Inquiry Regarding the Future of Tartu Agro (No. 655)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-12-02 18:21
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 25m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Under the third agenda item, the inquiry presented on October 14th regarding the future of Tartu Agro was discussed. The inquiry was submitted by members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laats, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Aleksei Jevgrafov, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, and Lauri Laats was asked to address the assembly. The main focus is the sustainable use of land managed by the state as a private enterprise, auctions, and the principles of the State Property Act, which must ensure transparent competition and fair access to state property. The core of the text concerns the future of Tartu Agro, scalable systems, food security, and potential risks in both an economic and regional context.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made as a summary of this discussion. As the agenda was followed, consideration was planned and various options were to be analyzed (a competition between a single parcel versus a joint or shared bid, principles of state property management, and the application of VoS 357 principles). Further steps involve continuing legal assessments and cooperation between ministries, as well as preparing for a public auction, with the regional goal of ensuring open competition and food security. Agreement was not reached on a unified decision regarding everything.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speakers were three members of the Riigikogu and one minister, ultimately leaving Lauri Laats (pid 5VNfkRwGZMI) as the sole option for the speaker who delivered the most speeches. The other two active participants were Erkki Keldo (minister, number of speeches) and Arvo Aller (pidUgFd274QJi4, two speeches). Therefore, it can be said that the speeches were most diversely given by three parties: Lauri Laats, minister Erkki Keldo, and Arvo Aller, but based on official pid attributes, Lauri Laats delivered the most speeches. The speeches took place in right-wing and center-center factions, and the minister is a representative of the state’s executive government.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Under the Riigikogu's third agenda item, a parliamentary inquiry concerning the future of Tartu Agro will be considered, submitted by Riigikogu member Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats said that the EK faction submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo about the future of Tartu Agro, and although concerns about the economic situation and price increases and the impact of excise taxes are justified, in cooperation with the minister and the executive branch one must find a solution and hold a reasonable and constructive discussion so that the company's future would be positive.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker invited Erkki Keldo, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, to answer the interpellation at the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
According to the State Property Act, state land, the current tenant of which is Tartu Agro, must be made available for use at a public auction, and they shall in any case have a preferential right to obtain a new lease at an equivalent price, even if they do not win the auction, but at the same time it is being considered whether to divide the land into divided parcels or grant it as a whole, in order to ensure free competition and equal access, while keeping the land’s use as agriculture and taking into account food security, employment, and the needs of biogas/urban public transport, with the aim of maximizing the market price of state property.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks the minister and announces that there are questions, and asks Lauri Laats to present them.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats raised in the Riigikogu a concern about the risks of Tartu Agro losing its lands, and asked whether the minister has discussed these risks and when he has met with representatives of Tartu Agro to find solutions.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that the land will remain agricultural land and the auction is open to everyone, but Tartu Agrol has a competitive advantage because they are the current tenant and, after the bidding ends, they may lease those plots at a price equivalent to the price of those plots that no one else will win.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman invited Arvo Allerit to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo All asks when in August the land lease packages for Tartu Agro, which have been entrusted to your ministry, will finally become public and auctions will take place, and which ministry is responsible and what will happen after the discussion between the Regional and Agricultural Ministries to prevent social tensions.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Economy and Industry Minister Erkki Keldo said that the arrangement of land auctions and leases will move from the Maa-amet to the purview of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and it is being discussed whether cadastral units should be placed separately or as one larger unit, in order to ensure fair, open and equal accessibility and compliance with the State Property Act, and the plan is to begin a public auction next year in the first month, because the lease agreement expires in August.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked the minister, announced that the questions had ended, opened negotiations, and invited his colleague Arvo Aller to the podium.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller demanded a quick and clear decision regarding the Tartu Agro land lease agreement, criticizing the confusion between ministries and the lack of transparency in planning, and stressing that businesses must have enough time to submit bids in order to ensure fair competition and reduce the risk of corruption.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the participants, informed that there are no requests to speak, and that the minister does not wish to take the floor, and ended today’s consideration of the third interpellation.