The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Competition Act (80 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Draft Act brings the provisions of the chapter on state aid into conformity with the amendments made in legislation concerning state aid at the European Union level. Also, certain provisions of the chapter on state aid of the Competition Act are specified, with a view to improving the intelligibility of the Act. The Draft Act establishes a register on state aid and de minimis aid, which would facilitate supervision of state aid, respect of accumulation rules and submission of reports.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of three Draft Acts:

The Draft Act on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and Georgia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Protocol thereto (119 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of agreements for the avoidance of double taxation is to favour investments, to ensure equal treatment of persons and to eliminate double taxation, which may occur as a result of joint influence of the relevant Acts of two states. For the achievement of these purposes, the Agreement imposes restrictions on taxes on income and on capital, which may be established to the residents of the other state by the state of the source of income. The Agreement also contributes to the creation of additional possibilities for the prevention of tax evasions. Estonia has already concluded the agreements for the avoidance of double taxation with Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Iceland, Czech Republic, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, Netherlands, Italy, France, Ireland, United States of America, Moldova, China, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Austria, Armenia, Malta, Croatia, Switzerland, Hungary, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Luxembourg.

When the Draft Act on Ratification of Protocol Additional of 8 December 2005 (III) to Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to Adoption of Additional Distinctive Emblem (129 SE), initiated by the Government, enters into force as an Act, Estonia recognises the emblem of red crystal and contributes to the introducing and dissemination thereof as widely as possible. At the national level, the third Protocol is to be included in the programmes of military instruction and the emblem of red crystal is to be introduced to the civilian population. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 recognise three names and emblems: the red cross, the red crescent and the red lion. The emblems of the red cross and red crescent, initially intended to be neutral, have acquired religious, cultural or political connotations in some states. To resolve the situation, the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III) was drawn up which establishes the use of a new distinctive emblem, the red crystal, or the third Protocol emblem, besides the red cross, the red crescent and the red lion and sun. The emblem of red crystal should be used, in particular, by those states and national societies who cannot use the red cross or crescent for religious, cultural or political reasons.

The Draft Act on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and to Other Acts in connection with Merging of Governmental Bodies (125 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. In connection with preparation of the merging of divisions of the area of government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, amendments are to be introduced to thirty six Acts. The governmental authorities to be merged are the Energy Market Inspectorate, the Competition Board, the Railway Inspectorate, the Communications Board and the Technical Inspectorate.

At Question Time, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip answered the question about labour shortage. Minister of Interior Affairs Jüri Pihl answered questions about the activities of surveillance bodies, the liquidation of marine pollution, and official documents. Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts answered questions about the energy sector, the provision of services to rural people, and SMS loans.

The verbatim record (in Estonian) can be found at: https://www.riigikogu.ee/?op=steno

The Riigikogu Press Service