Rein Lang , the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, took the oath of office before the Riigikogu.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts, initiated by the Government:

With 82 votes in favour (3 abstentions) the Act on Amendments to § 64 of the Government of the Republic Act. The Act makes amendments to the area of government of the Ministry of Agriculture, adding the administration of fishery to it.

With 79 votes in favour (3 votes against) the Act on Amendments to the Courts Act and Other Acts for the Merger of Territorial Jurisdictions of Courts (503 SE). Pursuant to the Act, four county courts and two administrative courts will be established instead of the existing16 county and city courts and 4 administrative courts. The formed county and administrative courts will start working in several court houses, situated in the locations of the present courts of first instances.

With 83 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 11 of the State Borders Act (540 SE); The Act establishes legal basis for the application of prohibition on restrictions to departure from Estonia against reservists and the agency applying the prohibition, pursuant to the Defence Forces Service Act.

With 68 votes in favour (2 votes against) the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Auditing Act (481 SE). The Act establishes the legal bases and procedure for the assessment of environmental impact, the organisation of the Community environmental management and auditing system and the legal bases for giving ecolabels of the Community.

With 68 votes in favour the Hunting Act Amendment Act (491 SE). The Act specifies the way of prohibitions or giving permission for hunting by the owners of private lands.

With 62 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the European Convention on the Supervision of Conditionally Sentenced or Conditionally Released Offenders (546 SE). The purpose of the Act is to ratify the Convention that enables the offender to leave the territory of the contracting Party where the sentence was pronounced or, where the enforcement of a sentence was conditionally suspended, and to settle in the territory of another Contracted Party under the supervision of its competent authority.

With 67 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Guarantee Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Nordic Investment Bank (559 SE). The purpose of the Act is to ratify the Guarantee Agreements, signed in Stockholm on 31 October 2004, which establish the guarantees of Estonia regarding the obligations of the Nordic Investment Bank.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Public Procurements Act (547 SE), initiated by the Economic Affairs Committee.

The Bill on Amendments to the Social Welfare Act (534 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Faction.

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the Draft Code of Enforcement Procedure (143 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills, initiated by the Government of the Republic:

The Bill on Amendments to the Tourism Act and State Fees Act (566 SE).The Bill on Amendments to the Aviation Act and State Fees Act (572 SE).The Bill on Amendments to the Privatisation of Dwellings Act (573 SE).The Bill on Amendments to the Planning Act (578 SE).

The Riigikogu Press Service