On the motion of the Environmental Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Water Act and the Taxation Act (319 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The initiation of the Bill was necessitated by obligations assumed by Estonia under international maritime law agreements. The purpose of the Bill is primarily to establish the provisions necessary for the prevention of pollution caused by dumping at sea. Dumping means discharging substances or materials into the sea with the aim of disposing of them, and because of this aim, the substances and/or materials intended for dumping are considered as wastes in international law. In addition, the Bill specifies the provisions concerning the issue of the permit for the special use of water, dredging of water bodies and making of payments to international funds for compensation for pollution damage. The Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to reject this Bill at the first reading; 12 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour and 47 voted against. Thus, the motion to reject was not supported and the Bill was sent to the second reading.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting of the plenary assembly, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the State Legal Aid Act (271 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was adjourned. The deliberation will be resumed on Wednesday, 5 December, at the sitting beginning at 2 p.m.

On the motion of the Legal Affairs Committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Enforcement Procedure and the Bailiffs Act (309 SE), initiated by the Government, was not deliberated at today’s sitting.

The Riigikogu Press Service