On the motion of the Legal Affairs Committee, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Law of Obligations Act and the Advertising Act (347 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The Bill specifies the regulation of responsible lending applied to consumer credit agreements in the Law of Obligations Act, and the regulation of advertising of financial services, including consumer credit, in the Advertising Act. The Bill gives a content to the concept of creditworthiness of the consumer; provides for the circumstances which a creditor must take into account when assessing the creditworthiness of the consumer; and provides that an advertisement in which consumer credit is offered or the arrangement of consumer credit contracts is offered may contain only essential information on the creditor or the credit intermediary and the service provided and it must be responsible and balanced. According to the Bill, an advertisement may not leave an impression that taking consumer credit is a risk-free and easy opportunity to solve financial problems, or induce consumers to take irresponsible loans. The Social Democratic Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of this Bill. 35 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion to suspend and 47 members voted against. As the motion to suspend was not supported, the Bill was sent to the third reading.

On the motion of the Environment Committee, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to § 131 of the Waste Act (421 SE), initiated by the same Committee, was concluded. The aim of the Bill is to extend the term for conditioning of closed landfills. Subsection 131 (2) of the Waste Act provides that landfills closed for waste deposit by 16 July 2009 must be conditioned in accordance with the requirements not later than by 16 July 2013. The purpose of the Act on Amendments to § 131 of the Waste Act is to extend the term for conditioning of closed landfills in accordance with the requirements to 31 December 2015. The Bill was sent to the third reading.

On the motion of the Finance Committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Land Tax Act (406 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 45 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion to reject and 25 voted against, thus the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service