The Act on Amendments to the Commercial Code and Other Acts (466 SE), initiated by the Government, which transposes the European Union directive on shareholders’ rights into Estonian law, was passed with 85 votes in favour. It facilitates the use of voting rights by shareholders. Shareholders who do not reside in the Member State in which the company has its registered office are able to exercise their rights in relation to the general meeting as easily as shareholders who reside in the Member State in which the company has its registered office. According to the Act, the Estonian public limited companies and private limited companies are able to provide, if they so wish, their shareholders and partners an opportunity to vote by electronic means at general meetings and meetings of shareholders if this is safe and allows identification of persons.

 

The Act on Amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act and Other Acts (535 SE), initiated by the Government, which enables to improve the planning of the career of regular members of the Defence Forces, to appreciate public servants with equal professional skills and to enable them to serve at positions requiring the relevant professional skills, was passed with 77 votes in favour. At the same time, it resolves the problems with organisation of the service of members of the Defence Forces in the National Defence League, appointment to positions and release from positions of regular soldiers and regular non-commissioned officers and grant of permission to take leave to members of the Defence Forces and sending of members of the Defence Forces on official travel which have arisen in connection with the entry into force of the Defence Forces Organisation Act.

 

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the International Military Cooperation Act (523 SE), initiated by the Government. The Bill specifies the legal regulation concerning sending of members of the Defence Forces on assignment to an international organisation or to international military headquarters and participation of such members of the Defence Forces in international military operations as members of such headquarters.

 

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Research and Development Organisation Act (576 SE), initiated by the Government, allows to start a new evaluation cycle in the research and development.

 

The State Budget of the Year 2010 Bill (587 SE), initiated by the Government. The expenditure level of the next year’s state budget is comparable to this year’s expenditure which amounts to 89.6 billion kroons. The revenue of the state budget amounts to 84 billion kroons. The next year’s state budget deficit of the Government sector is planned not to exceed three per cent of GDP. Forecasts for the next year predict minus 0.1 per cent economic growth and 0.7 per cent inflation. In order to ensure long-term competitiveness of the Estonian economy, the expenditure on education will be increased, and investments in research and development activities will grow in 2010. The volume of investments has been increased by 14 per cent in the budget in order to stimulate economy. The Bill does not reduce pensions, nor does it change the parental benefits system.

 

At Question Time, the Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur answered the question about health policy, submitted by Jaak Aab, the question about social jobs, submitted by Olga Sõtnik, and the question about the situation of the pension insurance fund, submitted by Inara Luigas. The Minister of Culture Laine Jänes answered the question about the reform of museums, submitted Mailis Reps, Mark Soosaar and Kalvi Kõva.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service