Prime Minister Juhan Parts answered the question of Mihhail Stalnuhhin about the media policy of the Government of the Republic, the question of Andres Herkel about the transition to the education in the Estonian language, the question of Ain Seppik about the Natura-areas in Saaremaa, the question of Katrin Saks about the promises made to the Russian population by the Prime Minister, the question of Mark Soosaar about the liability of the Government in solving the crisis in Lihula and the question of Mart Laar about taking the experience of Latvia into account. 

Minister of Justice Ken-Marti Vaher answered the question of Ivari Padar about civil court proceedings and the question of Maret Maripuu about repressed persons.

Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo answered the question of Jüri Tamm about the Constable of Vasalemma.

Prime Minister Juhan Parts made a speech before the Riigikogu in connection with handing over the Bill on the State Budget. After his speech, Prime Minister answered the questions of deputies. Then the debate was held.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The Election Acts Amendment Act (343 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction, was passed with 68 votes in favour.  The Act stipulates the determination of the sequence of the lists of candidates of parties by way of drawing lots in the consolidated lists to eliminate unnecessary tensions between the parties upon submitting the lists of candidates. The Act regulates the sequence of the lists of candidates in the elections of the Riigikogu, in the elections of the European Parliament and in the elections of local government councils.

The Riigikogu passed with 60 votes in favour the Copyright Act Amendment Act (326 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act in force was amended due to the Europe Agreement, concluded between the Republic of Estonia and the European Union, according to which Estonia, for the purpose of improving the protection of intellectual property, had to harmonise its laws with the copyright directives of the European Union in 1999. The Member States had to transpose the directive on the information society into their national legislation by December 22, 2002, at the latest. The acceding states (the Republic of Estonia among them) promised to do it upon the accession to the EU.

The Riigikogu passed with 67 votes in favour the State Fees Act Amendment Act (381 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee. The Act eliminates unequal treatment of family members of the Estonian citizens and the citizens of the European Union in connection with the rates of state fees prescribed for the review of applications for residence permits established by the State Fees Act.

The Act on the Ratification of the Audio-visual Co-production Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of Canada (392 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 44 votes in favour. The Act creates a legal basis for film, television and video cooperation and for other relations in the audiovisual field between Estonia and Canada. The cooperation with the European states in the named field is covered by the European Convention on Cinematic Co-Production of 1992 that was ratified by the Riigikogu on March 19, 1997. Prior to the conclusion of the Agreement, Estonia had no possibilities to have legally regulated cooperation with Canada in the named field. Canada has an especially extensive practice in audiovisual cooperation, Canada has concluded analogous Agreements with 54 states, among them for example with Finland, Sweden and Russia.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Chemicals Act and State Fees Act (370 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Medical Devices Bill (336 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Electronic Communications Bill (404 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Creative Persons and Creative Persons? Associations Bill (412 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (393 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (407 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on the Ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention concerning Labour Inspection in Industry and Commerce (No.81) and Convention concerning Labour Inspection in Agriculture (No. 129) (394 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention concerning Minimum Standards in Merchant Ships and Protocol Thereto (418 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu excluded the following Bill from legislative proceeding at the first reading:

On the motion of the Finance Committee the Bill on Amendments to § 49 of the Income Tax Act (358 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Jaanus Marrandi, Liina Tõnisson, Harri Õunapuu, Ivari Padar and Tiit Tammsaar, was rejected.  The results of voting: 48 votes in favour, 21 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service