Third reading of the draft law amending the Subsoil Act (435 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-18 16:28
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 27m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
On the third reading, the draft amendment to the Mining Act, initiated by the Republic's Government, was discussed, the purpose of which is to temporarily halt current permitting procedures for 2025 and to establish exceptions under which production could continue in the presence of critical raw materials. The draft operates at the level of better management of national wealth and state regulation, taking into account climate and environmental policy and international obligations to reduce CO2 emissions.
The second part of the discussion focused on the issues of the divergence of constitutional foundations and legal expectations (the principle of legal certainty). Analyses from the Legal and Analysis Department and the Ministry of Climate found that while a certain degree of divergence may arise, the law is not unconstitutional in its fundamental basis, but it requires a clear timetable and consideration of the impact on legal certainty in order to avoid the greatest damage to entrepreneurs. At the same time, the need was emphasized to ensure a transition to a sustainable economy and to maintain stability in the energy and economic systems as the state controls the use and preservation of its mineral resources. Finally, the Reform Party faction and other government partners supported the draft as the best means of balancing economic activity, the impact on legal certainty, and the sustainable management of the state's wealth. The final vote on the draft was brought forward and the funding and adoption were confirmed.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 435 final vote: 55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 21 voted against, and there were 0 abstentions. Bill 435 has been adopted as a law.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker: Anti Poolamets (Isamaa faction). He spoke several times with his viewpoints and critical attention, representing a right-wing party perspective on the bill. His actions fell on the left-right political spectrum as belonging to the right (right-wing) wing—the Isamaa faction.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi opens negotiations on the government-initiated draft amendment to the Subsoil Act during the third reading; Mait Klaassen represents the Reform Party faction.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen said that Estonia aims to end the use of oil shale and will suspend the processing of mining licenses by 2025 on the basis of the draft Subsoil Act, in order to reduce the burden on legitimate expectations, enable production to continue in the event of a shortage of critical raw materials, and at the same time ensure the best use of the national wealth owned by the state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked and, on behalf of the EKRE faction, asked Anti Poolamets to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets asked for more time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech discusses an eight-minute-long period.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets stated that climate-induced emergency legislation is unconstitutional and threatens energy security and democracy, and the bill should be sent to the Supreme Court for constitutional review and rejected.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks and announces that Igor Taro will take the floor on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Igor Taro
AI Summary
According to Igor Taro, the Eesti 200 bill supports a proposal that would establish a precise one-year deadline for suspending the processing of permits, increase legal certainty and proportionality, and help move Estonia toward a sustainable economy and prudent use of resources, without jeopardizing Estonia's energy independence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi gives thanks, and on behalf of the Isamaa faction Urmas Reinsalu asks for extra time, the duration of which is eight minutes.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the government's draft law is unconstitutional, creates for entrepreneurs a legitimate expectation of uncertainty and of the destabilization of the economy, and called on the president not to promulgate it, while criticizing the climate law and government policy and proposing a return to the leadership of the Ministry of Nature Conservation and the Environment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi ended the negotiations, saying that the steering committee wishes to carry out a final vote on Bill 435, the aim of which is the Government-initiated Subsoil Act amendment law, and asked the Riigikogu to take a stand and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Bill 435 has been enacted into law; 55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 21 against, and there were no abstentions.