The Riigikogu extended the participation of the Defence Forces in international military operations
At Wednesday’s sitting, the Riigikogu passed three Acts and nine Resolutions to extend the participation of Estonian servicemen in international military operations and heard the annual report of the Auditor General.
The Riigikogu passed the Act on Amendments to the Building Code and Other Acts (655 SE), initiated by the Government. According to it, the infrastructure necessary for high-speed Internet connections will have to be provided for in new and thoroughly renovated apartment buildings. This means that developers will have to install sufficiently wide fibre optic cable ducts so that more than one company could install a communications network there and provide services through it.
According to the Act, a development is added to the register of buildings through which information about infrastructure and planned civil works will be transmitted. The amendment will improve the availability of information for telecommunications operators wishing to expand their networks and will help to avoid unnecessary digging and duplicate infrastructure.
The aim of the amendments is to open up the high-speed internet market to all service providers, increase competition, and offer people better and more affordable internet services. The amendments will also help avoid situations where subsequent infrastructure development becomes complicated or costly.
The Act supports the implementation of the EU Gigabit Infrastructure Act which aims to facilitate the deployment of communications networks across Europe. The Act places emphasis on the sharing of existing infrastructure and the more efficient construction of new infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet and reduce its costs.
68 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Act, and one voted against it.
The Riigikogu passed with 66 votes in favour the Act on the Accession to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (663 SE), initiated by the Government. According to it, Estonia accedes to the Convention establishing the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation which will transform the current sectoral association into an intergovernmental organization.
Accession to the Convention gives Estonia full membership status and enables it to continue participating in the work of the organization, including the creation and updating of standards, recommendations, and guidelines related to marine aids to navigation. The Transport Administration has participated in the organization’s activities as a national member representative since 1994.
Non-attached Member of the Riigikogu Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.
The Riigikogu passed with 66 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Principality of Liechtenstein for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance and its Protocol (718 SE), initiated by the Government.
The Act provides the ratification of the Convention between Estonia and Liechtenstein for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance and its Protocol. The agreement is broadly in line with the Model Convention of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The agreement prohibits the source state from taxing certain types of income, imposes a lower-than-usual tax rate or requires the residence state to introduce tax exemptions or deductions. The agreement also establishes rules for resolving dual residency, which cannot be addressed through national legislation.
As of the end of last year, Estonia had agreements for avoidance of double taxation in force with 63 countries. The purpose of the agreements is to facilitate investments between countries.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Military Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI” (703 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate with up to six servicemen in operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI next year.
The primary aim of the operation is to support the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya. This also includes conducting inspections of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya suspected to be carrying arms or related material to and from Libya. This spring, the operation’s mandate was expanded to include the creation of operational images necessary for the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
In addition to this, the mission supports the implementation of UN measures to prevent the illicit export of petroleum from Libya, the capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy, and the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks.
By participating in the operation, Estonia is contributing in solidarity with the other Member States to EU defence cooperation and security on the Union’s southern border.
66 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Resolution, and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union International Military Operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES” (704 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate next year with up to three servicemen in the EU military operation in the Red Sea region which has been established to safeguard freedom of navigation.
The purpose of the operation is to achieve naval presence and situational awareness and to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Mainly vessels are protected against attacks and accompanied within the entire area of operations. The maritime security operation is strictly defensive in nature, i.e. no military strikes are organized within it.
Participation in the operation enables Estonia to contribute to the implementation of the EU common security and defence policy and to develop cooperation with strategic allies on the EU and NATO southern flank.
66 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in International Military Operations Led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its Member State, or the European Union, and other International Military Operations Led by the United Nations, upon the First Contribution thereto” (705 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable the use of up to 100 servicemen in international military operations led by NATO or its member state, the EU, or the UN, except in collective self-defence operations, upon the first contribution thereto. The limit of the mandate granted by the Resolution is the same as this year.
The Resolution will ensure Estonia’s capability of deploying units of the Defence Forces to crisis and conflict regions quickly and flexibly where necessary in order to contribute to ensuring international stability and so to also protect Estonia’s security interests. Estonia’s specific contribution will depend on the needs of a specific operation, and the Government will decide it where necessary taking into account the position of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu.
Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group and non-attached Members of the Riigikogu Alar Laneman and Kalle Grünthal took the floor during the debate.
52 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Resolution, six were against and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique” (706 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate with up to three servicemen in the EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique.
While it was previously a training mission, it was transformed into a military assistance mission last September. The updated mandate, valid until summer 2026, provides for advising the country’s armed forces in organizing the training cycle and ensuring sustainability. The military assistance mission operates with a smaller personnel and focuses more on providing strategic level advice in order to achieve a self-sustained rapid reaction force training capability in the country.
By participating in the mission led by Portugal, Estonia is contributing to meeting the objectives approved in the EU’s Strategic Compass where crisis management plays a significant role. It is also in Estonia’s interest to develop cooperation with strategic allies on the EU’s southern flank.
Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
53 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution and six voted against it.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force” (707 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to contribute with up to 24 servicemen to the composition of the United Kingdom’s Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) next year.
The JEF is a coalition of the willing, initiated and led by the United Kingdom, which is generally ready to contribute quickly and flexibly to operations from humanitarian crises to conventional warfare. The JEF is capable of operating on its own as well as as part of other larger military units and NATO. The use of the JEF is flexible – either all or some Member States can initiate actions and operations and participate in them.
Based on a joint decision of countries, the JEF focuses on ensuring security in the Baltic Sea region, the High North, and the Atlantic Ocean region, thereby directly enhancing the defence and deterrence posture in the Baltic states.
55 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Resolution and four were against it.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission in Iraq” (708 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate with up to three servicemen in the NATO mission in Iraq next year.
NATO Mission aims to address threats to the Alliance from the south and assists Iraq in building sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions. To enhance their capabilities in countering terrorism, preventing Daesh from returning, and stabilizing the country, NATO advises Iraqi security structures and trains Iraqi instructors who provide training within the country’s security structures.
By participating in NATO operations in the southern direction, Estonia contributes to ensuring security and supports the fight against terrorism.
58 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, three were against and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Composition of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Readiness Units” (709 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to contribute with up to 76 servicemen to the composition of the NATO readiness force next year.
In connection with the establishment of a New Force Model, the concepts of both the NATO Response Force and the NATO Readiness Initiative in their current form were eliminated from last July and they are replaced by a lighter and more mobile NATO rapid reaction force which is in readiness to carry out military operations. The Rapid Reaction Force conducts operations in all domains and is composed of forces from NATO allies, tasked with conducting deterrence and defence operations when necessary.
Estonia is ready to contribute to NATO readiness units next year with a minehunter and staff officers.
58 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Resolution and three were against it.
The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the UN Peacekeeping Operation in Lebanon”(710 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate with up to three servicemen in the UN peacekeeping operation UNIFIL next year.
The area of operation of the UN peacekeeping operation is between the Litani River and the Blue Line. The operation is mandated to monitor the situation, to contribute to the cessation of hostilities and to the ensurance of international peace and security, and to support the Lebanese government in cementing its governance in the southern part of the country.
Estonia is closely monitoring the developments in the Middle East and the security policy impact of the events there on the stability in the Middle East and other parts of the world. With its participation in UN operations, Estonia contributes to UN’s activities in securing peace.
55 members of the Riigikogu were in favour of passing the Resolution, two were against and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu also passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Extension of the Time Limit for the Use of the Defence Forces in the Fulfilment of the International Commitments of the Estonian State in the Post-Conflict Peacekeeping Operation in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria” (711 OE), submitted by the Government. It will enable to participate with up to six servicemen in the UN peacekeeping operation UNTSO in the Middle East next year.
UNTSO is the first UN peacekeeping operation to focus purely on observation. Its area of operation includes Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the operation’s headquarters are in Jerusalem.
Estonia is closely monitoring the developments in the Middle East and the security policy impact of the events there on the stability in the Middle East and other parts of the world. The participation in the operation gives serviceman the opportunity to gain versatile staff work experience.
Non-attached Member of the Riigikogu Peeter Ernits took the floor during the debate.
58 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, two were against and there was one abstention.
The Riigikogu heard the annual overview of the Auditor General
At today’s sitting, Auditor General Janar Holm gave the Riigikogu an overview of the use and preservation of state assets in 2024–2025. While last year the annual report of the National Audit Office focused on the results of the activity-based state budget reform, this year its focus was on the area of transport and mobility, on which nearly a dozen audits have been conducted in recent years.
According to Holm, this year’s annual report looked at how the fulfilment of the commitments made by the state and the achievement of the objectives set in development documents have progressed compared to the period covered by the audits. These commitments include the completion of the construction of the main network roads in accordance with the requirements by the end of 2030, reducing the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries, installing dust-free surfaces on more frequently used state-owned gravel roads by 2030 and maintaining the condition of national roads at least at the level of “good”.
“In summary, we saw that, in the period 2026–2030, there would be a shortfall of at least EUR 1.35 billion in order to meet the obligations and objectives related to maintaining the condition of national roads, building national roads and railways, and increasing railway safety. But this is only if Estonia receives the expected EUR 1.2 billion from the European Union budget for the new period to complete the first phase of Rail Baltic. Every euro not received will be added to the EUR 1.35 billion referred to above,” he said.
The Auditor General recalled that, in the next two years, according to forecasts, the state budget deficit would reach the maximum permissible level of 4.5% of gross domestic product and it would be 3.6% in 2029. “Therefore, it should be clear that meeting the goals set and commitments made is not realistic within the set deadlines, considering the financial capabilities of the state. And making choices becomes even more important he said,” he said.
According to Holm, the situation is made more complicated by the fact that other areas also need more rather than less money. “Over the past year, we have conducted several audits in various areas of public life, which revealed cases where the state was unable to fulfil its obligations arising from law due to a lack of funds,” he noted. He added that it was also becoming less and less possible to seriously argue that the state could do something new or offer something more than before if the prerequisite for that was additional funds. “Instead, the question of whether it is even possible to maintain infrastructure or services in various areas of life at the accustomed level is becoming increasingly central.”
Holm noted that the state was always short of money and its needs and dreams were greater than its possibilities, but unfortunately the state’s own development documents also went along with the dreams, forgetting about the possibilities. “No choices are made, no priorities are set, many are given hope, knowing that few actually have a chance. National strategy documents and the goals set out in them should not be a sweet lie but should speak realistically about the country’s priorities and present feasible choices,” Auditor General said.
According to him, next year, the annual report of the National Audit Office will again focus on trends in Estonian healthcare, just like three years ago. “Then the then Minister of Health and Labour indicated that we had reached the point where decisions could no longer be postponed. Now, during the preparation of the next annual report, we will assess whether the urgent decisions referred to by the minister have been made,” Holm said in his presentation.
Madis Kallas from the Social Democratic Party Group, Andres Metsoja from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Evelin Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate. Peeter Ernits made a speech on behalf of the Centre Party Parliamentary Group.
Five Bills passed the second reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Military Service Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (664 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading in the Riigikogu. Its aim is to better involve reservists, conscripts, and civilians working in the Defence Forces in the activities of the Defence Forces.
The bill will create a new type of service – voluntary service – which will allow reservists to temporarily participate in the performance of the tasks of the Defence Forces in non-commissioned posts. This will include, for example, training conscripts as instructors, manning high-readiness units or participating in international military operations.
The bill will also expand the opportunities for conscripts to contribute to the tasks of the Defence Forces, allowing them to participate in international naval operations after completing certain training. The law will be amended so that in the navy, where conscripts make up a significant part of the crew, it would be possible to gain practical experience in NATO mine countermeasure groups. Conscripts cannot participate in other international missions.
According to the Bill, civilian personnel working in the Defence Forces and public service employees will have the opportunity to participate in military exercises and undergo the necessary training, which will help reduce the need for active-duty personnel in peacetime and enable better use of existing resources.
For the second reading, the National Defence Committee made an amendment to the bill, according to which call-up selectees will have to have at least an intermediate level of proficiency in Estonian in order to be eligible for conscript service. According to the motion to amend, the list of circumstances for not being called up for conscript service in the Military Service Act will be supplemented and a provision will be added to it according to which call-up selectees who do not have at least B1 level of proficiency in Estonian will not be called up for conscript service.
According to the explanation of the motion to amend, the training of conscripts is conducted in Estonian, and increasingly complex weapons and communications systems and specific professional terms are used in the training. A person with language skills below B1 level is unable to adequately master the instructions and training content, which in turn prevents the successful completion of effective military training, the committee noted.
Other amendments waive the requirement that, for reservist, the age of their rank must be double the age of the rank, provide for the possibility of paying additional remuneration for time served in active service as part of the salary arrangement for active servicemen, and provide that only conscripts living abroad will be paid separate travel expense compensation when they go on leave.
The Bill on Amendments to the Competition Act (654 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading. It will grant the Competition Authority powers to support the European Commission in implementing the Foreign Subsidies Regulation in cases of concentrations where one of the parties to the transaction has received financial support from a foreign state.
The European Union regulation allows for investigating whether companies operating in the Community have received subsidies from third countries that may distort fair competition. The regulation is intended to redress the situation where EU companies have to comply with state aid rules, but financial support from third countries, such as preferential loans, tax breaks or other subsidies, has so far not been subject to scrutiny. Under the regulation, such subsidies will not be prohibited, but their impact will be assessed separately to avoid market distortions.
Estonia has designated the Ministry of Finance as the contact point for public procurement and the Competition Authority as the contact point for the control of concentrations.
The Bill on Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (677 SE), initiated by the Finance Committee, passed its second reading. It will create a basis for shortening the taxation period for motor vehicle tax in certain cases.
The Bill provides that if a vehicle is deleted from the motor register, the tax period for the current year will be shortened until such time. Tax liability will also be suspended when a vehicle is temporarily de-registered for the period during which the Police and Border Guard Board has declared it wanted due to theft.
The bill is motivated by a proposal of the Chancellor of Justice to bring Acts into line with the Constitution where they do not allow for the avoidance of taxation of vehicles that are destroyed or otherwise fall out of use during the year. The plenary assembly of the Riigikogu supported the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice in April this year.
Vladimir Arhipov from the Centre Party Group, Arvo Aller, Rain Epler, Rene Kokk and Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Anti Allas from the Social Democratic Party Group and Aivar Kokk from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
The Bill on Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act and the Traffic Act (694 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the second reading. It provides for a reduction in motor vehicle tax liability for children as early as from this year.
Parents and adults with custody who have at least one child under the age of 18 will automatically receive a tax deduction. For each child, the motor vehicle tax liability will be reduced by up to EUR 100 per year, but not more than the total tax liability. If both parents have a vehicle, the tax reduction will be automatically divided between them.
The bill also provides that minibuses with more than seven seats will be taxed at the N-category motor vehicle tax rate. This will significantly reduce the motor vehicle tax rate for 8- or 9-seater vehicles registered in the passenger car category. The Finance Committee made an amendment to the bill for the second reading, according to which the registration fee for such vehicles will also be reduced to the level of category N vehicles. The amendments will support the livelihoods of families with many children and people with disabilities who use minibuses and family cars.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart and Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group, Helmen Kütt from the Social Democratic Party Group, Helle-Moonika Helme, Rain Epler and Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Aivar Kokk, Andres Metsoja and Priit Sibul from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Signe Riisalo from the Reform Party Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
The Bill on the State’s Supplementary Budget for 2025 (733 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the second reading in the Riigikogu. It will reduce this year’s state budget expenditure by EUR 19.9 million and investment by 12 million, while increasing financing transactions by 72.3 million.
The reduction in costs and investments is primarily related to decisions made in the state budget strategy process. In addition, the bill will increase the budget of the area of government of the Ministry of Defence by 39 million for both assistance to Ukraine and defence-related procurements. In financing transactions, the share capital of Elering will be increased by 45 million in the area of government of the Ministry of Climate. In the area of government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, EUR 27.3 million will be transferred from research and development and innovation expenses to financing transactions to provide innovation loans to companies.
According to the state budget adopted last December, this year the state revenues will amount to EUR 17.7 billion, expenditure to EUR 18.2 billion, investments to EUR 873 million and financing transactions to EUR 679 million. In June this year, the Riigikogu adopted a supplementary budget increasing revenues, expenditures, and investments to support the strengthening of comprehensive national defence.
Five drafts passed the first reading
The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden on the Enforcement in Estonia of Swedish Sentences of Imprisonment (682 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. The deliberation had been adjourned due to the end of working hours at the sitting on Tuesday.
The bill will ratify an agreement according to which Estonia is ready to accept Swedish prisoners and to enable the enforcement of their sentences in Estonia. The agreement was signed in Stockholm in June this year.
The Agreement sets out rights and obligations and regulates the enforcement of sentences, prison conditions, as well as the distribution of costs, and supervision. According to the explanatory memorandum of the Bill, the number of prisoners in Estonia is steadily decreasing, while the costs of maintaining prisons remain high. Leasing out prison places will enable Tartu Prison to remain in operation, to ensure that jobs are preserved in the region and to create new jobs, and to bring at least EUR 30 million in additional revenue to the state budget. According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement offers Sweden a solution to the temporary overload of its prison system.
According to the agreement, Estonia will only accept prisoners who meet certain conditions, which means that security risks, along with possible prevention and mitigation measures, will have been identified in cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board, the Estonian Internal Security Service and the Ministry of the Interior. Under the agreement, foreign prisoners will be sent back to Sweden no later than one month before the end of their sentences.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the first foreign prisoners are planned to be placed in Tartu Prison in the second half of 2026. The arrival of prisoners is planned to be organized gradually so that Tartu Prison has time to make the necessary preparations. In total, the agreement will allow up to 600 prisoners to be transferred from Sweden to Estonia.
In order for the agreement to be ratified, the Bill will also have to pass a second reading in the Riigikogu. According to the Bill, the Agreement will enter into force on the thirtieth day after both Estonia and Sweden will have completed the necessary national legal procedures and will have notified each other thereof in writing.
Heljo Pikhof from the Social Democratic Party Group, Tõnis Lukas from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Martin Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Mihkel Lees from the Reform Party Group and Ando Kiviberg from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate. Peeter Ernits took the of the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Parliamentary Group.
The Social Democratic Party Group, Isamaa Parliamentary Group, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and the Centre Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading, but the plenary did not support the motion. 38 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection but 49 were against.
The Bill on Amendments to the Code of Enforcement Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Enforcement Procedure Implementation Act (726 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading. Its aim is to increase the transparency of queries made through the enforcement register so that people can obtain a better overview of how data about them is used.
While people are currently unable to see which public authorities or other persons have submitted queries regarding them to banks and payment institutions through the enforcement register, according to the Bill, the relevant information will be made available in the data tracker service on the government portal “eesti.ee”. According to the Bill, all institutions and persons joining the enforcement register, as well as those who have already joined, will have to interface with a data tracking technical solution that will allow people to more easily identify who uses their data and, if necessary, request explanations. The provision of relevant information may be delayed or restricted, or the issue of information may be refused only in cases provided for by law.
According to the Bill, for institutions and persons that have joined the enforcement register, the implementation of the data tracker will become mandatory on 23 February next year. The information systems of the Police and Border Guard Board and the Estonian Internal Security Service will have to be connected to the data tracker by 1 October 2026 at the latest.
In addition, the Bill will amend the provision of the Code of Enforcement Procedure that provides for the disclosure of debt information on all legal entities and natural persons and will give access only to data of legal entities in the enforcement register.
Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading, but the Riigikogu did not support the motion. 14 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection and 53 voted against.
The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the 2024 Consolidated Report of the State” (720 OE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading. The report approved by it gives an overview of the achievement of the goals of the state budget, and of the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the state in 2024.
The consolidated report provides the Government with the opportunity to explain its activities during the accounting year and submit the necessary information to the Riigikogu for making new resolutions regarding the budget. It provides the Riigikogu with the opportunity to audit the activities of the Government. The consolidated annual report of the state includes the audit report of the National Audit Office.
According to the data of the consolidated annual accounts of the state, the state had EUR 26.7 billion worth of assets as at the end of 2024 and the assets increased by EUR 2.6 billion over the year. At the same time, the consolidated liabilities of the state amounted to 20.78 billion euro which is 2.33 billion euro more than the year before.
The Bill on Amendments to the Aviation Act and Amendments to Other Acts arising therefrom (702 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading. Its aim is to bring national provisions concerning aviation into line with European Union law and to streamline the requirements in force in the vicinity of aerodromes.
The bill will establish separate rules for military aviation aerodromes and heliports and the immediate vicinity thereof. The amendments are also intended to ensure that the cutting of trees and other woody flora in the immediate vicinity of civil aviation aerodromes is in line with the objectives of the Aviation Act and the terms and principles of the Forest Act. The bill provides, among other things, that charges related to deforestation in the immediate vicinity of an aerodrome will not be paid by the owner of the immovable, but the operator or possessor of the aerodrome will cover such costs for them.
In addition, the procedure for contesting the level of airport charges will be brought into line with EU law, and the provisions on the processing of aeronautical equipment certificate will be repealed as the requirements and use established by them are regulated by EU law.
The Bill on Amendments to the Railways Act and the State Fees Act (716 SE), initiated by the Government, also passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. Its aim is to eliminate the shortcomings highlighted in the audit of the European Union Agency for Railways, improve railway safety, and bring the Act into line with EU law.
Based on the proposals presented in the audit, the Railway Act will be amended to ensure continuous assessment of the railway system and compliance of the certification process with applicable requirements. The Bill will improve the mechanisms for assessing and controlling the safety of rail traffic, specify safety monitoring and assessment procedures, and address the implementation of risk management systems.
The sitting ended at 12.20 a.m.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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