Draft law amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act (514 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-11-14 12:01
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of Bill 514, initiated by the Cultural Committee concerning the amendment of the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, was on the agenda of the Riigikogu. The bill was presented by Margit Sutrop, a member of the Cultural Committee. The objective of the bill is to modernize and simplify the quarter-century-old Act and grant the Academy of Sciences greater autonomy in deciding its internal matters, making it similar to public universities. The most significant amendments include the Academy's right to independently establish its statutes without registration by the Ministry of Education and Research, the extension of the right to grant scholarships and research grants to schoolchildren, and the clarification of the management structure (a Steering Committee/Eestseisus replacing the previous Management Board/Juhatus). Furthermore, the statutory requirement that the Academy's Secretary-General must be an academician is abolished.
The Government of the Republic and the Cultural Committee unanimously supported the bill, considering it reasonable for ensuring flexibility. During the questions round, the Riigikogu's initiative in lawmaking (Tõnis Lukas) and the financial implications of the bill (Urve Tiidus) were discussed. The presenter confirmed that the bill does not entail new financial obligations. The Cultural Committee made a unanimous proposal to conclude the first reading.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading of Draft Bill 514 SE, the Bill for the Amendment of the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for November 28th at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Margit Sutrop was the most active speaker, presenting the draft bill and thoroughly answering all questions, especially Tõnis Lukas's question regarding the Riigikogu's legislative initiative. She represented the Cultural Affairs Committee as a rapporteur (another role).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller declares the first item on today’s agenda to be the first reading of the draft law No. 514 amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, and asks that Margit Sutrop, a member of the Culture Committee, give the presentation here.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop announced that amendments to the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act clarify outdated provisions and increase the academy's autonomy, allowing it to independently enact the charter, clarify the awarding of scholarships and research grants, change the leadership structure into a presidium, and abolish the requirement that the secretary-general be an academic; the government and the Culture Committee have approved it, and it was decided to put the bill on the plenary agenda and to conclude the first reading on November 14 by consensus.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller says that you also have questions, and asks Tõnis Lukas to present them.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas said that a bill initiated by the Culture Committee itself shows legislative momentum taking shape in the Riigikogu, and he asked whether they could be bolder in other areas and initiate more bills even without the government's prompting.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop noted that the process of amending the law has not been initiated independently, and that discussion and progress should continue, and the Riigikogu should take the initiative and lead the questions concerning the organization of scientific activity.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar said that increasing the autonomy of the Academy of Sciences would probably be welcomed, and she asked about the discussion that took place in the Culture Committee, whether any questions had arisen or there was consensus, while noting that discussions in the Social Committee are always lively.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a brief request to invite Irja Lutsar to perform.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop emphasizes that the autonomy of the Academy of Sciences lies mainly in its ability to make leadership and structural decisions on its own, rather than with the approval of the Ministry of Education and Science, and although there was discussion about the election of academicians and the scope of decisions, the bill does not define the academies' core functions or the election of academicians.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
At the start of the speech, Urve Tiidus is invited to take the floor.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to the speaker, the amendments to the bill do not create financial obligations, but they improve cooperation with associated organizations and entail a certain amount of financial support, and it is asked whether the Academy of Sciences has sufficient funding to realize the dreams of the best talents.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop says that the financial effects mainly stem from the organizations' own budgets, the continuation of scholarships for students is carried out within their own means, and affiliated associations should not incur additional costs for themselves, and although the secretary-general's background may influence the size of the salary, one should not be lecturing from the podium of such a venerable Academy of Sciences about whether they can make ends meet with their budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
At the end of the speech, it was said that there were no more questions.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop thanks all participants.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announced that negotiations were opened, but there is no desire to continue them; the first reading of draft bill 514 SE has been completed, and the deadline for submitting amendments is 28 November at 17:15; the first agenda item has been dealt with.