The Riigikogu passed with 84 votes in favour the University of Tartu Act Amendment Act (131 SE), initiated by the Government. The amendments to the Act are related to the transfer of the costs relating to resident physicians from the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research to the budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Residency cannot be regarded as part of the higher education system in the international comparison of educational costs because resident physicians are not students and their formal educational qualification does not rise after the completion of residency. This Act improves the salary formation mechanism, by ensuring the uniformity of salary policy and salary agreements, and budget planning and residency commissions. The implementation of the amendments will also involve regulation of the functions in the area of government of the relevant ministries and more effective use of the working time.

The Act enters into force on 1 January 2008, and clause 1 5) enters into force on 1 January 2009. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Electronic Communications Act and the Public Health Act Amendment Act (62 SE), initiated by the Government, was passed with 82 votes in favour. The amendments specify three concepts in the Electronic Communications Act, bring Estonian law into complete conformity with the European Union law as concerns the obligations established for undertakings with significant market power, and specify and amend the regulation concerning access and interconnection, and line facilities. Also, correct legal regulation for the coordination of frequency licences with the Health Protection Inspectorate is provided, and the processing of frequency and numbering licences in the register of economic activities, as well as certain requirements of confidentiality and provisions concerning terms, are regulated. The co-operation of the Communications Board and the Statistical Office is regulated, the norms relating to number portability are specified, a provision delegating authority for establishing of a Regulation of the Minister Economic Affairs and Communications is added, two provisions delegating authority are repealed and five new necessary elements of a misdemeanour are provided. Subsection 12 (9) of the Public Health Act is repealed.

Sections 24, 25, 27 and 35 and clause 36 2) of this Act, and section 111¹ provided for in § 23, except for subsection (3) thereof, enter into force on 1 January 2008; §§ 15, 32 and 40, and clauses 5 1) and 5 2), clauses 6 1 and 6 2) and clauses 36 1) and 36 3) enter into force on 1 June 2008; subsection 111¹ (3) provided for in § 23 enters into force on 15 March 2009. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Roads Act and the Railways Act Amendment Act (91 SE), initiated by the Government, was passed with 82 votes in favour. The amendments specify the concept of road management, road works, as well as local roads. The obligations of the undertakings performing owner supervision and state construction supervision of road works, and the requirements for the issuing of construction permits for road works are specified. The Act also makes amendments to the provisions of the Roads Act and the Railways Act which specify the maintenance works of level crossings.

The Act enters into force on 1 January 2008. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu Press Service