The alternate member Rein Otsason took the oath of office before the Riigikogu.

The Riigikogu passed

with 70 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to the Plant Protection Act and to § 153 ³ of the Rural Development and Agricultural Market Regulation Act (253 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act extends the term for the declaration of arable lands from 15 March to at least 12 April. The declared arable land will in future form the basis for receiving common area payments of the European Union, which in 2004, according to the preliminary estimate, forms 419 kroons per hectare.

The Riigikogu concluded

the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act (211 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Social Affairs Committee is 11 March, 18.00.

The Riigikogu passed

with 62 votes in favour (1 abstention) the Resolution of the Riigikogu On Amendments to the Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia (the Baltic Assembly) (243 OE), submitted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Külvar Mand and Nelli Kalikova were excluded from the composition of the Estonian delegation to the Baltic Assembly, instead of them Sven Sester and Aivar Õun were appointed as members of the delegation.

The Riigikogu rejected

with 39 votes in favour (23 votes against) the Bill on Amendments to § 27 of the Pre-school Child Care Institutions Act (214 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, Isamaaliit Faction and Social Democratic Party Faction. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service