational capability of the G5 Sahel Joint Force and enhancing regional cooperation, focusing primarily on common security threats, in particular terrorism and human trafficking.

The EUTM Mali mandate is valid until 18 May 2024, and the operation area was extended to include other Sahel countries, i.e., Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. Next to Mali, other more prioritised countries are Burkina Faso and Niger.

The strategic objective of MINUSMA is to support the implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. Another strategic aim of the mission is to facilitate the implementation of Mali’s broad strategy in order to protect civilians, reduce inter-community violence, and ensure the provision of the main public services particularly in central Mali. MINUSMA is applying its activities in carrying out the mandate, taking into account the developments in the region and enhancing coordination with other international and regional associations active in the region, as well as with G5 Sahel.

The explanatory memorandum refers to Mali’s challenges in increasing stability and security across the country, and Estonia is contributing through participation in international training cooperation. Through this cooperation, Estonia contributes to the common fight against the threats affecting Europe, including the fight against terrorism and the resolution of immigration issues.

During the debate, Leo Kunnas and Peeter Ernits (both from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

46 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and 16 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Post-Conflict Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Syria” (451 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to six servicemen to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Middle East.

UNTSO is the first UN peacekeeping mission that is purely an observation mission. The UNTSO activities are carried out in the Middle East, more specifically in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The mission HQ is located in Jerusalem. UNTSO military observers have been active in the region through decades, keeping the hostile sides apart and thus preventing the escalation of local conflicts into one big conflict hot spot in the Middle East.

The explanatory memorandum states that Estonia is contributing to ensuring security in crisis regions as a UN member state. Participation in UN missions has been important for Estonia, even more so now that Estonia has served as an elected member of the UN Security Council in 2020–2021. The participation of Estonian servicemen in UN operations helps to strengthen Estonia’s contribution to UN activities in securing peace.

Estonian military observers have been part of the UNTSO mission since 1997. As of 2014, Estonia’s contribution to the mission was increased to up to six servicemen with a Resolution of the Riigikogu. They man the positions of a military observer and a Senior Staff Officer. The maximum number of servicemen will remain six also in 2022.

61 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in France’s Military Operation Task Force Takuba in Mali and Niger (former name “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in France’s Military Operation Barkhane in Mali”) (452 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to 75 servicemen to the French led military operation in Takuba Mali and Niger.

Participation in the operation as part of the Takuba special task force also helps to deepen the strategic relationship between Estonia and France, which is not only based on a shared value space but also a common understanding of the security environment and the threats affecting it. France is actively contributing to strengthening the NATO deterrence stance in the Baltic Sea region through the presence of its allied units in defence of the security of the Baltic states. Members of the French government and high-ranking officers have deeply appreciated Estonia’s contribution to the operation and have commended the service of Estonian servicemen.

In addition, participation in the operation and the Takuba special task force helps to ensure stability and better security in Mali and Niger. By training Malian armed forces, Estonia is helping Mali to build its capabilities toolbox to cement its own security and fight more efficiently against armed insurgents and terrorist groups in the region.

44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and 17 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in Another International Military Operation Led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its Member State, the European Union or the UN upon the First Contribution thereto” (453 OE), submitted by the Government, provides for the use of up to 100 servicemen under subsection 34 (1) of the National Defence Act, which provides that the Riigikogu determines annually by a resolution the number of servicemen who may participate in an international military operation led by NATO or a member state thereof, the EU, or the UN, upon contributing thereto for the first time. The exact nature and size of Estonia’s contribution depend on the needs of the specific operation and they will be decided by an order of the government according to the National Defence Act. The further use of the Defence Forces in the same operation will be decided through the general procedure by a resolution of the Riigikogu.

Conflicts and crises in various regions of the world may escalate unexpectedly and quickly and, if necessary, Estonia must be capable of using units of the Defence Forces to crisis and conflict regions quickly and flexibly in order to support international stability and thus also protect Estonia’s security interests. This mandate allows Estonia to respond as flexibly as possible to rapidly escalating situations that do not fall under other exemptions on allowing rapid response under the National Defence Act (e.g., participation in the NATO Response Force).

59 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon” (454 OE), submitted by the Government, allows to contribute with up to three servicemen to the UNIFIL mission (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).

The UN peacekeeping mission plays an important stabilising role in Lebanon and the whole region, having a deterring effect on the spreading of violence. The main task of the mission is to observe the situation in the region, promote prevention of possible hostile activities, and ensure international peace and security, as well as support the government of Lebanon in cementing the state authority in the southern part of the country. The UNIFIL activities are carried out in the area between Litani River and the Blue Line (the border drawn between Israel and Lebanon by the UN on 7 June 2000).

As a UN member state, Estonia is contributing to ensuring security in crisis regions. As a country contributing towards collective security, Estonia is keeping a close eye on the events in the Middle East, and the security policy impact of events there on the stability in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Participation in UN missions has been important for Estonia, and is even more so now that Estonia has served as an elected member of the UN Security Council in 2020–2021. The participation of Estonian servicemen in UN operations helps to strengthen Estonia’s contribution to UN activities in securing peace.

57 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

Two Bills passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Planning Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (378 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for the establishment of a central database of spatial plans. The purpose of the Bill is to update the whole planning procedure and to economise on resources.

A central database of spatial plans would allow storing and disclosing information on spatial plans in force, their annexes, and the decisions made in the course of the planning procedure.

The Bill will bring the provisions on planning procedure into conformity with the Administrative Procedure Act, which will allows delivering documents and sending notices electronically in the course of the planning procedure. At present, the authorities organising the preparation of spatial plans send notices and documents in the course of the planning procedure only by registered mail.

The Bill also provides for the possibility to hold public discussions online. The Bill would allow notices to persons involved in the planning procedure to be sent through apartment associations.

The amendments to the Bill omit the stage of making proposals regarding the intention to develop the bases for the pre-selection of the location of a national designated spatial plan and for the strategic environmental impact analysis. The omission of this stage will not reduce the opportunities of persons or authorities to be involved in the preparation of a plan or giving their opinion on it, as these opportunities are ensured through the public display and discussion stage preceding the request for proposals, and through the stage of coordination and submission of opinions following the request. The omission of a stage will shorten the process of the preparation of a plan by about two months.

The Bill also regulate public display, which takes place during the preparation stage of a detailed design of a national designated spatial plan; extend the deadline for enforcing the procedure underlying the contracts under public law for constructing objects intended for public use or to fund their construction; and amend the implementing provisions.

During the debate, Andres Metsoja (Isamaa) and Heiki Hepner (Isamaa) took the floor.

The Bill on Amendments to the Ports Act, the Maritime Safety Act and the State Fees Act (425 SE), initiated by the government, will transpose the relevant directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, amending a directive and repealing an earlier directive.

The definition of “waste from ships” will be introduced, which means all waste, including cargo residues, which is generated during the service of a ship or during loading, unloading and cleaning operations. The obligation of ships in notifying of waste from ships and in keeping records on waste from ships will also be amended.

Waste fished passively in the course of commercial fishing that is caught in fishing gear during fishing, for example derelict fishing gear and other marine litter, will be included under the definition of waste from ships. No separate fee may be charged in the port for delivering such waste; its delivery will be included in the fee for receiving waste from ships as part of the port dues. This amendment should help prevent the waste caught during commercial fishing from being discarded back into the sea.

Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.

Two Bills passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia for Changing the Procedure for the Election of the President of the Republic (462 SE), initiated by members of the Riigikogu Jaanus Karilaid, Kersti Sarapuu, Viktor Vassiljev, Peeter Rahnel, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Dmitri Dmitrijev, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Marko Šorin, Enn Eesmaa, Aadu Must, Kaido Höövelson, Tarmo Tamm, Jüri Ratas, Oudekki Loone, Siret Kotka, Erki Savisaar, Natalia Malleus, Igor Kravtšenko, Imre Sooäär, Marek Jürgenson, Mihhail Korb, Martin Repinski, Marika Tuus-Laul, Mailis Reps, Martin Helme, Urmas Reitelmann, Leo Kunnas, Uno Kaskpeit, Merry Aart, Peeter Ernits, Riho Breivel, Kert Kingo, Kalle Grünthal, Jaak Valge, Paul Puustusmaa, Alar Laneman, Helle-Moonika Helme, Rene Kokk, Henn Põlluaas, Mart Helme, Anti Poolamets, Siim Pohlak, Ruuben Kaalep, Andrei Korobeinik and Raimond Kaljulaid, provides for the direct election of the President of the Republic. The explanatory memorandum emphasises that the election of the President of the Republic directly by the people meets the expectations of society and gives the people an additional opportunity to participate in making decisions that are important to the nation, thereby bringing people closer to the state.

Jaanus Karilaid (Centre Party), Jaak Valge (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party), Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party), and Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.

The Bill on Amendments to the General Part of the Environmental Code Act and Other Acts (repeal of the Environmental Register Act) (441 SE), initiated by the Government, will update the procedure for handling environmental information in state databases.

The Bill repeals the Environmental Register Act. The new procedure corresponds to the way environmental information has actually been collected, i.e., it defines the subordinate information systems of the environmental register as independent data bases. The majority of the lists and data that have so far been in the environmental register are currently collected into the Estonian Nature Information System (EELIS) and they will remain so under the Bill. In the meantime, separate data bases, or information systems independent in terms of information technology have been established with regard to several data bases that so far have also been considered as lists in the environmental register. The Bill provides the obligation to establish a common information technology contact point (web environment) for accessing and interfacing the data bases that contain environmental information insofar as this is possible in terms of information technology and economically viable.

The Bill will amend the General Part of the Environmental Code Act, the Atmospheric Air Protection Act, the Waste Act, the Industrial Emissions Act, and the Water Act by adding provisions on applying for and processing the relevant registration and issuing the registration certificate in the environmental decisions information system KOTKAS.

The amendments to the Forest Act set access restrictions on information on private forest land in the forest register that would allow to estimate the property and economic standing of a forest owner who is a natural person and that is considered personal data in case of natural persons, along with any data that would allow their identification. The Forest Act will also be amended by including a section on the national inventory of forests with the statistical selection method (statistical forest inventory, SFI).

During the debate, Heiki Hepner (Isamaa) took the floor.

The sitting ended at 9.15 p.m.

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 extended the target group for higher dental care benefit

The right to ask for flexible working conditions will not bring about an obligation for employers and administrative agencies to offer the conditions asked for, but employers will have to provide reasons for a refusal in such situations. Workers and officials with caring responsibilities are also provided additional protection upon cancellation of an employment contract or release from service and a reverse burden of proof in disputes on cancellation of employment contract or release from service.

Under the Act, upon entry into an employment contract with a 13-14-year-old minor, the waiting period of ten working days from the registration of the minor with the employment register no longer applies. In the future, this obligation will remain in place only upon the employment of 7–12-year-olds. The purpose of the amendment is to reduce both employers’ and the Labour Inspectorate’s workload in respect of recruitment of 13-14-year-old young people. The amendment will help create more flexible working opportunities, while at the same time ensuring effective protection of minors in employment relationships.

The child leave regulation adopted with the amendments to the parental leave and benefit system in October 2018 is also improved. From 1 April 2022, all parents of children under 14 years of age will be entitled to a child leave of ten working days for each child under 14 years of age. It will be calculated from the end of a parental benefit period and the amount of the remuneration paid for it will be 50 per cent of the average salary of the parent.

An automated notification system for the working life information system will be developed that will notify the employer, the registered minor as well as the legal representative of the child of the mandatory conditions and risks related to the specific work that should be taken into account.

During the debate, Siret Kotka took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Faction.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Riigikogu passed another Act

The Act on Amendments to the Product Conformity Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (372 SE), initiated by the Government, extends the surveillance competences of market surveillance authorities in connection with products offered for sale in e-commerce. Authorities will get access to communication data in order that they would have the opportunity to identify owners of webpages and, where necessary, to restrict access to online interfaces and to require the removal of information content or the display of a warning. The aim of the amendment is to ensure that dangerous products are removed from sale as quickly as possible.

The supervision of products from third countries will also be enhanced. For this, a new requirement for making construction products, personal protective equipment, appliances burning gaseous fuels, and toys available on the European Union market will be introduced. In the case of such products, there will have to be an interlocutor established in the European Union mandated by the manufacturer who can be addressed in the event of additional questions or problems and who is responsible for the availability and verification of declarations and, where necessary, for taking corrective action.

In cross-border cooperation, digital operation and information exchange will be introduced between European Union surveillance authorities. The competence of market surveillance authorities in respect of personal transporters used in traffic and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intended to be operated in the ‘open’ category is specified. According to the amendments, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, and not the Transport Administration, will carry out market surveillance of such appliances. For the purpose of more effective sanctioning, the amount of the fine for legal persons is increased from 3200 euro to 32,000 euro.

68 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the passage of the Act and 17 voted against.

Seven Bills passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the National Defence Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (417 SE), initiated by the Government, will create better preconditions for the use of civil resources for independent defence capability and the hosting of allies, and will comprehensively update the regulation of national defence duties.

The Bill will clarify the imposition of the duty to grant use of items and the expropriation of items, and the relevant powers will be granted to the Defence Resources Agency and the Defence Forces or an agency of executive power authorised by the Government. The current National Defence Duties Act will be repealed, and the issues relating to the duties will be set out in the National Defence Act.

During the debate, Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet took the floor.

The Bill on Amendments to the Land Reform Act and Other Acts (418 SE), initiated by the Government, will make amendments to Acts, in order to help complete the land reform and to reduce the burden of the state in the administration of the agreements entered into in the course of the land reform.

The Bill will resolve problems that have emerged in connection with the land reform. In the course of the land reform, thousands of plots and strips of land that cannot be used independently emerged between immovables. Under the current law, time-consuming land reform proceedings involving a high administrative burden need to be conducted to form separate immovables of these land strips in order to join them to the immovables bordering on them. Under the Bill, such a plot of land can be joined with the immovable bordering on it by a simple land consolidation act, without having to form a separate immovable. Non-reformed plots of land will no longer be entered in a separate register part in the land register, but the boundaries of an existing immovable will be changed.

As at June, according to the data of the Land Board, around 21,000 land units with an area extending to 18,400 hectares have not yet been reformed on the Estonian landmass.

The Bill will also create an opportunity to reform the land under the apartment building if the owner of the dwelling fails to submit an application for the establishment of an apartment ownership by the deadline. It will also be possible to transfer a large share of immovables encumbered with the right of superficies, which are mostly residential buildings, to the superficiaries thereof.

According to the Bill, the administration of the instalment agreements in respect of land entered into upon the privatisation and return of land and the establishment of apartment ownerships, and the performance of the duties of the mortgagee on behalf of the state will be consolidated to the Land Board who is the organiser of the privatisation of land. Thus, the duties of mortgagee that are currently performed by the State Shared Service Centre and the debt proceedings activities will also be transferred to the Land Board.

The Bill on Amendments to the Electronic Communications Act, the Building Code and the State Fees Act (437 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose into Estonian law the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (the Communications Directive).

The explanatory memorandum notes that, compared to 2002 when the telecommunications market had been liberalised and a new legal framework had been adopted, the electronic communications market has developed rapidly and consumers’ behavioural habits have changed. New data-transmission-based “OTT services” (Over The Top service), such as Skype, WhatsApp and Viber are increasingly more used instead of traditional communications services and telephone and mobile telephone services. In order to ensure equitable protection of the rights of consumers, as is the case with traditional communications services, OTT services will also be brought under the concept of communications service. When all communications companies operating in the communications market are brought under the communications regulation, all electronic communications services companies operating in the communications market will be treated equally.

The Bill will increase consumer rights, in particular with the requirement to provide the pre-contractual information and the contract summary of the communications service contract. With pre-contractual information, the consumer is provided with as detailed an overview as possible of the communications service offered, which should prevent misunderstandings regarding the communications service laid out in the contract and the actual service. With the contract summary, the consumer is provided with an overview of the most important clauses in the communications contract – a description of the communications service, the charge, the duration, renewal and termination of the contract, etc.

For the purpose of ensuring a single European Union communications market, the rules for the deployment of radio frequency bands are harmonised in the EU. Common deadlines for deployment of new radio frequencies are also set.

For the purpose of the construction of very high capacity communications networks, the Bill will facilitate the deployment of small-area wireless access points (small cells) for construction works owned or used by the state or local authorities, for example public construction works, street lamps and traffic lights. In terms of technology, very high capacity communications networks need deployment of a large number of small-area wireless access points (small cells) that ensure the availability of the communications network and uninterrupted coverage. This amendment will be provided for by an amendment to the Building Code.

The Bill will specify the requirements for the use of hardware and software in communications networks so that using them would not endanger national security.

The Bill on Amendments to the Ports Act, the Maritime Safety Act and the State Fees Act (425 SE), initiated by the government, will transpose the relevant directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, amending a directive and repealing an earlier directive.

The definition of “waste from ships” will be introduced, which means all waste, including cargo residues, which is generated during the service of a ship or during loading, unloading and cleaning operations. The obligation of ships upon notification of waste from ships and keeping records on waste from ships will also be amended.

Waste fished passively in the course of commercial fishing that is caught in fishing gear during fishing, for example derelict fishing gear and other marine litter, will be included under waste from ships. No separate fee may be charged in the port for delivery of such waste, but they can be delivered on account of the fee for receiving the waste from ships included in the port dues. This amendment should help prevent the waste caught during commercial fishing from being discarded back into the sea.

The Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act and the State Fees Act (426 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose the relevant Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the amendments made in respect of common rules for the internal market in electricity.

The amendments will increase opportunities for distributed generation through a regulation concerning active users of network services. This will give consumers an opportunity to participate more actively in the electricity market and to benefit in particular from changing their consumption habits. The Bill also provides for a regulation relating to the creation, development and management of energy communities, as well as a regulation concerning aggregation and demand response, in order to increase the flexibility of networks, and energy efficiency for consumers.

An obligation to procure flexibility mechanisms from the market through tendering procedures will be provided for for network operators. The Bill also sets requirements for network operators to develop market-based charging networks for electric vehicles.

The Bill on Amendments to the Financial Supervision Authority Act and Other Acts (422 SE), initiated by the Government, will make amendments to the current financial sector legislation. They are related to the implementation and transposition of European Union legislation.

First, it provides for the bases according to which crowdfunding service providers will be able to start to apply for authorisation from the Financial Supervision Authority, and the Financial Supervision Authority will be able to start to exercise supervision over them. The amendment will concern only crowdfunding platforms offering opportunities to invest in businesses, and they will be able to apply for authorisation from 21 November. In addition, the Bill provides for the bases under which crowdfunding service providers will start to pay a supervision fee to the Financial Supervision Authority.

The Financial Supervision Authority will be given the authority to exercise supervision over the information on environmental sustainability and on sustainability risks that banks and other financial market participants submit.

The Bill will also specify what information will have to be provided to foreign listed companies regarding their shareholders located in Estonia, and what information to share to the Estonian shareholders of such companies.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Budget for 2021 Act (431 SE), initiated by the Government, has been drafted in accordance with the State Budget Act under which, in order to amend the state budget without amending the total amount of funds, the Government may initiate a draft State Budget Amendment Act not later than two months before the end of the budgetary year.

Considering that the State Budget for 2021 Act was prepared in the autumn of the preceding year and some of the funding needs have changed, it is expedient to initiate an amendment of the state budget to achieve more effectively the aims set by state agencies. The motions to amend will amend the distribution between expenditure and investments.

During the debate, Heiki Hepner (Isamaa) took the floor.

The sitting ended at 5.13 p.m.

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: An Act adopted by the Riigikogu enables employees with caring responsibilities to ask for flexible working conditions