The Riigikogu passed with 76 votes in favour the Statement On the Future of the Institutions of the European Union (81 AE), submitted by 23 members of the Riigikogu. In accordance with the Statement, the Riigikogu supports the functioning of the European Union as a Union of independent nation states, where the equality of the Member States has been ensured and the balance between the institutions has been retained and the Riigikogu does not support the establishment of new institutions of the European Union. The Riigikogu supports the enlargement of the role of the national parliaments and the European Parliament in the decision-making process, and the proceeding of the work of the European Convention. Nobody voted against the Statement, one member of the Riigikogu abstained.

The Riigikogu passed by secret ballot with 43 votes in favour the Resolution on the Appointment of Mart Sõrg to the Office of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Eesti Pank (83 OE), initiated by the President of the Republic. 23 members of the Riigikogu voted against the Resolution and 2 members of the Riigikogu abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 69 votes in favour the Law of Property Act Implementation Act, Land Cadastre Act, Investment Funds Act and Estonian Central Register of Securities Act Amendment Act (30 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The amendments to the Law of Property Act Implementation Act concern the transfer of a pledged thing by a pledgor. In the text of the Land Cadastre Act the word ?land registry? will be successively replaced by the words ?land registry department of the court? and all that is related to the obligation of submission of data by the notary will be amended. The amendment to the Investment Funds Act concerns the investment of assets of the contractual fund and the amendments to the Estonian Central Register of Securities Act change the time limit for the registration of the existing securities on the date of entry into force of the Act.  Nobody voted against the Act, one member of the Riigikogu abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 75 votes in favour the State Pension Insurance Act Amendment Act (71 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The amendments concern the increase in the base amount of the pension, the calculation of the size of the pension on the basis of international agreements and the payment of national pension. From July 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004 the base amount of the pension is 577 kroons and 33 cents. The Act enters into force on July 1, 2003. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Republic of Estonia Education Act Amendment Act (69 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction and the Estonian People?s Union Faction, was passed with 75 votes in favour. The provisions regulating student loan were specified in the Education Act. The Act enters into force on the day following its publication in the Riigi Teataja. Pursuant to § 36³ (2) of the Education Act, the agreements on the organisation of granting student loans concluded between the state and credit institutions, are brought into conformity with the amendments, provided for in the present Act, by July 1, 2003.  From the date of entry into force of the Act to August 31, 2003, pursuant to § 36³ (2) of the Education Act, the rate of commercial interest of student loans on the amount of student loan guaranteed by the state, in the agreements on the organisation of granting student loans concluded between the state and credit institutions, is 5 per cent in a year. The basis of interest calculation is the actual number of days in a month and the 360-days year. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 74 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 68 (1) of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Fuel Excise Duty Act (37 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jüri ?ehovtsov, Liina Tõnisson and Toomas Varek. Pursuant to the amendment, restrictions on exemption from excise duty are cancelled on the quantity of fuel in the fuel tanks of road vehicles upon the entry in the customs territory. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 73 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 5 (2) of the Value Added Tax Act (44 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee. The amendment is made to the list of services included in the export of services wherein the sale of package of tours to tourists travelling from Estonia to foreign states is included, on the basis of which the tourists are serviced outside the Estonian customs territory. The Act enters into force on the following day after its publication in the Riigi Teataja and it will be applied retroactively beginning from 1 October 2003. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 72 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Protocol to the Europe Agreement (PECA) establishing an Association between the European Communities, of the one part, and their Member States and the Republic of Estonia, of the other part, on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (72 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Protocol has been concluded on March 6, 2003, in Brussels and its aim is to eliminate technical trade barriers between the European Community and Estonia in the agreed spheres. In addition to the advantage of opening common market to producers, the conclusion of the Protocol enables to anticipate and solve the problems connected with the safety of products prior to joining the European Union and to prepare the government agencies of Estonia for the issues arising from the free movement of goods. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Uno Lõhmus gave an overview of the courts administration, administration of justice and uniform application of acts.

The Riigikogu Press Service