At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

Prime Minister Juhan Parts answered the question of Katrin Saks about the citizenship policy, the question of Ain Seppik about the changes in public procurement, the question of Kaarel Pürg about the benefits to the repressed persons, the question of Kadi Pärnits about the employment in Ida-Virumaa, the question of Trivimi Velliste about the perception of the recent history of Estonia, the question of Eiki Nestor about the representation of the state of Estonia and the question of Toomas Alatalu about the referendum.

Minister of Culture Urmas Paet answered the question of Tõnis Lukas about the construction of cultural objects and the question of Mark Soosaar about the representation of Estonian culture in foreign countries.

The alternate member of the Riigikogu Kristen Michal took the oath of office.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The Riigikogu passed with 57 votes in favour the Biocides Act (318 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act establishes requirements for safe handling of biocides, in order to protect the health of people and animals, the environment and property. A prerequisite for safe handling and admission to the market of biocides is their obligatory registration and authorisation, which creates basis for their purposeful and controlled handling in the state. 

The Riigikogu passed with 56 votes in favour the Act on the Termination of the International Agreements Related to the Baltic Battalion (283 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The BALTBAT was established in 1994, it was the first cooperation project on defence between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The BALTBAT has been successful, later several trilateral projects have been launched following this example, e.g. the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL), the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON), the Baltic Air Surveillance System (BALTNET) and several other projects of narrower scope. In the opinion of the Ministries of Defence and members of the Defence Forces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania up till now the BALTBAT has achieved its main objectives which had initially been set and there is no need to go on with the project in the hitherto existing form. In connection with the above, the agreement on the establishment and formation of the common peacekeeping unit between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania was denounced.

The Riigikogu passed with 54 votes in favour the Act on the Accession to the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union (275 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union has been concluded in Brussels on May 29, 2000, and its objective is to enable the Member States of the European Union to improve the cooperation in the preliminary investigation and judicial proceedings of criminal matters.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Republic of Estonia Education Act, Universities Act, University of Tartu Act, Institutions of Applied Higher Education Act and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act (323 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Telecommunications Act and Security Authorities Act (219 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Code of Criminal Procedure Implementation Bill (295 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act (335 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Legal Affairs Committee is 26 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Liquid Fuel Act and Fiscal Marking of Liquid Fuel Act (349 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 19 May, 12.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act, Local Taxes Act and Taxation Act (356 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Finance Committee is 14 May, 16.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Strategic Goods Act (354 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the National Defence Committee is 26 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Administrative Cooperation Act (353 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Constitutional Committee is 19 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Liability Act and Constitutional Review Proceedings Act (357 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Constitutional Committee is 26 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Peace-Time National Defence Act (341 SE), initiated by the National Defence Committee. The term for submission of motions to amend to the National Defence Committee is 17 May, 10.00.

The Riigikogu Press Service