Competition Act
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, information briefing
Date: 2025-06-18 15:53
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Within the framework of the fifth question, the topic of the competition law was discussed with Prime Minister Kristen Michal of the Riigikogu. The primary context was the procedure for adopting an EU directive and the various procedural types associated with it, along with coordination practices. The discussion highlighted two possible approaches: administrative procedure and minor offences procedure, and focused attention on the critical question of how to ensure legal certainty while keeping the business environment as unobtrusive as possible. The discussion also summarized lobbying efforts within the coalition, as well as the viewpoints of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu and the Chancellor of Justice, concerning both the choice of procedural forms and the level of involvement.
A second primary topic was the impact of limited coordination and the balance of influence regarding the state's administrative burden and the obligations of entrepreneurs. The discussion revealed that the opinions of various experts and academic institutions diverge in different directions – both regarding administrative fines and minor offences procedure – and the discussion indicated that the procedural choice is not merely a technical question, but affects the broader functioning of the legal system and entrepreneurship.
Decisions Made 1
Until now, the Riigikogu has not adopted a final decision regarding the procedure for the competition law. The discussion focused on considering alternative types of procedures, the quality of the coordination process, and their impact on the legal system and entrepreneurship. There is no formalized decision, and the focus of future work is expected to be the collection of additional options and comments, as well as a possible further vote within the framework of future sessions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab (pid 3iK35z0_4VM), and he primarily represented a social-democratic view of the situation. His participation included clarifying questions and critical analysis regarding the coordination process and procedural choices. His position can be described as left-leaning (compared to a right-wing government).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab is posing a question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the Competition Act.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that for the transposition of the directive, a solution has been chosen whereby evidence is collected during the Competition Authority's supervision procedure, the penalty is determined within the framework of misdemeanor proceedings, and the fine is set by the county court. This approach is consistent with the assessment of the Chancellor of Justice and the interests of the Estonian business environment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks everyone and announces that his colleague Jaak Aab will be asking a clarifying question.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab claims that the previous draft bill concerning administrative court procedure was rejected last autumn because of inadequate sections, and the new draft, which was introduced via an expedited process, was the result of intense lobbying. This lobbying, he argues, led to a penalty being incurred, and he connects this situation to the influence exerted by ministers and the bar association.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar announces that your time has come.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He thanks the Prime Minister and asks him for something.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal urged people not to get caught in the trap of a single-source narrative, pointing out that there are differing viewpoints regarding legal choices and that the new procedure does not alter the previous objective, and that the position of the Chancellor of Justice must be respected, while Läänemets’s claims about the statute of limitations are untrue, as the draft bill has been read through.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces that Reili Rand will ask the supplementary question.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand criticizes the draft competition law, arguing that it will increase bureaucracy and costs and runs contrary to the government’s promise of moving toward simple and clear procedures. She also questions whether the reasons are political or related to pressure.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the government is pro-economy and aims to ensure fair competition and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. This is being achieved by discussing various legal avenues for making the market fairer and taking into account the positions of the State Chancellery and the Chancellor of Justice.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the discussion of today's fifth item and notes that Reili Rand has her hand raised and has a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand is asking for guidance on how to proceed when the prime minister makes clearly false statements, and what options she has as a simple MP to set things right, for example, by responding to the claim that the Social Democrats delayed the preparation of the draft bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the colleague and proposed, as the only option, that it would be possible to submit a written question to the Prime Minister during the summer recess.