The Riigikogu passed with 62 votes in favour the Act on Ratification of the Convention between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of Turkmenistan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (341 SE), initiated by the Government. The purpose of agreements for the avoidance of double taxation is to facilitate investments between Contracting States. As an international law instrument, the Convention grants greater legal certainty to investors, as compared with a national legislative act, in regard to these elements of the tax system that are regulated by the Convention, because amendment of a bilateral international convention is generally more time-consuming than amendment of a national legislative act. For the achievement of these purposes, the Convention imposes restrictions on income taxes which may be established to the residents of the other state by the state of the source of income, ensures equal treatment of persons and eliminates possible double taxation. The obligation of mutual exchange of information provided for in the Convention creates additional possibilities for prevention of tax evasions. 

Estonia has already concluded the agreements for the avoidance of double taxation with Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Ireland, the United States of America, Moldova, China, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Austria, Armenia, Malta, Croatia, Switzerland, Hungary, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Georgia, Singapore, Greece, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Israel, the Isle of Man, Serbia, South-Korea, Albania, Jersey, the United Arab Emirates and India. 

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of two Bills: 

The aim of the Bill on Amendments to the Maritime Safety Act and the Ports Act (300 SE), initiated by the Government, is to simplify and harmonise the administrative proceedings applied to maritime transport by establishing a legal basis for using a single national electronic marine information system for individuals and state authorities. At the same time the Acts are brought into conformity with European Union legislation and the requirements of international conventions. 

The Bill on Amendments to the Act on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Precursors thereof (259 SE), initiated by the Government, provides a prohibition on handling chemical compounds potentially harmful to health, gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD), for the purpose of causing drug intoxication to a person. These are substances which, when administered orally, are transformed in the organism into the psychotropic substance gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) which is also known as “liquid ecstasy”. 

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of three Bills: 

The Bill on Amendments to the Competition Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (321 SE), initiated by the Government, extends the competence of the Competition Authority, granting it the right to approve obligations assumed by undertakings and to order, where appropriate, interim measures for undertakings. This will give the Competition Authority the most appropriate and flexible levers for exercising supervision and implementing measures, taking into account the circumstances of every case and the accompanying consequences. 

The Bill on Amendments to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens and Other Associated Acts (354 SE), initiated by the Government, provides the merging of the initial reception centre for asylum seekers which is operating within the area of government of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the expulsion centre of the Police and Border Guard Board with a view to ensuring that asylum seekers who pose a threat to public order or national security are detained in conformity with European Union law. It also establishes the procedure for and the rates of covering from the state budget the expenditures of a person enjoying protection, and specifies the content of the provision delegating authority which is the basis for establishing the internal procedure rules of the reception centre. The authority to establish the rules is granted to the Minister of Social Affairs instead of the manager of the reception centre. 

The aim of the Bill on Amendments to the Chemicals Act (350 SE), initiated by the Government, is to increase chemical safety by ensuring better implementation of European Union legislation on chemicals. For this purpose, the Act is brought into conformity with the abovementioned legislation. It specifies the tasks of competent authorities and their liability for infringement of the requirements set for chemicals and the handling thereof. 

The Riigikogu Press Service