First Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Planning Act and Other Related Acts (683 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-08 22:58
Total Speeches: 83
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 21m
AI Summaries: 83/83 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of Draft Bill 683, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Planning Act and related legislation, took place under this agenda item. The bill was introduced by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, who emphasized the need to make the planning procedure clearer, faster, and more flexible to support investments and economic growth. The Minister highlighted several significant changes, including the abolishment of the local government special plan, the establishment of a 10-year validity period for new detailed plans (extendable by 5 years, applicable starting 2027), simplifying the completion of ongoing plans, and streamlining notification and public disclosure. The latter included eliminating the requirement for announcements in county and national newspapers, and shortening the advance notice period for public display from 14 days to one day. Keldo also stressed future amendments that would grant the Land and Spatial Planning Board (MaRu) the right of administrative supervision over the activities of local governments (LOAs) to ensure compliance with deadlines.
The debate was tense, with the faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) (Rain Epler, Martin Helme, Rene Kokk, Arvo Aller) expressing strong opposition. The opposition viewed the bill as a "steamroller" policy that restricts community involvement and the rights of local authorities, especially concerning large developments such as wind farms. The inclusion of a provision regarding the consideration of climate change also drew criticism, as it was deemed vague and likely to increase the risk of official arbitrariness. Minister Keldo rejected the accusations, explaining that the amendments are aimed at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and clarifying the process. The proposal of the leading committee (the Economic Affairs Committee) was to conclude the first reading. The proposal by the EKRE faction to reject the bill was voted down.
Decisions Made 3
The motion by the faction of the Estonian Conservative People's Party to reject Bill 683 SE on the first reading failed to receive support (5 votes in favor, 45 against).
The first reading of Draft Bill 683 SE was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 22nd at 17:15.
Lauri Hussar
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Lauri Hussar moved on to agenda item number eight, which was the first reading of Draft Act 683 on the amendment of the Planning Act and related acts, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and invited the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, to introduce it from the Riigikogu podium.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo stressed the vital importance of the amendments to the Planning Act for boosting Estonia's economy and development, explaining that the bill aims to make the planning procedure faster, clearer, and more flexible by solving practical problems. This includes, for example, abolishing the local government special plan, introducing a validity period for new detailed plans, and granting the Land and Spatial Planning Authority the right of administrative supervision to ensure deadlines are met. He also promised further streamlining of the process through digital solutions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the speaker for the dynamic presentation and opened the floor for questions from Riigikogu members, giving the floor first to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler highlights the chaos within his colleague’s ministry and criticizes the draft bill under discussion for its ambiguity, especially regarding the requirement to consider climate change. He warns that the absence of reasonable and logical criteria and metrics creates a risk of arbitrary action by officials, allowing for subjective decisions (such as prioritizing wind farms over other projects).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confined himself to just a brief word of thanks.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler highlights the surprise and hesitation among officials regarding the construction of a large factory in Estonia, and subsequently demands a detailed explanation of how climate change requirements were factored into the project planning.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasized that the positive draft bill currently under discussion is a common-sense approach that mandates new developments to take into account real-world risks stemming from climate change (e.g., flooding and heat islands) to ensure a high-quality living environment for residents. He also confirmed his readiness to find a golden mean between developers and environmentalists and to clarify details if necessary.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Rene Koka.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk deems the proposed legislation detrimental to public engagement, as it eliminates the requirement to announce planning decisions in county and national newspapers, thereby significantly reducing public awareness. He demands an explanation from the minister as to how this change is actually supposed to improve engagement and what the resulting time saving is.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo explains that simplifying the notification obligation for local governments is necessary because the consumption of print media is decreasing and the role of social media is growing. Therefore, the requirement to mandatorily publish notices in a nationwide or county newspaper should be abolished, and local governments should be given the freedom of choice and the responsibility to decide for themselves on the best method of notification that meets the community's needs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi and Martin Helme were called to the podium to present their views.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the opposition of drawing false conclusions from correct premises while simultaneously ridiculing the climate narrative. He emphasizes that the law under discussion was specifically created to bypass local municipalities, eliminate public involvement, and grant the Reform Party government discretionary power to issue special permits for the construction of wind turbines—which, he argues, is the primary objective of the entire law, despite the fact that the people vote the ruling party out in elections.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded his brief address with thanks, and then opened the floor for responses or comments.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo dismissed objections claiming that the draft legislation would impede the detailed planning of wind farm areas, confirming that existing and future plans will remain in effect at the discretion of local authorities. However, he stressed that the bill’s primary objective is to improve the planning process timelines by compelling local governments and state agencies to adhere to the statutory deadlines. This is intended to ensure clarity for both communities and developers, a position contrasting sharply with those who argue that Estonia's current planning framework is already sufficiently fast and well-organized.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Tõnis Mölder, inviting him to the podium.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder draws attention to a deficiency regarding the starting point of the deadline (three years) set out in the draft bill for processing a detailed plan. The issue is that the clock starts ticking from the initiation of the process, rather than the submission of the application, which allows local governments (such as Tallinn) to delay the initiation for decades. He asks the Minister whether this problem will be solved with future amendments by changing the start of the deadline to the moment the application is filed.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, stated that planning processes are often characterized by protracted delays and non-initiation. Therefore, the future goal is to start the clock ticking from the very first decisions related to planning, in order to avoid unnecessary delays.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Arvo Aller to speak, giving him the floor after a brief introduction.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller is challenging the proposed legislative amendment that incorporates climate change considerations and climate risk mapping into land use regulation. He questions the practicality of the vague examples cited in the explanatory memorandum (such as factoring in the direction of wind and sun) and asks how this new requirement is supposed to simplify the work of planners.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasizes that effective spatial design requires a holistic approach, one that takes into account both natural conditions (sun, wind) and the big picture (general planning, community interests). This is crucial for avoiding conflicts when planning new developments and industrial areas. It is precisely for this reason that the Land and Spatial Planning Agency (Maa- ja Ruumiamet) was established: to advise local municipalities with limited resource capacity, ensuring that matters are thoroughly considered before action is taken—in other words, adhering to the principle of "measure nine times, cut once."
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Rene Koka to deliver his speech.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk considers the ministry's plan to reduce public involvement completely absurd and counterproductive to the stated goal of simplification, citing as examples the abolition of the requirement to notify the public via newspapers and the shortening of the preliminary notification period for local government planning from 14 days to just one day, which significantly diminishes public participation in long-term decisions affecting their living environment.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo justifies shortening the advance notification period for the public display of detailed plans from 14 days to one day, emphasizing that the change is fundamentally practical, as it allows individuals and communities to provide feedback immediately within 30 days of receiving the notification, rather than waiting two weeks—a delay that previously could result in people forgetting—thereby making the entire feedback submission period more efficient.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Züleyxa Izmailova were invited to the podium to deliver their presentation.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova is interested in whether, despite the draft bill's positive impact, it will be possible to stop the "traveling circuses" that accompany the planning of wind turbines, where loud individuals who do not represent the local community endlessly obstruct the process, and she asks whether the draft bill offers a solution to this situation.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo confirmed that the draft bill in question does not restrict the public's right to have a say. Instead, it offers local governments and communities the flexibility to hold substantive discussions in more convenient locations, clearly distinguishing between the malicious, disruptive noise of a traveling circus and the justified concerns of local residents, which must be calmly explained and negotiated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called Andres Metsoja to the podium, granting him the floor with the short, polite phrase, "Andres Metsoja, please!"
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja addresses the Chairman and the Minister to request clarification regarding a specific legal detail, namely the supplement to point 26 and Paragraph 124, and asks that this topic be addressed.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo announced his intention to immediately start testing.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja expresses confusion regarding the proposed amendment, which requires applying the comprehensive plan procedure when drawing up a detailed plan in areas where a comprehensive plan is absent. He requests clarification on whether the provision concerns areas where planning documents are entirely missing, or those where the land use designation is undetermined, while also asking what this amendment is intended to simplify.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, explained that since the question posed regarding the specific point of the draft bill was too detailed, he could not provide an immediate response, but confirmed that his team would send a detailed written reply later, based on the official transcript, in accordance with the prior agreement for addressing specific questions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Martin Helme were invited to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme acknowledges deficiencies in the planning legislation but deems the solutions offered by the opposing side to be fundamentally flawed, emphasizing that reducing the duty of notification is an embarrassing euphemism for curtailing community rights. He alleges that the law's real objective, under the banner of climate targets, is to ride roughshod over both local municipalities and communities, allowing them to proceed unimpeded with the construction of corrupt and environmentally destructive wind turbines.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confined himself to a brief expression of thanks, with which he also concluded his address.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo dismisses any link between factoring climate change into planning and wind turbines, explaining that the issue actually concerns practical aspects like stormwater drainage. He also criticizes the previous government for failing to amend the Planning Act. He emphasizes that the goal of the current discussion is to find a compromise between conflicting interests and increase the efficiency of the planning process in order to shorten procedural times that currently drag on for years and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler considers Erkki's idea for a requirement to factor in climate change astonishingly naive, arguing that it would give nationally funded NGOs the ability to immediately block the construction of development projects (such as factories) in court using preliminary legal protection. This would lead to endless disputes and make the planning process significantly more complicated, not simpler.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo stressed that the methodologies and guidelines for climate change adaptation in spatial planning—which are crucial for assessing the risks of flooding, heatwaves, and erosion—are already established via the Ministry of Climate's development plan. He further expressed profound bewilderment and dismay regarding the political opposition's (EKRE) resistance to basic planning decisions necessary to guarantee a normal living environment and protect assets.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Tõnis Mölder, inviting him to the podium.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder raises the question of whether the process for amending detailed plans could be simplified by allowing the land's designated purpose to be changed using design specifications, especially concerning small plots of land. This aims to resolve the complex situation faced by individuals whose earlier plans conflict with subsequently adopted general plans. He requests the minister to analyze this approach.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo supports an analysis aimed at reducing the proportion of detailed zoning plans and granting building rights based on design requirements in cases where a sufficiently detailed comprehensive plan allows it and the planned construction does not significantly alter the situation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Peeter Ernits were called to the speaker's stand to begin their presentation.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits did acknowledge the necessity of clarifying and modernizing the definitions, but he urgently demanded, before any planning began, that they precisely define what "high-quality space" is and for whom this concept applies, as this forms the foundation for all subsequent planning.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo refers to an international standard or convention drafted by experts, which defines the requirements for designing quality space and living environments, including the consideration of mobility and environmental impacts, while promising to send the exact name later, as he cannot recall it at the moment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Arvo Aller to take the podium and begin his presentation.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller expresses concern that changes planned for the Planning Act, supported by the Social Democrats (Sotsid), will significantly reduce the public’s ability to voice opinions regarding the construction of wind farms. This is because the changes allow the planner—or rather, the lobbyist—to move the public display of plans away from county centers to hard-to-reach locations, specifically aiming to suppress citizen opposition.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo stressed that the ongoing reform of the planning process is not focused solely on wind turbines. Instead, its aim is to place trust in local municipalities and communities, granting them a more flexible and decentralized opportunity to shape their living environment. This involves bringing discussions closer to the communities, thereby creating a positive environment for supporting investments and the development of rural areas, while simultaneously confirming that local participation will not be restricted.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Timo Suslov.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Timo Suslov asks the minister to highlight and numerically explain the economic impact of the proposed changes, stressing that speeding up planning procedures attracts investments and businesses. He finds that this crucial economic aspect has been insufficiently addressed in the explanatory memorandum.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasizes that accelerating zoning procedures and clarifying processes would reduce developers' interest costs, which in turn would lower the final price of apartments. Furthermore, for the balanced development of the country, it is essential to establish pre-mapped industrial zones and clear development regions to attract strategic investments and high-wage jobs outside the major centers as well.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Madis Kallas, inviting him to the rostrum.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas notes that the draft bill under consideration broadly simplifies the establishment of various energy facilities (including nuclear power plants), but he wishes to know from the minister how this legislative amendment will affect the workload and future operations of the Land and Spatial Planning Agency.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo explained that the updates to the Planning Act primarily focus on real-world developments, such as private homes and industrial zones, rather than large-scale energy infrastructure. He also stressed the central role of the new Land and Spatial Planning Agency (MaRu) in establishing legal clarity, advising local municipalities, and digitizing planning processes and streamlining the service portfolio, all while keeping in mind the overall need for state budget savings and digitalization.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly gave the floor to Andres Metsoja, inviting him to the podium and asking him to begin his presentation.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja is requesting clarification regarding the amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System Act, specifically concerning the change of the Natura preliminary impact assessment into an appendix to the planning document. He asks why this amendment is necessary and whether it is related to the proceedings of the Nature Conservation Act, which appears to simultaneously prohibit economic activity in Natura areas, while the draft bill currently under discussion tightens restrictions on construction activity.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, commended the very specific questions that were presented, but had to admit that he currently did not have an answer regarding whether the assessment should be an annex to the planning document. He emphasized the importance of process transparency and simplification and promised to provide a detailed and extremely precise answer at the earliest opportunity.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Peeter Ernits was called to the podium by Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi to begin his presentation.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits raises the question of the actual implementation in Estonia of the concept of "quality space" as defined in the Planning Act, doubting whether places like Põltsamaa or Pajusi, for example, meet this international standard. He demands specific target levels and cost projections for achieving international quality in Estonia's spatial environment.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasized that the creation of a quality built environment, guided by the eight basic principles of Davos, is one of the most crucial tasks of local government. This process involves using planning, in collaboration with the community, to establish a diverse and valued living environment that balances both social needs (such as parks and mobility options) and economic objectives (such as jobs and transport corridors).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Jaak Aab, calling upon him to speak.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab commends the establishment of the Land and Space Agency, which has been operational for ten months, but notes that although the original beautiful vision was to create a single, comprehensive information base for the e-state that would consolidate all land and construction law information, the current PLANIS system focuses only on planning. Consequently, he asks the minister whether this dream of complete consolidation will ever be realized.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasized that the Land and Spatial Planning Agency is intensively working on the digitization of local government comprehensive plans and the standardization of data to ensure that land use information is user-friendly for both private individuals and businesses. This is happening while he is simultaneously discussing with the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs the development of eesti.ee into a unified information gateway, although he warned against the accumulation of excessive information.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Aivar Sõerd, inviting him to the podium to deliver his presentation.
Aivar Sõerd
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Sõerd expresses concern regarding a harsh provision included in the draft bill, which automatically revokes a detailed planning if its implementation has not been initiated within ten years, viewing this as an infringement on property rights. He also demands clarification on whether the implementation of the plan is defined solely by obtaining a building permit, or if preparatory activities, such as establishing utility connections or access roads, are also included.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo explained the proposed legal amendment, which would introduce a ten-year validity period (with the possibility of extension) for future detailed plans. The goal is to resolve situations where developers leave plans dormant for decades, thereby hindering the development of the local community. He emphasized that land management and utility works would also be considered part of the implementation. Furthermore, for the sake of balance, state institutions and local governments must strictly adhere to the procedural deadlines stipulated in the law to ensure the speed and efficiency of the process for both parties.
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi highlighted the importance of processing speed for developers and voiced concern over the dilution of responsibility, asking the minister whether the draft legislation specifies concrete responsible parties and corresponding fines for agencies that fail to process documents within the required timeframe.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Kristina Šmigun-Vähi to the podium, or gave her the floor, asking her to commence her speech.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo explains that since planning deadlines are not being adhered to despite good faith efforts, there is a need to establish a specific sanctions package and a supervisory mechanism. In this framework, the Land and Spatial Planning Authority would serve as the central contact point, overseeing the activities of local municipalities, and implementing mandatory compliance orders (prescriptions) within the bounds of the law when required, and administrative fines in the future.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi and Andrus Seeme were invited to the rostrum so that he could begin his presentation.
Andrus Seeme
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrus Seeme addressed the minister with a brief and specific question, seeking clarification on whether the primary objective of the bill currently under discussion is ultimately the reduction of bureaucracy.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, emphasizes that both the central government and local authorities must, during challenging times, abandon unnecessary bureaucracy and activities that fail to create value, in order to focus on substantive work and efficiency.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the phase of questioning the minister and then granted the long-awaited opportunity to colleague Tõnis Mölder for him to present the discussion and decisions reached by the lead committee.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder, acting as the co-rapporteur for the Riigikogu Economic Affairs Committee, provided an overview of the bill's discussions, which consensually addressed the shortening of deadlines for informing residents, the consideration of climate change in planning documents, state supervision over local governments, and the subject matter concerning the validity of plans and nationwide thematic plans. While emphasizing the necessity of continuing a substantive debate with various interest groups between the first and second readings, he nevertheless made a consensual proposal to conclude the first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the round of questions, officially opened the discussions, and invited Rain Epler, the representative of the EKRE faction, to speak, while also raising a question regarding the submission of the letter.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler sharply criticizes the draft amendment to the Planning Act, calling it an attempt by the "steamroller government" to clear the way for the development of wind energy by restricting the rights of local governments and reducing notification requirements. Furthermore, the bill contains vague and ambivalent provisions that will only generate controversy and fail to accelerate economic revitalization. Consequently, it is proposed that the bill be rejected at the first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and, on behalf of and by authorization of the Social Democratic Party faction, yielded the floor to his colleague Jaak Aab.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab, speaking for the Social Democrats, supports moving forward with the amendments to the Planning Act, emphasizing that the decade-old legal framework must be modernized to make development processes faster and simpler in our dynamic world. This will cut down on unnecessary bureaucratic delays and extended timelines—a crucial step for boosting economic competitiveness and regional development. He also confirmed that the changes are general in nature, apply to all developments, and account for practical climate risks, such as storm surges and heat islands.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Martin Helme, the representative of the EKRE faction, for a response speech, after first thanking the audience.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme denied Jaak Aab’s assertion that the government had discussed amending the Planning Act, stressing that in fact, a complete draft bill had been prepared by members of the Riigikogu, but Jaak Aab regrettably blocked it personally.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the factions had exhausted their requests to speak and invited Minister Erkki Keldo to conclude the debate.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo sharply criticized EKRE’s opposition to improved spatial planning and design, which is intended to ensure a high-quality living environment, provide green spaces, and accelerate entrepreneurship and job creation by cutting unnecessary bureaucracy. He also expressed astonishment as to why EKRE fears green energy and stands against the development of the Estonian economy, and called on them to submit constructive proposals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi closed the debate on the draft act (683 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Planning Act and related legislation, and proceeded to prepare the vote on the proposal submitted by the faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia to reject the draft act at its first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi confirmed that the first reading of Bill 683 SE has been concluded after the proposal was voted down (5 in favor, 45 against), and announced that the deadline for submitting amendments is October 22nd at 5:15 p.m.