The Act on Amendments to the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act and Other Associated Acts (500 SE), initiated by the Government, which brings the Act which is currently in force into conformity with the respective European Commission directive providing for certain derogations for acceptance of agricultural landraces and varieties which are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and threatened by genetic erosion and for marketing of seed and seed potatoes of those landraces and varieties, was passed with 92 votes in favour. A variety accepted for the conservation of genetic resources need not comply with the general requirements as regards the production and marketing of seed and seed potatoes.

 

The Act on Amendments to the Radiation Act (485 SE), initiated by the Government, which partly enforces the legal provisions necessary for the transposition of the relevant EU Euratom directive, was passed with 83 votes in favour (3 votes against). Some of the requirements of the Directive are provided by amendments to the implementing legislation established on the basis of the Radiation Act, that is, the Government Regulation of 8 July 2004 “Specifications of the Procedure for the Processing of the Documents concerning the Import, Export and Transit of Radioactive Waste according to the Countries of Origin and Destination”. Amendment of the specified Act and Regulation ensures conformity of the Estonian national legislation with the European Union law. All the requirements which earlier applied only to radioactive waste extend to shipments of spent fuel. The Act haves a positive impact on human health and property protection as well as environmental protection. At the same time, the amendment also helps reduce terrorist threat.

 

The Riigikogu supported with 82 votes in favour the motion of the Constitutional Committee to start a renewed deliberation of the Act on Amendments to the Penal Code, the Public Service Act, the Aliens Act, the Citizenship Act, the Local Government Council Election Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure which the President of the Republic refused to proclaim.

 

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Names Act and the State Fees Act (531 SE), initiated by the Government, amends the Names Act which is currently in force by adding norms which are necessary in connection with the expected passing of the Civil Status Acts Act. The specified Act provides transition to the electronic system of vital statistics registrations, a part of which is also making of amendments concerning names law in connection with family events.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and to Other Acts, related to Merger of the Health Care Board, the Health Protection Inspectorate and the Chemicals Notification Centre into the Health Board (536 SE), initiated by the Government, is related to reorganisation of the institutions within the area of government of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the course of which the abovementioned institutions will be merged and the Health Board will be established.

 

The Traffic Bill (475 SE), initiated by the Government, merges the provisions of the two basic acts which regulated the Estonia road traffic so far – the Traffic Act and the traffic rules established by a Regulation of the Government. Thereby the Traffic Code which, according to the Constitution, should be provided by an Act, is brought into conformity with the Constitution. The Bill also brings the new Traffic Act into conformity with the Vienna Convention of 1968 on Road Traffic and the later agreements thereto and the amendments to the Convention, and harmonises the Act with the legal acts of the European Union. The Bill transposes and implements the necessary experiences from other countries with good road traffic safety in order to improve Estonian road traffic safety.

 

the Bill on Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (532 SE), initiated by the Government. The objective of the Agreement is to create dynamic and efficient international cooperation between the scientists and research and development institutions of Estonia, the USA and the Baltic region.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code (530 SE), initiated by the Government, specifies the liability for an attack against flight safety and criminalises unlawful use of the identity of another person.

 

The Public Service Bill (538 SE), initiated by the Government, clarifies the legal system of public service. The Bill updates the Estonian public service and brings it into conformity with the internationally recognised general principles of public service and the recommendations concerning public service from the European Union institutions and several international organisations. Also, the regulation of the Employment Contracts Act and the Public Service Act are harmonised. In general, the Bill regulates only the service relationships of officials and the circle of officials is restricted and the definition of official is amended – instead of the institution-based definition, a function-based definition of official is used. The Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The motion was not supported. The result of voting: 28 votes in favour, 44 against.

 

The Anti-corruption Bill (539 SE), initiated by the Government, has a wider impact as regards the prevention of corruption rather than a more specific impact upon the activities of officials. Another significant impact is the fact that, with this Bill, the state declares which behaviour is prohibited in the case of certain officials and thereby prevents relationships involving the risk of corruption and a conflict of interests.

 

the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol Act (491 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Bill on Amendments to the International Military Cooperation Act (523 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Bill on Amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act and Other Acts (535 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Bill on Amendments to the Universities Act, the Research and Development Organisation Act, the National Library of Estonia Act, the Private Schools Act and the Institutions of Professional Higher Education Act (533 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Bill on Amendments to the Vocational Educational Institutions Act and the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act (534 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Police and Border Guard Act Implementation Bill (519 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

the Bailiffs Bill (462 SE), initiated by the Government.

 

At Question Time, the Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi answered the questions about the state budget, submitted by Kadri Simson and Eiki Nestor. The Minister of Internal Affairs Marko Pomerants answered the question about extension of the right to exercise environmental supervision, submitted by Mart Jüssi. The Minister of Justice Rein Lang answered the question about the work of bailiffs, submitted by Indrek Saar.

 

The sitting ended at 8.24 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service