The second panel discussion will focus on the role of parliament in anti-corruption policy-making. Topics such as beneficial ownership, whistleblowers, public expenditure, as well as oversight of the executive branch will be addressed. Member of the Riigikogu Margit Sutrop will participate in the discussion.

The Seminar will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and will be live streamed on the Riigikogu web page. The language of the seminar is English.

The seminar takes place within the framework of the Open Government Partnership Global Summit, which is held in Tallinn, Estonia, on 6 and 7 September. The seminar is organised in the cooperation of the Riigikogu, Open Parliament e-Network and Open Government Partnership.

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67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 13 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the State Budget Control Select Committee”” (336 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party, changes the principle for the formation of the membership of the State Budget Control Select Committee. According to the Resolution, in the future, the membership of the committee will be formed under the principle of equal representation of the coalition and the opposition.

During the debate, Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party), Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor.

54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 35 voted against.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee”” (337 OE), submitted by the Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Estonian Centre Party, changes the principle for the formation of the membership of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee. According to the Resolution, in the future, the membership of the committee will be formed under the principle of equal representation of the coalition and the opposition.

During the debate, Eduard Odinets (Social Democratic Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.

56 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution and 37 voted against.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Animal Protection Act and the Nature Conservation Act (219 SE), initiated by members of the Riigikogu Indrek Saar, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Jürgen Ligi, Signe Riisalo, Yoko Alender, Helmen Kütt, Lauri Läänemets, Siret Kotka, Andrei Korobeinik, Raimond Kaljulaid, Oudekki Loone, Katri Raik, Jüri Jaanson, Toomas Kivimägi, Johannes Kert, Mart Võrklaev, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Kalvi Kõva, Jaak Juske, Riina Sikkut, Heljo Pikhof, Liina Kersna and Madis Milling, was adjourned. It will continue at tomorrow’s sitting.

For the same reason, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (370 SE), initiated by the Faction Isamaa, the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of the Shortlist for the Establishment and Renovation of Cultural Construction Works of National Importance”” (387 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, and the Bill on Amendments to § 55 of the Health Insurance Act (363 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction and Member of the Riigikogu Raimond Kaljulaid, was transferred to the agenda for tomorrow’s sitting.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

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The Act preserves the current regulation on the submission of the declarations of interests of the heads of the Internal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service but provides that, differently to the current law, their declarations of interest are not public.

Eduard Odinets took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction in the debate.

72 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Act on Amendments to the Anti-corruption Act (compliance with GRECO’s recommendations and restriction on the public availability of the declarations of interests of heads of security authorities) (323 SE), initiated by the Government, and 17 voted against. There was one abstention.

The Riigikogu passed another Act

The Act on Amendments to the Financial Supervision Authority Act and Other Acts (326 SE), initiated by the Government, brings Estonian law into conformity with directives on the business of insurance and reinsurance, as well as markets in financial instruments and the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.

88 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Act.

A Bill passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Atmospheric Air Protection Act (345 SE), initiated by the Government, will update references to the European Commission Regulations that implement the European Union system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading.

The European Commission has established new Regulations implementing the European Union system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (EU ETS). The EU has also issued an implementing Regulation on the Modernisation Fund. Their aim is to enhance cost-effective emission reductions and low-carbon investments. The Regulations provide for the details of the operation of the EU ETS for the fourth trading period in the years 2021–2030.

According to the Bill, the allocation of emission allowances free of charge will be made more flexible for operators. This will reduce administrative burden, as operators will be able to submit the reports on the basis of which emissions are adjusted together with emissions reports by 25 March. The regular adjustment of emissions every year ensures fairer allocation of emissions.

The Bill will determine the distribution of the use of the resources of the Modernisation Fund and the ministers responsible for the use of the resources in the state budget strategy. With the measures decided in the budget strategy it is possible to direct the resources of the Modernisation Fund to sectors that are important to the state in order to achieve climate and energy policy objectives. This also enables to establish uniform bases for all applicants to invest in particular sectors in the case of each measure. Through different measures, it is possible to support the implementation of projects of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage and the modernisation of energy networks, as well as a just transition to a low-carbon economy in regions that rely on a high-carbon economy, for example in Ida-Viru County. It is also possible to support the development of energy efficiency in transport, buildings, agriculture and waste with various measures from the resources of the Modernisation Fund.

Under the Effort Sharing Regulation, Estonia has mandatory annual greenhouse gas emission reduction target levels for 2021–2030 in the transport, agriculture, waste management, industrial processes and small-scale energy generation sectors. In order to ensure the achievement of targets, Member States are allowed to trade among themselves emission allowances created under the Regulation. Thus, the Bill sets out the principles of emissions trading in the sectors of the Effort Sharing Regulation and the conditions of and the procedure for the organisation of trading, sales and purchase contacts and the use of the funds received from trading, and the obligations of applicants.

The Riigikogu did not pass a Resolution

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic” (317 OE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was intended to make a proposal to the Government of the Republic to prepare an analysis by 1 May and, on the basis of that, to submit proposals to the Riigikogu for reducing the impact and wasting of money in the European Parliament elections, municipal council elections, the Riigikogu elections and referendums, including to set an upper limit on election expenditure and the volume of election advertising.

During the debate, Lauri Läänemets took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction and Oudekki Loone on behalf of the Centre Party Faction.

20 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution and 26 voted against. Thus, the draft Resolution was not supported.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

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“We had a lengthy discussion on the situation in the Committee and reached a consensus, and we are asking the Government to speed up the drafting of a Bill that would specify the rights of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee in carrying out its tasks,” Odinets said. He added that the Committee also recommended the Government to use the proposals of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee as a basis.

In their communication, the Select Committee underlines that, in the political parties surveillance, the ways of covert funding should also be focused on at the legislative level. Considering that municipal council elections will be held already this October, the Select Committee considers it necessary that such a Bill should be drafted and submitted for the legislative proceedings of the Riigikogu as a matter of urgency.

For the drafting of the Bill, the Select Committee proposed to summon a roundtable, representative of all political parties, at the earliest opportunity, to discuss potential initiatives and to find a political consensus. The Select Committee also asks the Government to include measures pertaining to the funding of political parties in the Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2021–2025.

The communication of the Select Committee has been drafted on the basis of the reports of its public sitting of 15 March. The sitting was attended by Minister of Justice Maris Lauri and representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee and Transparency International Estonia.

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Odinets noted that the Committee wished to contribute to creating all legislative possibilities to ensure that Estonia would move up in terms of the global corruption perceptions index. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which measures public sector corruption, Estonia is ranking 17th together with Iceland among 180 countries.

Minister of Justice Maris Lauri, Director of the Analysis Division of the Ministry of Justice Mari-Liis Sööt and Adviser Kätlin-Chris Kruusmaa, Chair of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee Liisa Oviir, Deputy Chair Kaarel Tarand and member Airi Mikli, and Chairman of the Board of Transparency International Estonia Steven-Hristo Evestus and Executive Director Carina Paju have been invited to attend the sitting.

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Katri Raik is the Chairperson and Marek Jürgenson is the Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee of the Riigikogu. Mart Nutt, Paul Puustusmaa and Andres Sutt are members of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee.

Jürgen Ligi is the Chairman and Martin Repinski is the Deputy Chairman of the State Budget Control Select Committee of the Riigikogu. Peeter Ernits, Aivar Kokk and Kalvi Kõva are members of the State Budget Control Select Committee.

Photos (will be uploaded with a delay)

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The new Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee were elected after a repeat poll because the initially elected Chairman Anneli Ott resigned promptly after learning the election results. A repeat poll was held immediately, and Artur Talvik was elected Chairman. It is a parliamentary custom that the Anti-Corruption Select Committee is chaired by a representative of the opposition.

The Anti-Corruption Select Committee has six members. The other members of the Committee are Mart Helme, Ants Laaneots, Jaanus Marrandi, and Mart Nutt.

The Anti-Corruption Select Committee of the Riigikogu supervises the implementation of anti-corruption measures provided in the law. The Select Committee discusses and assesses the potential incidents of corruption involving officials specified in the Act, exercises supervision over compliance with the restrictions on activities of the members of the Riigikogu, and verifies the declarations of interests. The Select Committee submits an overview of its activities to the Riigikogu once a year.

Photos.

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The extraordinary elections took place as a result of the proposal submitted by the Estonian Free Party Faction to appoint Andres Herkel a member of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee in replacement of Artur Talvik.

Anti-Corruption Select Committee of the Riigikogu supervises over the implementation of anti-corruption measures provided in the law. The Select Committee discusses and assesses the potential incidents of corruption involving officials specified in the Acts, exercises supervision over compliance with the restrictions on activities of the members of the Riigikogu and verifies the declarations of interests. The Select Committee submits an overview of its activities to the Riigikogu once a year.

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The Anti-Corruption Select Committee of the Riigikogu monitors that the anti-corruption measures provided for in Estonian Acts are actually implemented. The Select Committee discusses and assesses the potential incidents of corruption involving officials specified in the Acts, exercises supervision over compliance with the restrictions on activities of the members of the Riigikogu and verifies the declarations of interests. The Select Committee submits an overview of its activities to the Riigikogu once a year.

Photos (will be uploaded with a delay)

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The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee noted that the stakeholders were already being involved in the legislative process. Considering the importance of the topic, it is necessary in Talvik’s opinion to strive for even better, higher-quality and more transparent legislative work. “With our committee, we have reopened the debate on whether there should be lobbying rules. During the debate, we have also found that the members of the Riigikogu have different understanding of lobbying activities. Therefore it is important to write down the lobbying rules and to create a common lobbying culture,” Talvik said.

“Besides establishing lobbying rules, the Committee wishes that the Good Practice would not be just a paper in the folder for members of the Riigikogu, but would be really implemented and followed by them,” Talvik added.

The purpose of amending the Good Practice of Members of the Riigikogu is to increase the transparency and openness of the activities of the members of the Riigikogu. In the opinion of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee, Estonia has to continue its efforts in the field of supervision and sanctions in order to ensure that the members of the Riigikogu observe the Good Practice.

Good Practice of Members of the Riigikogu

Submitting of the amended draft of the Good Practice of Members of the Riigikogu

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