Second Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Competition Act (654 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-05 20:54
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The item on the agenda was the second reading of Draft Law 654, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Competition Act. The report was presented by Marek Reinaasa, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee. The committee had reviewed the draft law on October 23rd, and two amendment proposals (both submitted by the lead committee) were presented, which received consensus support and were fully incorporated. The substantive amendment involved taking foreign subsidies into account when assessing mergers if those subsidies distort the European Union's internal market. Reinaasa explained that upon the adoption of the law, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority would become the contact point for the European Commission in Estonia.
During the debate, questions were raised regarding the practical impact of the amendment (Aivar Kokk), and the definition of concentration was clarified in the meaning of Article 20 and Article 21, paragraph 5 of the regulation (Peeter Ernits). The effectiveness of the directive against subsidies from major powers and the possibility of retaliation were also discussed (Rain Epler). Reinaasa confirmed that the fines amount to 5–10% of global turnover, which is sufficiently deterrent. The lead committee proposed concluding the second reading of the draft law, which was done, and the third reading was scheduled for November 12th.
Decisions Made 2
The two amendment proposals submitted by the Economic Committee were fully accepted.
The second reading of Bill 654 was concluded.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Marek Reinaasa, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, who delivered a presentation and comprehensively answered all questions, clarifying the substance of the amendments and their impact on the assessment of concentrations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the transition to the 16th item on the agenda, which was the second reading of Draft Act 654 on amendments to the Competition Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and asked Marek Reinaas, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, to take the Riigikogu rostrum to deliver the report.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas provided an overview of the Economic Affairs Committee meeting, during which the referral of the draft bill to the second reading was discussed. He noted that the committee had unanimously supported two submitted amendments—one of which was technical, and the other related to factoring in foreign subsidies that distort the internal market when assessing mergers. The committee subsequently proposed to the Riigikogu that the second reading of the draft bill be concluded on November 5, and the final vote be held on November 12.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter for the presentation, opened the floor for questions, and then asked Aivar Kokk to pose his question.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk acknowledged the substance of the presentation but still asked for a brief explanation of what tangible positive changes the adoption of the proposed law would actually bring about.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas explained that the draft legislation under discussion designates the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) as the European Commission’s contact point in Estonia to ensure smooth communication during the investigation of foreign subsidies that distort the EU internal market, including in the assessment of concentrations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Peeter Ernits to the rostrum to present his address.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks the Chairman to clarify the legal definition of a concentration within the meaning of Article 20 of the Regulation, clearly distinguishing between a concentration subject to notification and one that is not.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas gave an overview of the competition law amendment discussed at the committee session, which expanded the possibility of *ex officio* investigation to the assessment of mergers. This is intended to identify and process cases where foreign subsidies grant the merged company competitive advantages in the European Union internal market, while he simultaneously noted that this measure is very unlikely to concern Estonian companies.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Rain Epler to the podium or gave him the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler, citing the directive's goal of limiting the influence of the world's most populous country, doubts how successful the European Union's attempt to exert pressure through coordinated action will be, and whether counter-pressure might not, in fact, render the implementation of the proposal completely impossible.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas criticizes the fines imposed on international corporations, which admittedly amount to 5–10 percent of their global turnover, but which he considers to be essentially negligible—just "peanuts"—an amount that wouldn't even make a dent in the finances of the largest state-owned enterprises.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar briefly yielded the floor to the next speaker, Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits put a clarifying question to the rapporteur, asking precisely what 'concentration' means within the context of Article 20, and requested that they explain in plain language the difference between that and a concentration considered under Article 21.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas explains the substance of the amendment proposal, which extended the European Commission's investigative powers concerning foreign subsidies that distort the internal market. This was achieved by adding a reference to Article 21, paragraph 5, alongside Article 20, meaning that henceforth, investigations and proceedings can also be launched in cases of company concentrations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debates and proceeded to the amendments for Draft Bill 654, regarding which the lead committee had recommended fully considering the two proposals submitted by the Economic Affairs Committee, and subsequently declared the second reading of the draft bill concluded.