At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu. A total of 8 items were deliberated.

Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo answered the questions about the sugar fine, the Estonian swede rape cultivation and processing and the liability of the National Grain Board.

Minister of Justice Ken-Marti Vaher answered the questions about the implementation of the Principles of Ownership Reform Act, legal order and duties.

Minister of Culture Urmas Paet answered the question about the future of the former naval fotress and about the financing of objects protected under heritage conservation.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts and a Resolution:

The Riigikogu passed with 67 votes in favour the Act on the Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union Amendment Act (515 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act specifies the conditions for providing uniform area-related aids and supplementary direct allowances in connection with amendments to the appropriate EU regulations. Due to the amendments to the regulations of the EU, the provisions concerning information and promotional measures and supports for rural development accompanied with the common agricultural policy have also been amended. The amendments concerning the provisions on a new support ? technical aid for the implementation of measures of the rural development plan – have also been made to the Act. The chapter about state supervision and the provisions concerning the advisory centre were also specified.

The Riigikogu passed with 53 votes in favour (12 votes against) the Involvement of Employees in the Activity of Community-scale Undertakings, Community-scale Groups of Undertakings and European Company Act (499 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. A new phenomenon in the Estonian legal system is the European Works Councils, formed at the level of Community-scale undertakings and groups of undertakings, or as an alternative, the establishment of the procedure for information and consultation, if the central management of the Community-scale undertaking or groups of undertakings, located in several Member States and with a specified number of employees, is located in Estonia. The regulation proceeds from the Commission Directive 95/45/EC. The Act is divided into two large complexes of provisions: first ? informing of the representatives of employees and consulting them at the level of multinational undertakings of the European level, i.e. the establishment of European Works Councils or the establishment of procedures for information and consultation; second ? the organisation of the involvement of employees in an European company.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Increase of the Estonian Defence Forces Units and the Extension of the Term of Their Use in Performance of International Duties of the Estonian State under the International Peacekeeping Mission in Afghanistan (523 OE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 50 votes in favour. The participation of the Estonian Defence Forces Units in the named mission enables to really contribute to the international suppression of terrorism and to peace-keeping in Afghanistan and in such a way contribute to guaranteeing security in the world. The Resolution provides the extension of the mission by 20 months and the increase in the composition of the Estonian units up to 25 members of the Defence Forces.

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the following Bill:

The Bill on the Accession to the Convention based on Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on the Establishment of a European Police Office (Europol Convention) and the Amending Protocols thereto (438 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to § 3 of the Universities Act (505 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on the Accession to the Open Skies Treaty (527 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Family Benefits Act, Social Tax Act, Parental Benefits Act and to the Unemployed Persons Social Protection Act (530 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Maritime Safety Act and to Associated Acts (518 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Liquid Fuel Stocks Bill (525 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bill at the first reading:

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (465 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction. The motion to reject the Bill was made by the Finance Committee. The result of voting: 51 votes in favour, 24 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service