On the motion of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the first reading of the Bill on the Ratification of the Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Republic of Croatia concerning the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (221 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. According to the Bill, the Treaty on Croatia’s accession to the European Union will be ratified, after which Croatia will become the 28th member state of the European Union. With Croatia’s accession, the size of the population of the European Union will increase by more than four million. Croatian will become an official language of the European Union and Croatia will participate in the work of the institutions and the decision-making process of the European Union. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Finance Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Liquid Fuel Act (228 SE), initiated by the same Committee, was concluded. The aim of the Bill is to bring the Liquid Fuel Act into conformity with the recommendations arising from the Supreme Court decision on the basis of which the bases for reducing the security are regulated in more detail in order to simplify the activities of the Tax and Customs Board, to facilitate the inspection of its activities and to reduce the number of potential complaints. The bases and criteria similar to those which regulate the increasing of the security should be established also for reducing the security. The Bill additionally provides as criteria in deciding on the reduction of the security the capability of the person as a member of the management or controlling body, that is, the competence to operate in the field of fuel handling, as well as the previous experience in engaging in enterprise and the investments made by the undertaking in the field of fuel handling. The Bill reduces the possibility that a security of less than 100 000 euro is granted to an undertaking who wishes to operate in the area of fuel sale who uses a “dummy” as the representative person and who lacks the knowledge and previous experience in fuel handling. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Finance Committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Land Tax Act (197 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 47 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion to reject and 39 members voted against. Thus, the Bill was withdrawn from the legislative proceeding.

On the motion of the Constitutional Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Political Parties Act (144 SE), initiated by the same Committee, was concluded. The Bill creates the possibility of establishing world view foundations at political parties the aim of which is to promote, in the public interests, social political thought and free and democratic world view both in Estonia and in foreign countries. According to the Bill, the activities of a world view foundation may not be aimed at achieving the political goals of a party. Such a foundation may not participate in the carrying out of an election campaign or the promotion of a specific political party or active politician. The world view foundations may derive income from the state budget allocations paid on the basis of this Act, donations made under the conditions provided in the Act, transactions with the assets of the foundation, the European Union supports if the objectives of the support for the most part correspond to the goals of the activities of the world view foundation, but also from the public funds of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the assets of the non-profit associations and foundations operating in these member states. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

The Riigikogu Press Service