The Climate Resilient Economy Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu
Two bills passed the first reading, two bills passed the second reading, and a Resolution was adopted at today’s sitting of the Riigikogu.
09The Climate Resilient Economy Bill and a Bill concerning the Electricity Market Act passed the first reading in the Riigikogu
The Climate Resilient Economy Bill (928 SE), initiated by the Government, sets out a path for gradually reducing Estonia’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Bill will strengthen the resilience of the economy and society to climate change. It will establish a clear framework to guide economic development towards the adoption of clean energy, resource efficiency and climate-neutrality.
The Bill will support the competitiveness of businesses and promote innovation and the development of low-emission technologies. Greater valorization of local resources and the implementation of the principles of circular economy are important, as they help reduce costs and dependence on external inputs. The emphasis on environmentally sustainable development will also improve businesses’ access to financing and strengthen their position in international markets.
In drafting the bill, an effort has been made to strike a balance between various constitutional values as no fundamental right, interest or objective has automatic precedence over others. This means that when the principles of the Climate-Resilient Economy Bill are implemented, other interests and objectives, including those related to national defence, will also have to be considered. The Bill will define climate-related terms and set out climate targets and principles that support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Tiit Maran from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Yoko Alender from the Reform Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate. Peeter Ernits presented a comment on behalf of the Centre Party Group.
Isamaa Parliamentary Group, the Centre Party Group and the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 19 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 47 were against. The motion was not supported, and the first reading of the Bill was concluded.
The Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act and Other Acts (892 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed its first reading at today’s sitting. It will transpose the amendments made with an EU directive with the aim of improving the organisation of electricity market so that the energy market would be well integrated. This will enable Member States to gain economic benefits from a single energy market under all market conditions, and at the same time also ensure security of supply and support the reduction of CO2 emissions to achieve the Union’s climate neutrality target.
In the context of the energy crisis, the current structure of the electricity market has revealed various bottlenecks that are related to the impact of high and volatile fossil fuel prices in short-term electricity markets and are forcing households and businesses to face sharp price fluctuations and their impact on electricity bills. The amendments proposed in the Bill will ensure that consumers are protected against energy price crises and against disconnection from the grid during out-of-court dispute resolution proceedings.
The ability of network connection users to enter into flexible connection agreements in regions where the capacity of electricity network for new connections is limited also encourages network operators to develop sparsely populated areas, as they can be confident that reinforcement of the planned network is a priority. Flexible connections will be permitted as a permanent solution in areas where reinforcement of the network is not effective, and the expected restrictions applicable to flexible connection agreements will be made as visible as possible to network users applying for a network connection.
Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
No motions to amend the Bill had been submitted and the first reading was concluded.
Two Bills passed the second reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Electronic Communications Act and the Information Society Services Act (862 SE), initiated by the Government, aims to ensure more effective functioning of criminal proceedings and international cooperation.
The Bill will provide that providers of electronic communications services and information society services located outside the European Union but providing services within the European Union, as well as for service providers located in a European Union Member State but providing services in another Member State, will have an obligation to designate or appoint a company or legal representative in order to ensure the adoption and enforcement of decisions and orders for the purposes of criminal proceedings.
Information on the appointment of companies and representatives will be forwarded to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority which, as a central authority, cooperates with the central authorities of other Member States and the European Commission.
No motions to amend the Bill had been submitted between two readings. The second reading was concluded.
The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol Act, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and the Statutory Fees Act (881 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed its second reading. It provides that the operation of the state register of alcohol will terminate on 1 November. The purpose of the amendment is to reduce the administrative burden on economic operators and simplify bringing alcoholic beverages to the market.
In the future, producers and importers of alcoholic beverages will no longer have to enter their products in the state register of alcohol; instead, they will be able to bring them to the market directly, provided that the products meet the requirements and are safe. Several additional reporting requirements will also be eliminated, such as the obligation to submit laboratory test reports and wine movement reports.
An amendment will also reduce the administrative burden of the state because the Agriculture and Food Board will no longer need to maintain the register and will be able to direct the freed-up resources to supervision.
No motions to amend the Bill had been submitted and the second reading was concluded.
A Resolution was passed
Under the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among the Members of the Riigikogu” (938 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, Member of the Riigikogu Evelin Poolamets is appointed as a new member of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council. The amendment is necessary because the mandate of the current council member Varro Vooglaid ended prematurely due to his leaving the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group on 14 May.
The Estonian Public Broadcasting Council consists of members of the Riigikogu and acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting. On the proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee, the Riigikogu appoints one representative from each faction of the Riigikogu until the date of termination of the authority of the composition of the Riigikogu, and four experts from among the acknowledged experts in the field of activity of the Public Broadcasting whose authority continues for five years.
The council also includes Vadim Belobrovtsev from the Estonian Centre Party Group, Raimond Kaljulaid from the Social Democratic Party Group, Valdo Randpere from the Estonian Reform Party Group, Marek Reinaas from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Priit Sibul from Isamaa Parliamentary Group. Paavo Nõgene, Raul Rebane, Rein Veidemann and Chairman of the Council Sulev Valner are members of the Council who are experts in the relevant field of activity.
Urmas Reinsalu from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Lauri Läänemets from the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
73 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the draft Resolution and no member of the Riigikogu was against and there were no abstentions. The Resolution was passed.
The sitting ended at 1.27 p.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
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