First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu "Formation of a Riigikogu investigative committee to examine the circumstances supporting the plan to build offshore wind farms" (586 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-15 04:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 19
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 19/19 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first agenda item concerned the Riigikogu draft resolution 586, presented by the Isamaa faction, to establish circumstances for investigating the planned construction of offshore wind farms. The presenter, Mart Maastik, gave a brief overview of the purpose, tasks, and scope: to determine why 2.6 billion euros from public funds were considered for allocation, whether the plan was in line with the public interest, good business practices, and anti-corruption rules, and to identify responsibility and, if necessary, make amendments to legislation or administrative practice for future planning of major investments under the direction of the Riigikogu. The dates for completing the final report were also noted, initially set for 1st May 2025, with a possible extension to 1st July. In addition, questions were raised regarding the continuation of zoning plans in the Gulf of Riga and Saaremaa, and it was debated whether such a commission was consistent with Estonia's energy security and fair competition interests.
The second item on the agenda’s course was focused on whether the establishment of an investigative commission was necessary and what potential answers and limitations there might be. Ultimately, it was decided to reject the leading commission's proposal in the first reading, as a result of which the procedure for draft resolution 586 ended.
The second agenda item concerned the first reading of the draft law amending the State Audit Act and other laws, presented by the Conservative People's Party-Estonia faction, draft law 599. The session ended on these remote distances: with the presenter, Martin Helmet, absent, the procedure was not opened and the session ended, and the agenda was not continued. This situation indicated that without the presenter's presence, it was not possible to move on to the procedure, and the session ended peacefully.
Therefore, the agenda reflects two main themes: the commission formation draft and the decision to reject it in agenda item 16, and the termination of the meeting due to Martin Helmet’s absence in agenda item 17. Overall, the agenda items’ discussions with different objectives demonstrate the parameters of investigative oversight regarding major investments, as well as the conditions for termination of procedural issues in moving topics.
Decisions Made 2
Bill 586 is rejected on its first reading; the bill falls off the agenda. Voting results: 45 in favor, 8 against, 0 abstentions. The decision materialized, meaning the Riigikogu removed the bill from consideration.
The draft of agenda item 17, first reading, was not opened for discussion; due to the absence of the presenter, no vote or decisions were taken. The session continued or ended, as per the minutes, but no specific decision was made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Mart Maastik (Isamaa faction, right/right-wing political orientation). He delivered the presentation and participated in various questions and discussions, demonstrating a leading role in the debate on bill 586.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's agenda item introduces Draft Resolution 586 of the Riigikogu, submitted by the Isamaa faction. The aim of this draft is to establish an investigative committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the support for the plan to construct offshore wind parks. Mart Maastik is requested to serve as the rapporteur.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik thanked the Presiding Officer and stated that, due to the extremely important draft bill, he requests five additional minutes for the 20-minute debate, colleagues.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar first asks that we try to fill the 20 minutes.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik is announcing the establishment of a Riigikogu (Parliamentary) inquiry committee tasked with clarifying the circumstances surrounding the 2.6 billion euro support scheme for offshore wind parks. The committee will assess the scheme's compliance with public interests, energy security, anti-corruption efforts, and sound business practices, and will determine the accountability for the actions of politicians and officials. Furthermore, the committee is tasked with proposing changes to legislation and administrative practice where necessary. The committee will submit its final report no later than May 1, 2025 (with a possible extension until July 1), and requests the support of all stakeholders.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanked his colleague and said there were no questions.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
This is a brief, direct statement of regret.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman now asks for the introduction of colleague Pipi-Liis Siemann, who will present the discussion that took place in the Constitutional Committee.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
On April 22nd, the Constitutional Committee discussed the draft bill, during which Helir-Valdor Seeder introduced its aim and content. The committee debated why the matter could not be addressed by existing committees and why a new investigative committee was needed. Nevertheless, it was ultimately decided to place the draft bill on the plenary session agenda for May 6th, designate the presenter as the lead committee, and propose rejecting the bill—a motion carried 6 votes to 1.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and invites Tõnis Lukas to speak, noting that he has questions.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas argued that the purpose of the draft legislation is to secure approval from the Riigikogu for planning major investments. He then asked what exactly is considered a major investment, where the threshold begins, and whether this topic had been discussed in the committee.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The matter was not discussed in the commission, and the representative of the bill's initiators did not speak about it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks to call Priit Sibul to the stage.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks the Constitutional Committee whether the offshore wind farms have been suspended, or if their future will become clear during the course of the coalition negotiations, and whether it needs to be investigated why they are coming or why they are not coming.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The committee did not discuss the substance of the draft bill, and that question never came up. However, the publicly available information concerning the planning of offshore wind farms focused on the maximum subsidy amounts and the upper limits defined as such support.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asked why the commission is continuing the special spatial planning for power lines near these potential offshore wind farms, when those wind farms are allegedly not going to happen.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The commission addressed the necessity and feasibility of establishing a special committee and sought to determine whether such a need exists.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the debates would be closed and that the leading committee’s proposal is to reject draft bill 586 at the first reading, asking the Riigikogu to vote in favor of the proposal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The proposal was supported: 45 votes in favor, 8 against, and there were no abstentions; Draft Bill 586 was rejected and struck from the proceedings. Since the rapporteur, Martin Helme, was not present in the chamber, the next item on the agenda was not opened, and the sitting concluded.