Draft law (667 SE) for amending the Atmosphere Protection Act and other laws (partial transposition of amendments to the directive on greenhouse gas emissions trading system) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-18 23:27
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 23
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 27m
AI Summaries: 23/23 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first item on the agenda concerns the draft Act amending the Atmosphere Protection Act and other Acts 667 for the first reading. The draft aims to incorporate amendments stipulated in European Union law regarding the emissions trading system (ETS) for greenhouse gases and to extend it to maritime transport, while specifying requirements for aviation and land-based production. The ETS has been a central instrument of EU climate policy since 2005, and as a result, emissions have been reduced in many sectors. As a novelty, the system now extends to maritime transport: passenger and cargo ships with a gross tonnage of at least 5000 GT will fall under the ETS. This step is in line with the directions of the International Maritime Organization and helps to maintain the competitiveness of European Union maritime transport on a global level. In addition, various technological and administrative changes will be made to improve fuel and energy efficiency, and a phased transition will be implemented to allow companies sufficient time to adapt.
Decisions Made 3
The Isamaa faction's proposal to reject the draft law amending the Atmospheric Air Protection Act and other laws, initiated by the Republic's Government, on the first reading (11 in favor, 44 against) did not find support.
Bill 667 has concluded its first reading.
The deadline for submitting amendments is July 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa faction) was very active and critical in the debate, posing several sharp questions to the minister regarding the bill’s retroactive impact and the potential damage to Estonia’s maritime competitiveness. His position was right-wing/opposition.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
In front of the Riigikogu, Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt was welcomed, and the 20th item on the agenda was introduced. This item involves the first reading of Draft Act 667, which is the Act amending the Ambient Air Protection Act and other acts (partial transposition of the amendments to the directive on the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system).
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Andres Sutt thanks the presiding officer for the kind welcome and says that he is very pleased to be here.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He is back here.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt introduced the draft Atmospheric Air Protection Act before the Riigikogu. The bill aims to transpose the EU’s expansion of the greenhouse gas Emissions Trading System (ETS) to maritime transport (ships over 5000 GT), implement changes in aviation and land operations, and enforce a phased transition. Furthermore, it allocates 25 million euros for the modernization of shipping, replaces free aviation allowances with sustainable fuel allowances, and permits land-based equipment with a capacity below 20 MW. The overall goal is to reduce emissions and maintain the competitiveness of Estonian companies without directly affecting ticket prices.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expressed his thanks, stated that there was at least one question, and invited Maido Ruusmann to respond.
Maido Ruusmann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maido Ruusmann pointed out that the quota system is complex, and asked Andres whether the change in question was beneficial or detrimental to Estonia.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
We have financed many projects through the quota system, and according to forecasts, approximately one billion euros will be generated from it over the next four years. This will boost the maritime sector and includes measures for ship retrofitting or conversion, as well as subsidies for passenger vessels.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Andres Metsoja to speak.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Representatives of the maritime sector cannot support the draft bill because its implementation is retroactive, threatens competitiveness, and will bring additional price increases for consumers; moreover, despite repeated meetings with the ministry, a satisfactory agreement was ultimately not finalized.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
The Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, announced two support measures aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the shipping sector: 25 million euros, which has already been made available for improving ship efficiency, and a subsidy for the labor costs of passenger ships, which is set to arrive later this year. He added that the obligation to monitor and report emissions has been in effect in the maritime industry since 2018, and the first payments covering the past year must be completed by September 30. Furthermore, while there have been instances where this surcharge was passed on to ticket prices, we do not see any constitutional conflict here.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the beginning of the speech, Urmas Reinsalu was asked to be invited onto the stage.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu is criticizing the government's plan to slap Tallink with an annual tax of 19 million euros while simultaneously beginning to repay 9 million euros from a support measure. He labeled the move as socialism and reminiscent of North Korea, questioning what exactly is going on in our country.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
The presentation suggests that the monitoring obligation, which has been in effect since 2018, tracks maritime emissions. If these obligations are not fulfilled, providing services within the European Union will become impossible. Nevertheless, these measures are designed to benefit the competitiveness of Estonian companies and ensure a clean environment, and we are also moving towards implementing restrictions on emissions from large ships starting in 2028.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi said that Urmas Reinsalu still had questions in reserve, and asked him to present them.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asserted that retroactive taxes imposed on Estonian companies, coupled with the repayment of funds via subsidies paid to those same companies, distort competition. He argued that a comprehensive framework reflecting national and economic interests should be established, and that the review of the ETS system should be initiated through dialogue. He further noted that EU maritime transport has been progressively undermined in global competition, and concluded by asking the listener if they agreed with his assertion.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanked.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt stated that the 2025 requirements are not new in substance, and competitive shipping necessitates efficient fuel consumption, innovation, and the adoption of alternative fuels. Furthermore, the support measures we have planned will assist Estonian shipping, as Europe is setting an example and the IMO will follow this internationally.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, stated that there were no further questions, and invited the lead committee to introduce to the Riigikogu the discussion and the decisions adopted by Tarmo Tamm, a member of the Environment Committee.
Tarmo Tamm
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
At the June 9 session of the Riigikogu Environment Committee, exceptions for ice-class vessels, the revenue and distribution of HKS, Estonian shipping emissions, and the scope of their compensation were discussed, and it was unanimously decided to include the draft bill on the plenary session agenda on June 18, 2025, conclude the first reading, and appoint Tarmo Tamm as the lead committee member.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks you, states that there are no questions, opens the debate, and gives the floor to Andres Metsoja on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The Isamaa faction proposes rejecting the draft bill, arguing that its entry into force would be retroactive, would bring increasing costs to the shipping industry and consumers, and given the unstable situation in the maritime sector, a better functioning new solution must be found.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Word is that the first reading will be concluded, and the Isamaa faction has submitted a proposal to reject the first reading of Bill 667, which will be put to a vote after the roll call.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu voted on Draft Bill 667 during its first reading, with 11 votes in favor, 44 against, and 0 abstentions. The bill failed to gain support, and the first reading has been concluded. The deadline for submitting proposed amendments is July 4th at 4:00 PM.