On the motion of the National Defence Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the Privileges and Immunities of the OPCW (194 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The aim of the Agreement which is ratified is to grant the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the privileges and immunities which it needs in the independent exercise of its functions. Differently from usual diplomatic privileges and immunities, it is not the interest of states to follow the principle of reciprocity, but to let the OPCW function independently, efficiently and without fear of intervention. Upon the application of the Agreement, the OPCW and the officials related thereto will be guaranteed privileges and immunities similar to those enjoyed by other international organisations and diplomatic representatives of foreign countries. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Constitutional Committee, the first reading of the draft Resolution on amendment of the Resolution on formation of the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee (199 OE), submitted by the same Committee, was concluded. According to the draft Resolution, Andres Herkel is appointed a member of the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee instead of the former Member of the Riigikogu Indrek Raudne. Ülo Tulik will be an alternate member of the Committee instead of Andres Herkel. The draft Resolution was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Social Welfare Act (178 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was concluded. The aim of the Bill is to increase the subsistence level of the second and each subsequent member of a family to 100 per cent of the subsistence level of the first member of the family, instead of the current 80 per cent, and to put an end to the situation where the child benefit paid on the basis of the State Family Benefits Act is included in the income of the family upon calculation of a subsistence benefit. This would ensure that the child benefit reaches also less well off households. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

The Riigikogu Press Service