On the motion of the National Defence Committee, the first reading of the Draft Resolution “National Security Concept of Estonia” (718 OE), submitted by the Government, was concluded. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet gave an overview of the Draft Resolution. Chairman of the National Defence Committee Mati Raidma presented a report on behalf of the Riigikogu and introduced the positions of the National Defence Committee. “Through membership in NATO and the European Union, the security conception of Estonia and its allies is indivisible. The indivisibility of broad security conception or, for example, the international dimension of vital services or functionability of the society, like in the ash crisis of today, may become a new challenge,” Raidma said. Raidma stressed that effective coherence with the civic society and knowledgeable civic activity have an increasingly important role in promoting security and sense of safety.
The National Security Concept determines the purpose, principles and objectives of the security policy of Estonia. It is a framework document and the basis for the preparation of development and action programmes in various spheres. National Security Concept is changed or amended when the security environment changes and the possibilities for guaranteeing the security of Estonia are clarified. This document will replace the National Security Concept the Riigikogu adopted in 2004. The Draft Resolution was sent to the second reading.
The Act on Amendments to § 102 of the State Assets Act (
713 SE), initiated by the Rural Affairs Committee, was passed with 81 votes in favour. The purpose of the amendment is to simplify and speed up the grant of use of land upon expiry of the term of rent contracts for the purposeful use of land situated on protected territory, entered into before the entry into force of the State Assets Act, in order to ensure consistent purposeful use and maintenance of lands under nature conservation management. The amendment will make it possible at the end of the term of contract for the use of land situated on protected territory to extend the existing contract once for another five years if the expired contract included a provision enabling the extending and the user of the land has fulfilled his/her obligations correctly. The Act enters into force on the day following its publication in the
Riigi Teataja. Nobody voted against the Act, 3 members of the Riigikogu abstained.
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic” (
682 OE), submitted by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was not passed in the Riigikogu. A majority vote of the members of the Riigikogu (51 votes) were needed for the Resolution to be passed. At the final vote 36 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 33 members of the Riigikogu against it. Nobody abstained.
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 Prosecutor’s Office Act (
683 SE), initiated by the Estonian People’s UnionFaction, was adjourned. The deliberation will be resumed tomorrow, at the sitting beginning at 2 p.m.
The Riigikogu Press Service
