Second Reading of the Draft Act on the Accession to the Convention Establishing the International Organization for Navigation Marks (Bill 663 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-05 19:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 9m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item was the second reading of Draft Act 663, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the accession to the Convention establishing the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. Urve Tiidus presented the report on behalf of the Economic Affairs Committee, explaining that the first reading of the draft act took place on October 8, and no proposals or opinions were received by the deadline for amendments (October 22). Therefore, the leading committee made a consensus proposal to conduct the final vote during the second reading, pursuant to Section 115 of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act.
During the questions round, Helir-Valdor Seeder inquired whether the adoption of the draft act would contribute to the restoration of the border buoys in Narva, to which the rapporteur replied that international agreements should, in any case, benefit navigation. During the debate, Peeter Ernits took the opportunity to speak more broadly about Estonia's maritime policy and the program for bringing ships under the Estonian flag, noting that the grand plans had not been fulfilled. Signe Riisalo raised a procedural question regarding the irrelevance of Ernits's speech to the topic, which the chairman resolved by explaining that all members have the right to speak during the second reading. Since no amendments were submitted, the final vote was held, resulting in the draft act being adopted as law.
Decisions Made 1
Draft Law 663 on the accession to the Convention establishing the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, initiated by the Government of the Republic, was adopted as a law with 66 votes in favor.
Most Active Speaker
Peeter Ernits was the most active speaker during the negotiations, utilizing the discussion of the draft bill as a platform to address the broader issues of Estonian maritime policy and the problems associated with bringing ships under the Estonian flag. His speech also raised a procedural question due to its off-topic content. (Miscellaneous)
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller proceeded to the fourth item on the agenda, which was the second reading of Government-initiated Bill 663 (Accession to the Convention establishing the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities), and invited Urve Tiidus, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, to serve as the rapporteur.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus stressed that international agreements are crucial for achieving clear objectives, much like the necessity of navigation marks for seafarers. She further explained that because no amendments were submitted to the draft accession to the Convention of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, the leading committee proposes, by consensus, that the final vote on the bill concerning the foreign treaty be held during the second reading at today’s plenary session.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the addressee had at least one question, and subsequently gave the floor to Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asked if the bill currently under discussion offers specific assistance for restoring the Narva border buoys and improving navigation conditions in the border region.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus answered the honorable Seeder’s question, stressing that the resolution of the specific issue must be left to the experts to decide, and added that international agreements and navigation rules must assist in finding the solution.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded his address by thanking the audience and briefly stating that he had no further questions.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus confined her brief address merely to an expression of thanks.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller opened the discussions for the factions, first inviting Peeter Ernits, the representative of the Centre Party faction, to the rostrum. Ernits then clarified a few more details with the presiding officer before beginning.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits used the theme of buoys and lighthouses as a pretext to criticize the failure of Estonia’s maritime policy, emphasizing that despite the legal amendments made in 2019–2020 and ambitious plans to bring thousands of merchant ships under the Estonian flag, the result after five years has been only 16 vessels. This demonstrates that the grand visions and hopes for an e-maritime state have not materialized, and he called for the issue to be addressed more seriously.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the debate, as no one else sought the floor, but immediately thereafter granted Signe Riisalo the opportunity to ask a procedural question.
Signe Riisalo
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Signe Riisalo raised a procedural question, wanting to know exactly who had spoken previously and under whose authority they did so, and questioned whether it was even in accordance with the rules to discuss an entirely unrelated topic instead of the draft bill currently being processed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller explained that although every member of the Riigikogu has the right to take the floor during the second reading, the debates are now closed. Since no amendments were submitted to draft bill 663, he put to the final vote, upon the proposal of the leading committee, the draft act initiated by the Government of the Republic concerning accession to the Convention establishing the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announced that the draft bill had been adopted as law by the Riigikogu with 66 votes in favor, subsequently noting that Mr. Kivimägi was experiencing technical difficulties with the buttons.