Second reading of the draft law amending the Whistleblower Protection Act concerning EU law violations and the International Sanctions Act (EU restrictive measures directive) (584 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-04-23 20:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 6
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 6/6 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item concerns draft law 584 (second reading) amending the whistleblower protection law and the law on international sanctions, initiated by the Republic of Estonia’s Government. Regarding the draft law, primary attention was paid to the transposition and implementation in relation to the directive on restrictive measures of the Union, and in addition, the practice of the previously adopted "whistleblower" law, which came into force on January 1st, was analyzed. The Legal Affairs Committee made consensus amendments, including changing the consideration of the date of entry into force and removing the original deadline to adhere to the usual entry into force of a law. Following work in the committee, it was decided to conclude the second reading and a third reading was planned, which was initially attempted to be completed the same week, but was eventually postponed.
Ongoing negotiations regarding roof posts ended in dispute: the EKRE faction submitted a proposal to terminate the second reading, but the voting results showed that the proposal did not receive the necessary support and the second reading concluded. The culmination of the debate was a critical objection, characterizing the draft law as having a "Stalinist flag," and the arsenal of speakers took a critical position on both the text and its interpretation, ultimately leading to the closure of the agenda.
Decisions Made 2
The legal affairs committee made a consensus amendment proposal: adopted amendments to bill 584 during its second reading, including the removal of the entry into force order and date in the usual manner; the second reading was concluded and the scheduled third reading was postponed for further preparation.
The Riigikogu adopted the EKRE faction's proposal to interrupt the second reading of bill 584; the voting results were: 9 in favor, 52 against, 0 abstentions; the proposal did not find support. The second reading was ultimately terminated and the agenda item was closed.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was facing east with the identifier 46afnYFUZKE, who represents the legal affairs committee and presented a thorough overview of the procedure for the second reading of the bill and the proposed amendments. From a positional perspective, this is a representative of a collegium, not a direct party representative, therefore it moves officially under the "other" political direction, not as a direct representative of a left- or right-wing faction.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller announced that we will move on to the sixth item on the agenda — the second reading of Bill 584, which would amend the Act on the Protection of Whistleblowers Reporting Violations of EU Employment Law and the International Sanctions Act (Directive on Union restrictive measures), and the presentation is by Andre Hanimägi.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Motion 584 on the second reading concerns amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act for breaches of EU law in the field of employment and to the International Sanctions Act; the Commission made amendment proposals, decided to conclude the second reading in the usual procedure and to hold the third reading after the second reading ends, and on 22 April a plenary session was planned, where the second reading received 7 votes in favour and 3 against.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller thanks, states that there are no questions, opens negotiations, and invites Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme called the bill a Stalinist lie, accused it of informing about evading sanctions and of creating a network of door-knockers, and urged interrupting the second reading, while noting that Estonia is a euro province and therefore is no longer an independent state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller announced the termination of the negotiations; after reviewing the proposed amendments, the steering committee has decided to end the second reading of Bill 584, but the EKRE faction submitted a proposal to suspend it, and preparations for the vote will begin.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The proposal did not gain support (9 in favor, 52 against, 0 abstentions), and the second reading has been completed and we have finished the sixth agenda item.