Draft law amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act (514 SE) – Second Reading
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session.
Date: 2025-01-22 21:37
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 5m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item concerns the second reading of the bill to amend the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, bill number 514, which was initiated by the Culture Committee. The presenter is committee member Margit Sutrop. The purpose of the bill is to modernize and simplify the Academy's Act: to repeal outdated provisions, clarify internal structure and decision-making processes, and bring terminology into alignment with contemporary interpretations. As a result of the changes, it is hoped to increase the Academy’s ability to respond to problems facing the state and society and to strengthen adherence to the principle of autonomy within the context of Article 38 of the Constitution. The first reading took place on November 14, 2024, and no amendments were submitted by the deadline; the Culture Committee submitted a single drafting proposal concerning the removal of a single repetition. In preparation for the second reading, a meeting was held with the Academy's new president, Mart Saar, discussing cooperation between the Riigikogu and the Academy of Sciences, and topics such as research and development funding, evidence-based policy advice, the OECD report, and the Estonian language requirement for doctoral studies. Discussions also covered the organization of regular evening hearings and night sittings, which could improve evidence-based discussion among all parties. Committee members present were Liina Kersna, Signe Kivi, Tõnis Lukas, Margit Sutrop, Kadri Tali, and Tanel Tein; Vadim Belobrovtsev and Helle-Moonika Helme were absent. The amendment proposal was unanimously approved by vote. The Chair, Pikhof, proposed that the bill be placed on the agenda of the full house on January 22nd, and that a final vote be held on January 29, 2025, after completion of the second reading. Before concluding, the question arose as to whether the Academy approves of the bill; the response was affirmative.
Decisions Made 3
The amendment proposal was adopted by the culture committee by consensus.
Second reading completed.
The chairman, Pikhof, proposed adding the draft to the plenary session agenda on January 22nd and conducting the final vote on January 29th, 2025.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Margit Sutrop (pid ixYqyVDVJdw), a member of the culture committee; position: other.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, the second reading of the Culture Committee-initiated draft law No. 514 amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act will be discussed, and the rapporteur is Margit Sutrop, a member of the Culture Committee.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop invites listeners to stand up, while the host rings the bell.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
We listen to the presenter, and those who wish to chat are asked to do so in the corridor.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop introduced the preparation for the second reading of the law amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, emphasizing updating and simplifying the law, strengthening the academy's autonomy, and the cooperation between the Estonian Parliament and the Academy of Sciences, as well as future possibilities for funding and evidence-based policy advice. She informed of the plan to bring the bill to the plenary agenda on 22 January 2025 and to conclude the final vote on 29 January 2025.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and asks Vadim Belobrovtsev to present a question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He noted that he was not present on January 13 because he was substituting a colleague in the Constitutional Committee, and he asked whether everything related to it went well and whether the Academy of Sciences is satisfied and whether the draft bill is to their liking.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I understood that this has been discussed with the academy's new head; there are no further amendment proposals, and this is satisfactory.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller thanked and said that there are no more questions.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop expressed deep gratitude.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller declared the negotiations closed and ended the second reading of Bill 514 in accordance with the Culture Committee's amendment proposal and the Steering Committee's wishes.