The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts replied to the interpellation concerning developments in the Climate and Energy Agency (No 557), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Helle Kalda, Olga Sõtnik, Ester Tuiksoo, Toomas Varek, Nikolai Põdramägi, Tiit Kuusmik, Inara Luigas and Kadri Simson on 23 December.

 

According to Parts’ explanations, the Advisory Committee of the Climate and Energy Agency has approved the budget and activity plan of 2011 according to which implementation of the activities in the sphere of energy conservation of buildings which was begun last year will be continued this year. The spheres of environment-friendly energy, transport and climate will also be launched.

 

The budget of the Climate and Energy Agency is formed of allocations for specific purposes of the state budget of 2009 and European Union structural instruments. “According to the budget approved by the Advisory Committee of the Agency, 76.1 million kroons, that is, 4.86 million euro will be transferred to this year from allocations of the state budget of 2009. This is the financial source for covering the activities of the Agency,” explained the Minister. He added that Estonia’s accession to the International Energy Agency will also be added as an additional activity to the budget and activity plan of the Agency. In Parts’ words, Estonia is starting accession negotiations with the International Energy Agency and the Climate and Energy Agency will be the cooperation partner on the part of Estonia. For accession to the International Energy Agency, funds for performing relevant preparatory work are also provided in the budget of the Climate and Energy Agency, noted the Minister.

 

In Parts’ opinion, activities related to energy, climate policy and sustainable transport have stronger coverage, in addition to energy conservation issues. Research and analyses are also necessary for development of the sphere. “Last time, I also referred to the need to resolve the issue of organisational development and legal status. I am of the opinion that the content, meaning and effectiveness of work are more important than the form and name, but in principle the form of an organisation should correspond to its function,” stressed Parts. In his opinion, this issue needs to be discussed also within the context of the Climate and Energy Agency Bill submitted by the Green Party faction. I do not believe that we will find a solution within a day, week or month, but we should reach a fundamental decision during 2011, said the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications.

 

Parts also replied to the interpellation concerning disappearance of television channels from free-to-air distribution (No 561), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Helle Kalda, Toomas Varek, Lauri Laasi, Enn Eesmaa, Mailis Reps, Nelli Privalova, Eldar Efendijev and Jüri Ratas on 10 January.

 

The Minister of Justice Rein Lang replied to two interpellations. They were the following:

 

the interpellation concerning financing of election campaigns (No 548), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laasi, Inara Luigas, Nikolai Põdramägi, Aivar Riisalu, Tiit Kuusmik and Olga Sõtnik on 7 December;

 

the interpellation concerning working conditions (No 553), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Heljo Pikhof, Jaanus Marrandi, Karel Rüütli, Eiki Nestor and Kalev Kotkas on 14 December.

 

The Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to two interpellations. They were the following:

 

the interpellation concerning the difficult situation of local governments (No 551), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Kalle Laanet, Vladimir Velman, Jüri Ratas, Toivo Tootsen, Olga Sõtnik, Kalev Kallo, Rein Ratas, Evelyn Sepp, Kadri Simson, Aivar Riisalu, Ester Tuiksoo, Tiit Kuusmik, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Helle Kalda and Mailis Reps on 13 December;

 

the interpellation concerning conducting of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union party activities with state funds (No 565), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laasi, Kadri Simson, Kalev Kallo, Valeri Korb, Tiit Kuusmik and Kalle Laanet on 24 January.

 

The Minister of Finance did not have to reply to the interpellation concerning the use of fuel marked with a fiscal marker in snow removal (No 558), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Sarapuu, Olga Sõtnik, Ester Tuiksoo, Tiit Kuusmik, Marika Tuus, Inara Luigas and Helle Kalda on 23 December, because the interpellators withdrew it.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service