The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts replied to the interpellation concerning construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal (No 25), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lembit Kaljuvee, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Lauri Laasi, Eldar Efendijev, Tarmo Tamm, Kalev Kallo, Aadu Must, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Ester Tuiksoo and Mailis Reps on 30 May.

 

Parts considered it important that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal be constructed for ensuring energy supply of Estonia. At the same time, he pointed out the position of the European Commission that the Baltic states and Finland will have to agree among themselves where the future regional liquefied gas terminal will be constructed. It will be possible to apply for the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the next financial perspective. Parts noted that the cost of the regional terminal with the capacity of 2.5 billion m³ of gas per year would amount to approximately 375 million euro. The Minister explained that, within the framework of the plan to unite the Baltic energy markets, at the beginning of this year, the states of this region had agreed on the criteria which the regional terminal should meet. The criteria were the following: the terminal must increase gas supply security by allowing additional suppliers to the market; all suppliers and consumers must have access to the network and the terminal; all environmental requirements as well as technical and security requirements must be complied with; the regional terminal has to service Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and Finland when the Estonia–Finland pipe connection will be completed; the terminal has to conform to the European Union regulation on ensuring gas supply security. Parts admitted that an agreement between neighbours is especially important for the construction of a regional LNG terminal. At the same time, he noted that the location of this terminal is not the only critical agreement. Equally important factors are, for example, the pattern of financing the terminal through a common market area, an agreement on the joint use of the terminal and follow-up investments. Inter-state associations, the time schedule, financing and other factors also have an important role to play. In Parts’ opinion, the impact of the LNG terminal on the Estonian consumer lies above all in the increasing supply security both on the technical plane and in economic terms but, most importantly, in breaking the existing monopoly of Gazprom. Another important aspect is the impact of the LNG terminal on the price of natural gas in Estonia.

 

The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communicationsreplied to two more interpellations. They were the following:

 

the interpellation concerning the suspension of payments of the European Regional Development Fund (No 20), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Olga Sõtnik, Vladimir Velman, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Ester Tuiksoo, Mailis Reps, Aivar Riisalu, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Valeri Korb, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Tarmo Tamm and Rainer Vakra on 19 May;

 

the interpellation concerning the future of the domain reform (No 27), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Olga Sõtnik, Aadu Must, Yana Toom, Viktor Vassiljev, Ester Tuiksoo, Mailis Reps, Kadri Simson, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Lauri Laasi, Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Eldar Efendijev and Rainer Vakra on 1 June.

 

The Minister of Justice Kristen Michal replied to the interpellation concerning the regulation of surveillance (No 26), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Deniss Boroditš, Peeter Võsa, Valeri Korb, Lauri Laasi, Aivar Riisalu, Kalev Kallo and Vladimir Velman on 31 May.

 

The Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur replied to six interpellations. They were the following:

 

the interpellation concerning unemployment insurance benefits and sickness benefits (No 14), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Olga Sõtnik, Deniss Boroditš, Yana Toom, Kadri Simson, Viktor Vassiljev, Lauri Laasi and Mihhail Stalnuhhin on 16 May;

 

the interpellation concerning the organisation of nursing care (No 15), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Heljo Pikhof, Helmen Kütt, Karel Rüütli, Andres Anvelt, Jaan Õunapuu, Kajar Lember, Urve Palo and Peeter Kreitzberg on 16 May;

 

the interpellation concerning the poverty of children and the child allowance (No 19), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Yana Toom, Marika Tuus-Laul, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Lauri Laasi, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Kalle Laanet, Tarmo Tamm, Jüri Ratas, Olga Sõtnik, Priit Toobal, Vladimir Velman, Viktor Vassiljev and Ester Tuiksoo on 18 May;

 

the interpellation concerning the emigration of nurses (No 21), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus-Laul, Valeri Korb, Lauri Laasi, Eldar Efendijev, Heimar Lenk, Inara Luigas, Viktor Vassiljev, Tarmo Tamm, Rainer Vakra, Priit Toobal, Vladimir Velman, Yana Toom, Ester Tuiksoo and Mailis Reps on 19 May;

 

the interpellation concerning the organisation of family physician service (No 23), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Heljo Pikhof, Karel Rüütli, Kajar Lember, Kalev Kotkas, Andres Anvelt, Neeme Suur, Kalvi Kõva, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Jaak Allik, Helmen Kütt, Urve Palo, Jaan Õunapuu and Rannar Vassiljev on 30 May;

 

the interpellation concerning nursing care (No 24), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus-Laul, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Peeter Võsa, Eldar Efendijev, Aadu Must, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Ester Tuiksoo, Mailis Reps and Vladimir Velman on 30 May.

 

During the open microphone, Inara Luigas and Marika Tuus-Laul took the floor.

 

The sitting ended at 7.13 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service