The Salaries of Higher State Servants Act (369 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, the Estonian People’s Union Faction, the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the Estonian Green Party Faction, the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Faction and the Social Democratic Party Faction, which organises the salary system of higher state servants, unhooks their salary from the average wages and makes the salary system of higher state servants simple and more transparent, was passed with 64 votes in favour (16 votes against). The Act establishes the highest salary rate of 5200 euro which serves as the basis in determining the salaries of the state servants included in the list. The Constitutional Committee determined the salary rate such that the salaries of higher state servants would remain at the current level. According to the Act, the factor for the salary of the President of the Republic, the President of the Riigikogu, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is 1.0 and that of members of the Riigikogu 0.65. The Act enters into force on the day of the commencement of the authority of the XII Riigikogu composition in 2011.

 

The Act on Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Courts Act and the State Legal Aid Act (583 SE), initiated by the Government, which enables implementation of the e-file system and resolves the current issues which have arisen regarding expedited procedure in matters of payment orders and information systems, was passed with 90 votes in favour. The Act concerns mainly four issues: implementation of the e-file system in civil and administrative court proceedings, formalisation and simplification of expedited procedure in matters of payment orders, creation of a structural unit for resolving petitions for application of expedited procedure in matters of payment orders, and granting of the rights of access to the courts information system.

 

The Act on Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (638 SE), initiated by the Government, was passed with 81 votes in favour. The purpose of agreements for the avoidance of double taxation is to favour investments, to ensure equal treatment of persons and to eliminate double taxation, which may occur as a result of joint influence of the relevant Acts of two states. For the achievement of these purposes, the Agreement imposes restrictions on income taxes, which may be established to the residents of the other state by the state of the source of income. The Agreement also contributes to the creation of additional possibilities for the prevention of tax evasions.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Public Transport Act (623 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Health Care Services Organisation Act and the Health Insurance Act and Other Acts (637 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

The Paying Authorities and Electronic Money Institutions Bill (610 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Land Tax Act (636 SE), initiated by the Government. The Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The motion was not supported. The result of voting: 41 votes in favour, 44 against.

 

 

The Bill on Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Serbia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Protocol thereto (641 SE), initiated by the Government;

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Defence Forces Organisation Act and Other Associated Acts (634 SE), initiated by the Government.

 

At Question Time, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip answered the question about the pensionable age, submitted by Eiki Nestor, and the question about employment, submitted by Inara Luigas. The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts answered the question about tourism development, submitted by Evelyn Sepp, and the question about the future of Eesti Energia, submitted by Mark Soosaar.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service