On the motion of the National Defence Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Draft Resolution “Use of the Estonian Defence Forces in the Performance of the International Duties of the Estonian State in the Composition of the 13th Rotation of the NATO Response Force” (495 OE) was concluded. Pursuant to the Draft, the Estonian Defence Forces will be used with a team of up to 55 members of the Defence Forces, as necessary, in the composition of the 13th rotation of the NATO Response Force from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010, in the military operation, organised for the purpose of maintaining or restoring the peace and security or in any other military operation in compliance with generally recognised practices and principles of international law. The Draft was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Traffic Act (427 SE), initiated by the Government, was concluded. The amendments would grant owners of public roads the right to restrict traffic both on the main road of the state and other roads. This concerns primarily heavy vehicle traffic on the main highways of Estonia which, for the purposes of the Act, are owned by the Road Administration. The Act is intended to create the possibility to use cameras upon taking of the theory test and driving test for drivers of motor vehicles. In the estimation of the initiator, setting up of cameras enables to retroactively assess the observance of requirements upon carrying out examination with a view to avoiding situations where the right to drive is acquired on the basis of insufficient knowledge or for example by fraudulent means with the help of another person. The third issue regulated by the Bill would be organisation of the working time of long distance drivers. The Act provides the restriction that if a driver works between 00.00 hours and 06.00 hours, the daily working time may not exceed ten hours in each 24 period. The Bill was sent to the third reading.

 

On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee as leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Advertising Act (463 SE), initiated by the same Committee, was concluded. The Bill is intended to specify the regulations which have given rise to different interpretations by implementators of the Act and the exercisers of supervision. According to the Bill, the information provided at the location of economic and professional activities concerning the trade marks sold in such location or the conditions of sale of the trade marks is not deemed to be advertising. The Bill is intended to eliminate the prohibition on advertising which has been established on commercial lotteries. According to the explanation of the initiator, commercial lotteries are allowed in the European Union countries and the current prohibition in Estonia is not justified. Also, it is recommended to eliminate the requirement of including a warning text concerning the harmfulness of alcohol in the cases when a trade mark used for designating alcohol is exhibited in the place of sale of alcohol. According to the explanation of the initiator, this is particularly a problem for mass caterers who should include a warning text also with beer glasses and vodka glasses bearing a trade mark. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Cultural Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act (506 SE), initiated by the same Committee, was concluded. The Act is amended by adding a new section which provides studies on the basis of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Diploma Programs. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

 

On the motion of the Economic Affairs Committee as the leading committee, the Bill on Amendments to § 25 of the Participation in Legal Persons in Private Law by the State Act (465 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 49 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion, 29 members voted against and 4 members abstained. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.

 

 

The Riigikogu Press Service