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What does the Rural Affairs Committee do?
The Rural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu directs the legislative activities and developments in the spheres of rural policy, agriculture, fishing industry, food security, plant and animal protection, land reform and land consolidation, local government organisation, and regional policy. The Committee also monitors the activities of the Government in these fields.
Work with draft legislation
The Rural Affairs Committee holds discussions on topical issues relating to rural life, rural business, fisheries and regional development. Ministers and representatives of various agencies, as well as of agricultural producers, farmers, processors of agricultural products and other organisations connected with rural life and fishing industry take part in them. The Committee also organises off-site meetings and visits in order to get information about local issues.
The Rural Affairs Committee is responsible for daft legislation on agriculture and fishing industry that regulates food safety, animal protection, the organisation of veterinary activities, animal breeding, plant protection, plant propagation and plant breeding, land improvement, fishing, agricultural and fisheries market, etc.
Land reform and land consolidation also belong to the sphere of activities of the Committee. Besides amendments to the Land Reform Act, the Committee deals with the amendments to the Land Consolidation Act, the Land Valuation Act and the Cadastral Register Act.
The Rural Affairs Committee also works with the draft legislation relating to local governments, the administrative division of the territory of Estonia and regulation of place names. Associations of local governments are included in the discussions on the issues relating to local governments.
The Committee is also involved in regional policy issues, like jobs in rural areas, public transport, etc.
Other tasks
The Rural Affairs Committee monitors the activities of the Government within its area of activity and formulates positions on relevant European Union draft legislation. When necessary, the Committee can initiate the deliberation of an issue as a matter of significant national importance in the Riigikogu and prepare reports to analyse topics belonging to its competence or for the exercise of supervision.