The Riigikogu passed with 70 votes in favour at the second reading the Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Extension of the Use of the Estonian Defence Forces Units in Performance of International Duties of the Estonian State in Post-conflict Security Restoration Mission in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq (1052 OE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. Pursuant to the Resolution, beginning from 1 January 2007 the time limit for the use of the Estonian Defence Forces Units with a staff of up to 40 members on the security restoration mission in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq will be extended by one year at the most. 3 members of the Riigikogu voted against the Resolution, nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 55 votes in favour the Resolution On Amendments to the Resolution On the Formation of the Select Committee of the Riigikogu for the Application of Anti-corruption Act (1041 OE), submitted by the Select Committee of the Riigikogu on the Application of the Anti-corruption Act. Pursuant to the Resolution, Jüri Saar was appointed instead of the alternate member of the above Select Committee Koit Prants. Nobody voted against the Resolution and nobody abstained.

The second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the State Borders Act (1004 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was concluded. The purpose of the Bill is to make the control on the external border more efficient and to ensure good domestic security. The act would obligate the air carriers to submit the data about the passengers carried outside the European Union to Estonia and from Estonia to the European Union. The Bill was sent to the third reading and presumably will be sent to the final voting on Thursday, 21 December.

The second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act (1005 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was concluded. The general purpose of amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act is to harmonise the requirements of the Defence Forces Service with the requirements valid in NATO, and to solve the problems emerged upon the implementation of the Defence Forces Service Act. The Bill makes amendments to the procedure for the call-up persons eligible to be drafted to military service and for the submission of postponement of the call to service, stipulated by the relevant Act, the right to issue a precept, the prosecution of persons eligible to be drafted and the part of misdemeanour have been specified. The Defence Forces Service Act stipulates the procedure for the compensation of training expenses paid by the state, when leaving the Defence Forces Service or upon refusingl to enter into active service after graduating from studies.

The motions to amend the Income Tax Act and Aliens Act were voted on at the second reading. As a result of the above, the heading of the Bill was changed, now it is named as the Bill on Amendments to the Defence Forces Service Act, Income Tax Act and Aliens Act. The Bill was sent to the third reading and presumably will be sent to the final voting on Thursday, 21 December.

The first reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Formation of the Riigikogu Committee of Investigation of Land Exchange Transactions (1058 OE), submitted by the Res Publica Faction and Isamaaliit Faction, was concluded. The Constitutional Committee as the leading committee moved not to conclude the first reading, 30 members of the Riigikogu voted against the motion and 27 in favour of it, nobody abstained. Thus the Bill remained in the legislative proceeding and was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Environment Committee as leading committee, the Bill on Amendments to § 34 of the Earth’s Crust Act (1022 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic  Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 37 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 14 members of the Riigikogu against it. Nobody abstained. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service