On the motion of the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Maritime Safety Act and Associated Acts (653 SE), initiated by the Government, was suspended. The Bill is intended to specify the maritime safety requirements, and liability and fines in the event of violation of the Act. New sections are added to the Maritime Safety Act which provide the maritime safety management system, the classes of the maritime safety audit of shipowners and their ships and the requirements for the conduct of additional audits, nonconformities discovered in auditing, etc. Several amendments concern pilotage, the requirements for pilots and the activities of pilots as well as the handling of marine casualties. An amendment introduced to the Act during the second reading provides compulsory pilotage for tankers in the inland maritime waters and in the water area of a port. It also intends to establish several new state fees and to update the regulation concerning the raising of sunken property. 87 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the proposal of the Reform Party Faction, nobody voted against and nobody abstained. The second reading of the Bill will continue.
On the motion of the Environmental Committee, the second reading of
the Bill on Amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System Act (
750 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The amendments are due to the need to bring the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System Act into conformity with the European Union law. The amendments specify the definition of the
strategic planning document. A provision is added to the Act, according to which, upon deciding on the necessity of the strategic assessment of the environmental impact involved in the implementation of a strategic planning document, the opinion of the Environmental Board and all other authorities whom the potential environmental impact involved in the implementation of the strategic planning document is likely to concern has to be asked before making a decision. These authorities include, depending on the character of the strategic planning document, among others, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs and governmental authorities operating in their area of government, county governments, local government bodies and other relevant authorities. As one amendment, the rate of the mandatory environmental impact assessment of dredging of Lake Peipus, Lake Lämmijärv, Lake Pskov and sinking of solid substances into these lakes is equalised with the rate established with regard to the sea (10 000 m³). In practice, the limit applied to these lakes (500 m³) has proved too low. In case of other water bodies (e.g. small lakes), the rate of the mandatory environmental impact assessment remains 500 m³ as established in the regulation currently in force. The Bill was sent to the third reading.On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee, the second reading of
the Bill on Amendments to the Medicinal Products Act (
758 SE), initiated by the Estonian Green Party Faction, was concluded. The purpose of this amendment is to diversify the Estonian enterprise environment and to grant also commercial associations an opportunity to engage in medicinal products business, among other things. The holder of an activity licence for a general pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or veterinary pharmacy or a subsidiary thereof shall not be a partner, a shareholder or a member of a legal person in private law holding an activity licence for manufacture of medicinal products or wholesale trade in medicinal products. The Bill was sent to the third reading.
On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee,
the Bill on Amendments to the Planning Act (
778 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 45 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion of the Committee and 22 members voted against, nobody abstained. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.
The Riigikogu Press Service
