The Riigikogu passed with 76 votes in favour the Competition Act Amendment Act (80 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The amendment of the Competition Act was due to the need to bring the provisions of the chapter on state aid into conformity with the amendments made in the legislation concerning state aid at the European Union level, and also to facilitate the daily work relating to competition and state aid. In addition, a register on state aid and de minimis aid is established, which facilitates supervision of state aid, respect of accumulation rules and submission of reports. This Act enters into force on 1 January 2008. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

On the motion of the Environmental Committee as the leading committee, the second reading of the Draft of the Environmental Responsibility Act (77 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. Pursuant to the Draft, the Act regulates the prevention of and compensation for damage caused to the environment, based on the principle that polluters pay. The Act is going to apply to environmental damage or danger of environmental damage caused by non-point pollution in the cases when it is possible to establish a causal relationship between environmental damage or the danger thereof, and the activities or failure to act by a person or persons, and if not more than thirty years have passed since the event. In connection with this Act, the Nature Conservation Act, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Act, the Ambient Air Protection Act and the Water Act are also amended. The Draft was sent to the third reading.

The Riigikogu Press Service