The Riigikogu deliberated the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice to grant consent for depriving the Member of the Riigikogu Villu Reiljan of deputy immunity and for preparing a statement of charges with regard to him. Chancellor of Justice Indrek Teder presented a report. 81 Members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the proposal, 2 voted against and 1 member of the Riigikogu abstained. Thus, the Riigikogu decided to deprive Villu Reiljan of deputy immunity and grant consent for preparing a statement of charges.

The Riigikogu passed with 85 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to the Probation Supervision Act, the Imprisonment Act and the Courts Act (169 SE). The purpose of the Act is above all to enhance the functioning of the prison and probation supervision system by merging organisations which have similar functions and purposes. In addition, the amendments to the Imprisonment Act ensure that the Act reflects the general development in prison system and the changes in both the execution of imprisonment and prison service. The Act enters into force on 1 June 2008. Clauses 2 25) and 27) enter into force on 30 April 2008 and clauses 2 26) and 28) and 37)-40) enter into force on 1 January 2009. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Act on Amendments to the Commercial Code and the Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 on the Statute for a European Company (SE) Implementation Act (186 SE) was passed with 83 votes in favour. The purpose of the Act is to transpose into the Estonian legislation the directive amending the Capital Requirements Directive. This directive simplifies and updates the Capital Requirements Directive in order to further enhance the efficiency of business activity and competitiveness without prejudice to the protection of shareholders and creditors. Section 1 of this Act enters into force on 15 April 2008. Section 2 of the Act enters into force on the day following publication in the Riigi Teataja. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Food Act Amendment Act (191 SE) was passed with 81 votes in favour. The purpose of the Act is to introduce additional items into the list of the food for particular nutritional uses which fall under the requirement that Veterinary and Food Board be notified of placing of such food on the market. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

On the motion of the National Defence Committee as leading committee, the first reading of the Defence Forces Organisation Bill (202 SE) was concluded. The main purpose of the Bill is to regulate the principles of the structure, directing and use of the Defence Forces, to provide the level at which different issues concerning organisation of the Defence Forces are decided, and to take account of the needs arising from NATO membership in our legislation. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the National Defence Committee as leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Peace-Time National Defence Act, the War-Time National Defence Act and the Government of the Republic Act (203 SE) was concluded. The purpose of the Bill is to introduce amendments arising from the Defence Forces Organisation Bill into the Acts which require qualified majority in order to be passed in the Riigikogu. Amendments to other Acts are provided in Chapter 7 “Implementing Provisions” of the Defence Forces Organisation Bill. The Bill should be handled only in connection with the Defence Forces Organisation Bill. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

The Riigikogu Press Service