Draft law amending the Act on Foreign Relations and amending other acts in consequence (385 SE) – second reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-03-19 16:29
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 26m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu will discuss in today’s second reading draft law 385 (second reading) amending the law on foreign relations initiated by the Republic's Government, and amending other laws related thereto. The rapporteur is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson. The purpose of the draft law is to introduce changes to the fundamental document coordinating foreign relations, changes that have arisen from historical practice and evolved with the international context. Background information refers to the first reading taking place on May 8, 2024, and the committee’s thorough proceedings, including the sessions held on November 27, 2024, and March 10, 2025, where the committee’s amendment proposals and the Foreign Minister's assessments were discussed. An important topic of discussion is the constitutional legal aspect: Parliament’s competence regarding denunciation, compared to existing practice, and how the text of the law on foreign relations solves this issue in its current form. As a final stage, votes have been held and a decision has been made to conclude the second reading of the draft law, as a result of which the possibility of continuing the third reading arises. Amendment proposals related to the draft law have come from the Foreign Affairs Committee and from several ministries, and their consideration has been completed.
Decisions Made 2
The Isamaa faction's proposal to interrupt the second reading of bill 385: the vote resulted in 19 in favor, 50 opposed; the proposal did not receive support (the collegial decision was not enforced).
The second reading is completed: the committee's lead committee's proposal for the second reading was finalized as the end result, and the proceedings continued with that position.
Most Active Speaker
Marko Mihkelson, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee and the person responsible for the presentation of the draft, was the most active speaker. His position is growing as a politician aligned with the right wing, whose leadership has guided the work of the foreign affairs committee and who represents more technical discussions and the highlighting of constitutional issues related to the authority to denounce.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller informed us that we are moving to today's second item on the agenda: the Government-initiated draft law to amend the Foreign Communications Act and, correspondingly, amendments to other laws, draft bill No. 385, second reading, and the rapporteur is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to the presenter, amendments to the External Communications Act are being considered at the second reading, which are important as a very important foundational document coordinating external relations; the first reading took place on May 8, 2024, and no amendments were submitted on time, but during discussions in the committee later some amendments were submitted.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller apologized briefly and asked to let the presenter finish, saying that it would be audible here up front.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We, i.e. the committee, received amendment proposals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the regulation of development cooperation and humanitarian aid; the Ministry of Finance's amendment proposals to the Foreign Relations Act concerning the recoupment of external subsidies; and in the deliberations of the Foreign Affairs Committee it likewise arrived at amendment proposals, which the committee discussed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is simply a short greeting 'Gentlemen!' that marks the start of the speech and shows respect to the listeners.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The committee discussed amendments to the bill presented on 27 November 2024 and 11 March 2025, which would enable representations of the territorial government or a unit in Estonia and deepen economic and trade relations with Taiwan; it supported them and planned to bring the bill to the Riigikogu's agenda for a second reading (19 March 2025) and, if necessary, for a third reading and final vote (9 April 2025), while also considering the possibility of deferring the issue of denouncing the treaty, but the government’s wording was preserved.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Arvo Aller thanked the assembly and announced that there were no questions, opened the negotiations, gave the floor to Urmas Reinsalu, and asked for three additional minutes.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu noted that the bill mainly deals with technical and state-law questions, including resolving the status of Taiwan's representation and the Parliament's competence in denouncing international treaties, and at the second reading he recommended suspending the proceedings in order to achieve broader consensus and to preserve the continuity of foreign relations and constitutional interpretation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Arvo Aller invites Marko Mihkelson onto the stage next.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Marko Mihkelson noted that the committee decided not to support the amendment proposal to the Foreign Communications Act, which sought to give the Riigikogu the right to initiate denunciation of international treaties, emphasized the principles of the separation of powers and constitutional authorities, and confirmed the Reform Party's support for the bill's second reading and final vote on 9 April.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman thanks and refers to Urmas Reinsalu, from whom a reply speech is expected from the floor.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the law had been discussed for a long time, but at the last moment substantive questions and amendment proposals emerged, therefore Isamaa asked to suspend the proceedings so that the parliament could thoroughly review the topic and calmly consider the implementation timeline.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
According to Arvo Alleri, the requests to speak have ended and the proposed amendments have been reviewed, and the lead committee wishes to end the second reading of Bill 385, but the Isamaa faction has submitted a motion to interrupt it, and preparations for a vote have been initiated.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Nineteen Riigikogu members voted in favor of the motion to interrupt, 50 against; the motion did not gain support and the second reading has been completed.