Draft law amending the Competition Act and, in connection therewith, amending other laws (609 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-05-05 18:18
Total Speeches: 117
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 2h 25m
AI Summaries: 117/117 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu held the first reading of draft law 609, amending the Competition Act and related laws, initiated by the Estonian government. Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta delivered a presentation from the Riigikogu rostrum, explaining the draft’s objectives, justifications, and the context of adopting European Union competition rules. Key topics included the requirement to adopt the ECN+ Directive, the operation of competition oversight, the use of evidence in both oversight and administrative penalty proceedings, and the privilege against self-incrimination (for natural persons versus legal persons) and the protection of procedural rights. In addition, the differences between administrative proceedings and administrative penalty proceedings were addressed, along with the significance of the proportionality test and the fundamental principles that ensure a fairer and more effective competitive situation for consumers and smaller businesses.
Decisions Made 1
First reading completed; draft 609 proceeds to the second reading. Voting result: 13 in favor, 48 against, 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid (EKRE) was the most active speaker; his position is right-wing (regarding the discussion of legal and critical competition regulations).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The second agenda item concerns the first reading of Bill 609, initiated by the Government, on amendments to the Competition Act and related laws, and the presenter at the Riigikogu's podium will be Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The briefing emphasizes that the draft gives the Competition Authority, through a court-supervised misdemeanor proceeding, the opportunity to ensure fairer competition for consumers and smaller businesses, protecting the fundamental right not to incriminate oneself and avoiding excessive punishment, while accelerating the enforcement of EU competition rules.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister and asks Lauri Läänemets to present the questions.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets describes the current draft bill as one of the worst when it comes to Estonia's competition and business environment, recalls how three years ago Eesti 200 and Reformierakond supported it, and that Kaja Kallas stood for ensuring that a normal draft bill would reach the Riigikogu, describes a strong lobbying effort, and asks what kinds of perks have been offered to Eesti 200 or Kristen Michal so that, after the change of the prime minister, the initial draft has changed.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that Estonia has transposed the European Union directive literally and does not see a reason to make it stricter; the concerns have been publicly raised by entrepreneurs, legal scholars, and the academic community without any dubious lobbying, and if anyone thinks that they have been paid benefits, that is their level of corruption.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The main message of the presentation is that in Estonia very few competition infringements have been detected, but the prices of certain services are high and profits are rising, and it is asked whether competition is actually functioning well, whether the Competition Authority has the necessary tools, and how the draft bill being prepared would improve the situation, given that proceedings are still lengthy and violations must be proven by multiple forms of proceedings.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar delivers a brief plea: "Anti Allas, please!"
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta urged everyone to immediately inform the Competition Authority of anything known about a breach of competition or obstruction of free competition, emphasizing that Estonia is a small country and that, based on notifications, thorough investigations are conducted there and, if necessary, a breach or its absence is discovered; at the same time, the government is working to improve the competitive situation in the telecommunications services sector with draft laws and additional oversight, but not every claim necessarily indicates a breach before thorough verification.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman asks Andre Hanimägi to speak.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Estonia was the last to adopt the directive, and as a result fines totaling hundreds of thousands of euros have been paid, and whether the proceedings will end and the law will conform to the directive, so that no more fines will be imposed.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
In the speech it was stated that, although in 2018 it was decided to move forward with this directive and later to transpose it into Estonian law, the fundamental issue has been the tension between the simplicity of punishment and the law, and today there is a return to the principles and the directive will be transposed narrowly and correctly, assuming full compliance with all its requirements and bringing the long journey to an end.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech is merely a plea to Tiit Maran.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran criticized the minister's proposed parallel procedure in the fight against economic crime, noting that it affects consumers, does not align with the statistics of regulatory authorities and the European Commission, and asked whose interests it actually serves.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
During the presentation, it was emphasized that punishments must be fair, that smaller enterprises are guaranteed a fair competitive environment and the protection of consumers' rights, and it was confirmed that the draft enables the Competition Authority to find violations guilty in both competition supervision proceedings and in misdemeanor proceedings.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair asks Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme praises the cooperation between companies and the Competition Authority, but asks whether the powerful Competition Authority will really be able to protect consumers' interests after the directive comes into force.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Pakosta said that the Competition Authority protects consumers by improving the competitive situation, not only with penalties, and gave as an example a prepared draft bill that would speed up the transfer of numbers between mobile operators, so that consumers could pay lower prices, while emphasizing that the authority must not be accused without factual basis.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes that the Social Democrats want to turn the Competition Authority into a punitive body and to use administrative procedures, by which, in a simplified procedure, large fines can be imposed that may infringe fundamental freedoms, seeing this as the opening of Pandora's box and fearing that next there will also be similar special procedures for other agencies.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that in Estonia they do not want punishment that is too simple, but a just punishment, explaining that the administrative court does not punish but protects against the state's excessive power; the county court determines the punishments, and no new type of procedure has been planned; existing legal remedies are used, and debates about how simple and how fair punishment should be are ongoing.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder raises the topic again, recalling the University of Tartu's legal scholars' critical assessment of the previous draft, and asks what their assessment of the new government draft could be — whether it would be positive or as critical as the previous one.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Tõnis Mölder to come forward.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
According to Pakosta, the administrative-penalty-based approach has attracted widespread criticism and is seen as leading to the erosion of the principle of fair punishment, replacing it with the aim of mere punishment, but the draft follows solutions developed within the Estonian legal system and is therefore more suitable for a broader legal audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is merely a request to invite Peeter Ernits onto the stage.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits raises the question of who pays the fines payable to Brussels — the ministers, the entire government, or the whole people, including pensioners.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Estonia led the adoption of this directive during its presidency, and it was not foisted on Brussels, but now we have to pay the first fine, which will come out of the state budget, taxpayers’ pockets, because since 2019 the governments have not been able to take it on.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman invites Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that it is good that the original plan to transpose this directive within the administrative procedure has been abandoned due to constitutional constraints, acknowledges that the Social Democrats long for this solution, and highlights that his concern relates to how physical persons are not obliged to engage in self-incrimination during the proceedings, but for legal persons this is not so simple, and he asks for an explanation of how Constitution Article 22(3) — no one shall be compelled to testify against himself — is compatible with them.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that Estonia protects the privilege against self-incrimination for individuals, but for companies the concrete application remains a matter for case law, and the state seeks a clear legal framework, the ultimate truth of which will emerge through court rulings.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab stressed that for the functioning of a free-market economy a regulatory framework and competition law are needed, and the bill must, with the help of an economic analysis, show how it protects consumers and businesses from unreasonable prices and what kinds of infringements must be reported.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Jaak Aab to speak.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The main point is that the Competition Authority uses economic analysis to identify market distortions and follows the European Union's updated competition law directive, which places consumer welfare first and provides that agreements are the quickest and least burdensome way to remedy the market, with penalties remaining a last resort.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut claims that the draft's harsh fines are erroneous and emphasizes the Competition Authority's mandate and the need to use similar tools in other countries; otherwise it would amount to undermining the agency's credibility.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair asks Riina Sikkut to take the floor.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites questions and notes that the time has come.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut asks for confirmation as to whether the directive is transposed by the amendment to the law, and if it is not in accordance with the directive, will they step back.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar reprimands the minister, saying that the one minute allotted for a question to the minister from the floor was exceeded by half a minute, and that he hopes to adhere to the time in the future.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Pakosta said that in Estonia the Competition Authority has all the tools provided in EU law, and agreements with businesses are still an important means of helping consumers; penalties are a deterrent, and if there are clarifications arising during the transposition of the directive, they will be quickly corrected in cooperation with Brussels.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Helle-Moonika Helme onto the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasizes that she does not see entrepreneurs a priori as criminals, and that there are people in the government who think so, and she contemplates whether lowering the VAT on essential goods and food could give the Competition Authority tools to protect consumers and prevent merchants from taking the price difference into their own pockets, and whether, after such a directive comes into force, it would be sensible to bring VAT-reduction bills back to the Riigikogu.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
A VAT reduction is not related to competition law, and if there is any suspicion of a price-fixing agreement or cartel agreement, this should be reported to the Competition Authority.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson asks Madis Timpsoni to speak.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson emphasizes that the draft is a compromise of last year's version, and he agrees that a just punishment is a legitimate objective, but regards changes to the general part of the Penal Code as necessary and hopes they will be made during the proceedings, and finally asks whether the problem is defined in the draft and whether there is a risk that it will expire.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that in the general part of criminal law an additional amendment should be made that would link the existing legislation on administrative fines with the special laws and the Penal Code into a more coherent whole, and the statute of limitations must be five years, with a pause of up to three years if a dispute arises in supervisory proceedings, which corresponds to the statute of limitations for second-degree crimes and ensures that the proceedings would not be too long.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invites Peeter Ernits to come up and perform.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits emphasizes that it is not worth throwing accusations at Brussels, but notes the 400,000-euro fine imposed by the Court of Justice of the European Union on January 23, and this year, in addition, 300,000 euros wasted, and asks what this says about the governments' actions at that time.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta expressed deep regret over the penalty that has arisen, stated that it is unfair for taxpayers, and pledged to fast-track the bill in the Riigikogu and that the payment of the penalty would end when the law comes into force.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks Siim Pohlak to come to Siim Pohlak's place and to be on his best behavior when he arrives.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks in which sectors in Estonia there are the biggest competition problems and how this draft bill intends to solve those problems, taking into account the actual implementation and the impact of opinions that harm consumers.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Our biggest competitive problem is the small population, which makes competition difficult, and the solution to this is to improve the legal framework, for example by allowing the transfer of a mortgage without notary fees, which would increase interbank competition and provide cheaper interest rates.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid, in response to Riina Sikkut, said that the claim that the Social Democrats are the only ones who stand for the ideal of democracy and a free society is absurd, and he expressed concern about the contradictions between Section 22(3) of the Constitution, the laws on criminal proceedings and misdemeanour proceedings, and the ECN+ Directive.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is a direct invitation to take action—your time has come.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They see an irreconcilable contradiction here and ask how to overcome it in such a way that the Chancellor of Justice would not turn to the Supreme Court to initiate constitutional review.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
This has been an extremely difficult issue and a core question, and the draft solution is not ideal in either respect. Although we have not reached an agreement with the other member states, it guarantees individuals the privilege not to incriminate themselves. It must go through Estonia's internal procedures, and we do not see a need to amend the constitution.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab emphasizes that the administrative procedure is a form of cooperation in competition enforcement, where fines function as prevention and deterrence, and the authority may issue directives and, if necessary, penalties, and he asks, in light of the draft, whether evidence gathered in the administrative procedure can be transferred to a misdemeanor proceeding, and what types of evidence are admissible there.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Jaak Aab and asks him for something.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The main point of the speech is that courts assess the relevance of each piece of evidence separately, and there are no intermediate options, but the bill introduces a special regulation for proceedings concerning competition infringements, in which the evidence is transferable and the court takes this into account.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, invited Tanel Kiiki to speak.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik criticized the minister's explanations, noting that the original draft version would have given the Competition Authority more power, but the current draft no longer does, and he referred to the entrepreneurs' lobby.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
An unprecedented number of business organizations have turned to both the Ministry of Justice and the Digital Ministry as well as to the Riigikogu, highlighting concerns that too harsh a punishment could damage the economic environment, and therefore their views must be taken into account and a response provided, because this is not mere lobbying.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak claims that high prices do not stem from a small market, but from taxes and labor costs, and that washing machines are produced for the large European single market, not just for Estonia, and since taxes, value-added tax and payroll taxes have pushed prices up and the market is concentrating and competition is diminishing, he asks whether something has gone wrong and what could be done effectively.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks Siim Pohlak to perform.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Transformation Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that the current draft focuses on competition, and within its scope it is possible to improve the legal framework and open up competition through legal measures, market studies, and the Competition Authority's proposals, and, if necessary, with deterrent penalties. At the same time she emphasized that taxes in Estonia are uniform and the tax debate is not related to the current agenda item.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Priit Sibul to take the floor.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul noted that during the earlier version of the law there was criticism from both the Chancellor of Justice and many Estonian legal scholars, and he asked whether, with the current draft, these concerns have softened or whether there are ongoing problems that need to be resolved during the proceedings.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The Parliament should not simply push the bill through, because there are parts in it that require amendments, and the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Digital Affairs have prepared an amendment to the General Part of the Criminal Code, with which it could become even better, and public opinions indicate that the bill could be adopted as quickly as possible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is merely a request to invite Lauri Läänemets onto the stage.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets criticizes the draft as demagogy, asserts that it threatens free competition and the economy, and asks about the scope of the stakeholder engagement circle and the number of competition-law specialists in Estonia.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta emphasized that the draft is one of the most widely consulted in Estonia, and although opinions are divided, the majority of legal scholars are convinced that it is necessary to continue with the established legal system and promote free competition, following the European Union directive, and there is no need to rewrite EU law.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asked the Minister of Justice whether he is satisfied with the competitive situation in the pharmaceutical and fuel markets, and who would be responsible for it if the bill does not resolve the penalty obligation, and who would pay that penalty.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar invites Tanel Kiik to speak.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Pakosta said that general satisfaction with prices and availability does not mean the absence of specific antitrust violations, but the draft helps to identify and handle violations more effectively, and if he knew of the violation, he would immediately inform the Competition Authority; the fine will be paid from the budgets of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, which are funded by Estonian taxpayers through the state budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addresses Urve Tiiduse and asks her to give a speech.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus emphasizes that although skepticism has arisen regarding the draft, free competition is the most important foundation of an open market economy, and she asks what is the strongest supporting point of this foundation in the draft.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Economy Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that the Competition Authority will have a much more effective toolkit, including more effective ways of entering into agreements, and deterrent fines should deter violations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Tiit Marani to speak.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran asks the Minister of Digital Affairs why Estonia's telecom prices are significantly higher than in neighboring countries, and whether the reason is a peculiarity or a lack of competition.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Telecom prices in Estonia are not drastically different from those in other countries, and the peculiarity stems from the privatized communications market, but in updating the digital society development plan there is an ambition to guarantee ultrafast internet across Estonia, with the final price to the consumer being the main point of discussion, because, according to the National Audit Office's audit, 24% of planned connections and 76% not shows that there should be a broader discussion about whether to make the service more affordable or to continue with high-capacity and expensive solutions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Riina Sikkut to come.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut asks the minister whether she will step down if the transposition of the directive through the draft bill fails, and who will take political responsibility if this transposition option proves to be incorrect.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that the draft bill transposes the ECN+ directive and uses a misdemeanor proceeding to take over administrative fines, trying to strike a balance between the Constitution and the directive, but the final compatibility with the European Commission is not guaranteed and depends on the official, which could bring about unforeseen problems, and the transposition of the Framework Decision on hate speech is also incomplete and is being carried out through misdemeanor proceedings.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks how the given legislative amendment regulates the activities of banks, especially cross-border banks such as SEB and Swedbank, and whether it will lead to changes in the prices of Estonian services compared to Sweden and Finland.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asked Evelin Poolametsa to perform.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that regulation of financial institutions is overly thorough in the EU, and there is room for domestic improvement in Estonia—for example, reducing the obligation to pay notarial fees when a person switches to a cheaper mortgage provider and collateral, while the terms remain the same, but this is a separate legal measure and is not related to the draft bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asked Tõnis Mölder to come and speak.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mölder said that, contrary to the claim of strong opposition voiced in the discussion, the draft's approach is not like that, and based on the draft and its table the actual picture is different, and the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Estonian Employers' Confederation consider the approach correct, and he asked whom those colleagues were referring to when talking about opposition, adding that Priit Sibul asked for the Chancellor of Justice's opinion, whose previous criticism of the preceding draft has been replaced and who now supports this approach.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
They confirmed that the companies are not very critical of the draft, there has been no input from legal scholars, and the Social Democrats have recently begun to show interest in the procedure, though, unfortunately, they do not know the exact grounds for it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks the minister, announces that there are no more questions, and before continuing, the commission's presentation is heard; colleague Varro Vooglaid has his hand raised and is asking a question about the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid expresses concern that the 180-page explanatory memorandum for a bill initiated by the Government of the Republic does not include an analysis of constitutionality, even though the law requires it, and as a member of the Riigikogu he asks for help, whether we are facing a situation where the analysis is missing or it simply cannot be found.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that questions may be directed to the committee's rapporteur, drew attention to page 7 of the explanatory note, and added that if questions arise, the presenter should come forward, after which Tanel Kiik asked a question about the procedure for conducting the session.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asked the chair of the meeting whether the minister's assertion that the Social Democrats would not have previously shown interest in the bill is in line with good political practice, since in fact it was discussed repeatedly in different formats.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that distinguishing a false claim is very difficult, and the participant themselves must determine this in the Q&A round; if anyone feels that they have been treated unfairly, during the negotiations representatives of the Social Democratic Party faction may express their positions, and as the chair of the meeting he finds it hard to pick a side.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that page 7 does not refer to paragraph 2 of § 22 of the Constitution and asks whether the draft has been submitted without the required constitutional analysis, as the Good Regulatory Practice requires.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He thanks, but leaves his own thought unfinished.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid emphasizes that the leadership should refuse to process draft bills before conducting an analysis of their constitutionality, and as members of the Riigikogu we must ensure that the laws passed are in accordance with the Constitution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chair Hussar recommended turning to the presenters, noting that the bill will undergo two more readings and amendments will be discussed in the committee, and that on substantive issues it is reasonable to turn to the committee's representative, and he did not agree with mixing the roles of the Riigikogu leadership and the committee, giving the last procedural question to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid emphasized that the explanatory notes to all draft bills must include an analysis of constitutionality, and if this is not present, the draft must be returned to the government and discussed by the board and the committees before further proceedings.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that the Riigikogu leadership cannot assume the role of a committee, and it is most reasonable for the committee to decide the bill's compliance with normative-technical requirements, with the discussion continuing, inviting Marek Reinaas, the chairman of the Economic Committee, to introduce the discussion.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Economic Affairs Committee discussed draft Bill 609 on amendments to the Competition Act and addressed questions relating to the handling of administrative fines, competition oversight, the privilege against self-incrimination, and the court’s workload; Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta gave a thorough briefing, and it was decided to place the draft on the plenary agenda for May 5 and to conclude the first reading, with 6 in favour and 4 against.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the presenter and announces that Evelin Poolamets has one more question up her sleeve.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets claims that the administrative burden will increase due to the establishment of antitrust enforcement proceedings and will raise the workload of the Competition Authority and the administrative courts, and asks how much it will grow and whether one or two employees will be hired.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
During the discussion, the focus was on the issue of the growing administrative burden on the courts, and according to the minister, the draft will save resources by relying on solutions that have been developed over roughly two decades, tested and deemed legally sound, for which there will no longer be a need to spend administrative resources to devise new issues, and therefore the current procedure requires significantly fewer administrative resources than the previous one.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chair Toomas Kivimägi thanks the chair of the committee, states that there are no questions, and opens negotiations; Varro Vooglaid represents the EKRE faction.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid noted that the bill is moving in the right direction, but the current form threatens the principles of the rule of law and the right not to incriminate oneself, especially for legal entities, and requires clearer boundaries and thorough clarification based on court practice.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks for three more minutes.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid criticizes that the explanatory memorandum for this bill does not contain an analysis of constitutionality or references to constitutional guarantees, which are essential for the protection of the rule of law and the principles of misdemeanor proceedings, and that Parliament must not enact a law that is not in accordance with the Constitution.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks and announces that Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart represents the Estonian Centre Party faction and requests eight extra minutes.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart claims that the adoption of the competition directive should take place in misdemeanor proceedings, not in a separately created administrative procedure, warns about the excessive power of officials and the risk of corruption, and notes that if there is information about lobbying pressures, it should be discussed in the anti-corruption special commission, refers to the Supreme Court's decision in Olerex, which demonstrates the possibility of imposing large penalties in misdemeanor proceedings, and calls for the bill to move forward.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Jaak Aab represents the Social Democratic Party's parliamentary group, and the mandate appears to be in hand.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab said that the goal of the amendments to the Competition Act is to ensure fair prices for essential goods and services through strengthened competition oversight, where the detection of violations and the administrative proceedings, together with corrective orders, coercive fines, and, if necessary, large fines, function as prevention and deterrence rather than punishment, which is especially important for small Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks for three more minutes.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab stated that although prices are high in some sectors, there is a need for clear rules and effective competition oversight and better tools for the Competition Authority, because the current situation does not guarantee fair competition and it should be rejected at the first reading of the bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi said that members of the Riigikogu and the factions no longer wish to negotiate, but it has been requested that Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta participate in the preliminary talks.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta confirmed that Estonia will adopt the directive aimed at improving EU competition law, which improves the competitive environment and would not worsen it, and she pledged to enhance constitutional analysis and a cooperation-based administrative procedure with the Competition Authority in accordance with EU and human rights standards.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that a proposal by the Social Democratic Party faction to postpone the first reading of Draft Bill 609 would be put to a vote, and he asked to take a stand and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu voted on the first reading of Bill 609 with 13 in favour, 48 against and 0 abstentions, and as a result the proposal did not receive support; the deadline for submitting amendments is 19 May at 17:15, and the processing of the second item on the agenda has been completed.