At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

Minister of Culture Urmas Paet answered the question of Mart Laar about cultural events and the question of Ela Tomson about the establishment of the National Broadcasting.

Minister of Regional Affairs Jaan Õunapuu answered the question of Helir-Valdor Seeder about administrative management.

The Ministers answered also other questions.

The Riigikogu passed the following Act and a Resolution:

The Riigikogu passed with 44 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court (332 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established on July 17, 1998 by the Rome Statute, adopted in Rome, which entered into force on July 1, 2002. Estonia ratified the Rome Statute on January 30, 2002, thus being a founding member of the ICC. The objective of the ICC is the administration of justice to the persons who have committed the gravest international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) in case the states concerned are unable or unwilling to act. The First Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC adopted the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court in New York on September 9, 2002, which is opened for signing to all the states from September 10, 2002 to June 30, 2004. The Agreement has been signed by 46 states. Estonia has signed the Agreement on June 27, 2003.

The Riigikogu passed with 43 votes in favour the Resolution of the Riigikogu The Bases of the Security Policy of the Republic of Estonia (2004) (397 OE), submitted by the Government of the Republic. The bases of the security policy include the overall assessment made by the Government of the Republic to the security environment of the Republic of Estonia, which form the bases for the determination of the security policy objectives. The need to update the bases of the security policy arises from the changes in the Estonian security environment in connection with the accession to NATO and the European Union and proceeding from the membership obligations in both organisations.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Promotion of Local Government Merger Bill (359 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Isamaaliit Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The results of voting: 20 votes in favour, 48 against. The motion was not supported.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Liability Act and Constitutional Review Proceedings Act (357 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Information Society Services Act, Penal Code, Code of Criminal Proceedings, Code of Criminal Proceedings Implementation Act, State Secrets Act and Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (368 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Pollution Charge Act (375 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Vello Tafenau, Henn Pärn, Olav Aarna and Rein Aidma.

The Bill on Amendments to the Seafarers Act (298 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kadi Pärnits and Eiki Nestor.

The Bill on Amendments to the European Parliament Election Act and Members of the Riigikogu Salary, Pension and Other Social Guarantees Act (403 SE), initiated by the European Union Affairs Committee.

The Bill on Amendments to the Public Procurement Act (345 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the Estonian People?s Union Faction and the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica  Faction. The Isamaaliit Faction and the Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading. The results of voting: 18 votes in favour, 45 against. The motion was not supported.

The Bill on Amendments to the Nature Conservation Act (390 SE), initiated by the Environment Committee.

The Bill on Amendments to the Health Insurance Act and Associated Acts (119 SE and 264 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic and Members of the Riigikogu Siiri Oviir and Toomas Varek

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the following Bills:

The Postal Bill (281 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Isamaaliit Faction, Estonian Centre Party Faction and Social Democratic Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading. The results of voting: 68 votes in favour, 4 abstentions. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 2 July, 16.00.

The Authorised Public Accountants Bill (118 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 2 July, 16.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act and State Fees Act (303 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 2 July, 16.00.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Foreign Relations Bill (365 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Foreign Affairs Committee is 2 July, 16.00.

The Bill on the Denunciation of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (396 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Foreign Affairs Committee is 16 June, 18.15.

The Bill on Amendments to the Republic of Estonia Education Act and Associated Acts (382 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Cultural Affairs Committee is 17 June, 13.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Anti-corruption Act (402 SE), initiated by the Select Committee on the Application of the Anti-corruption Act. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Constitutional Committee is 19 June, 11.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (342 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Constitutional Committee is 13 September, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (384 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Social Democratic Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The results of voting: 11 votes in favour, 44 votes against, 2 abstentions. The motion was not supported. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Social Affairs Committee is 16 June, 20.32.

The Bill on the Accession to the IMO Protocols of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 (405 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Environment Committee is 16 June, 22.17.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bill:

The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (339 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction. The motion to reject the Bill was made by the Constitutional Committee. The results of voting: 42 votes in favour, 15 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The sitting ended at 20.17.

The Riigikogu Press Service