The Riigikogu passed with 78 votes in favour the Act on the Accession to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (373 SE), initiated by the Government. The aim of the Protocol is to ensure the performance of the obligation to protect the international marine environment both in marine areas within the jurisdiction of Estonia as well as on vessels and aircraft flying Estonian flag which are staying beyond the marine areas of Estonia.

The Resolution on amendments to the Resolution on the formation of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (409 OE), initiated by the Foreign Affairs Committee, was passed with 66 votes in favour. According to the Resolution, pursuant to the proposal of the Estonian Reform Party Faction, an alternate member of the delegation Paul-Eerik Rummo was excluded from the membership of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Maret Maripuu was appointed an alternate member of the delegation. The Resolution enters into force upon signature.

On the motion of the Environment Committee, the second reading of the Industrial Emissions Bill (345 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The aim of the Bill is to achieve a high level of protection of the environment taken as a whole by reducing emissions into air, water and land and the generation of waste in order to prevent unfavourable impacts on the environment. This Bill determines the industrial activities with major environmental risks and provides for the requirements for operating in such activities and the liability for non-compliance with the requirements, as well as the organisation of the state supervision. At the same time, the provisions of the current law are harmonised and organised, ensuring a more uniform system of concepts, and conflicts with European Union law are eliminated. The Bill was sent to the third reading.

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Act on Organisation of Local Government of Paldiski (382 SE), initiated by the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Faction and the Estonian Reform Party Faction, was concluded. The aim of the Bill is to regulate the legal gap relating to the assets of Paldiski district of the city of Keila and Paldiski becoming an independent city. So far, the city of Keila has been the owner of the assets of Paldiski district, and Keila has also had to bear the obligations related to Paldiski district. The Bill provides that Paldiski district of the city of Keila will become an independent local government and, as a result of that, all rights and obligations related to Paldiski district of the city of Keila will be transferred to the city of Paldiski. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act (383 SE), initiated by Rainer Vakra, Lembit Kaljuvee, Inara Luigas, Deniss Boroditsh, Kalle Laanet and the Social Democratic Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 43 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion to reject and 21 voted against, thus this Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service