The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Bank of Estonia Act (720 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Liina Tõnisson and Mart Opmann. The amendments to the Act are prompted by the necessity to bring the legislative regulation into conformity with the requirements presented by the European Central Bank in connection with the transition to Euro. According to the European banking traditions, the procedure for the election and liability of the President of the Bank of Estonia as well as of Deputy Governors of the Bank of Estonia have been amended. The term of office of the President of the Bank is extended to 7 years, a requirement will also be added to the Act, according to which the same person cannot be the President of the Bank of Estonia for two terms of office in succession. In introducing the Bill, the problems concerning the exchange rate of the transition to Euro were also discussed. The final decision of the exchange rate presently fixed will be in the competence of the ECOFIN Council.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Associated Acts (748 SE), initiated by the Estonian People’s Union Faction, Estonian Centre Party Faction and Estonian Reform Party Faction. The Bill specifies the competence of the Minister of Regional Affairs in managing his subordinate domains. It concerns, first and foremost, the partition of competence between the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Regional Affairs, the Minister of Regional Affairs and the Minister of the Environment, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment and the Government of the Republic. The motion of the Isamaaliit Faction to reject the Bill at the first reading was not supported. 24 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 42 members of the Riigikogu against it.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bills from the legislative proceeding:

On the motion of the Finance Committee the Bill on Amendments to § 29 of the Taxation Act (673 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Reet Roos, was withdrawn from the legislative proceeding. 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the rejection of the Bill from the legislative proceeding and 25 members of the Riigikogu against it.

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee the Bill on Amendments to § 6 of the Collective Agreements Act (698 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was withdrawn from the legislative proceeding. 43 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion of the Social Affairs Committee and 19 members of the Riigikogu against it.

The Riigikogu Press Service