First Reading of the Bill on Amendments to the State Fees Act and Related Amendments to Other Acts (417 SE)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, Third Session, Plenary Session.
Date: 2024-04-30 14:33
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 46
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 50m
AI Summaries: 46/46 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of Draft Act No. 417, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the State Fees Act and related acts, is on the agenda. Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets was invited to the Riigikogu rostrum for the presentation, and his speech focused on the objectives of the draft act: bringing state fee rates into line with actual costs, fairer price formation, and taking into account the principle of solvency. The draft act provides for the increase of state fees for identity documents, procedures related to the status of foreigners, citizenship, and population register operations, as well as the retention of concessions and exceptions in certain cases to ensure access to services and prevent a reduction in availability. It is also stipulated that state fees for procedures carried out at foreign representations and in consular activities must correspond to actual expenses, and that the cost-effectiveness of the role of local governments shall be maintained. The projected increase in state fee revenue and the impact of the draft act on the budget have been presented; the basis for planning is the implementation of a cost-based approach and the financing of information technology developments within the area administered by the Ministry of the Interior. The entry into force of the draft act is scheduled for January 1, 2025, which allows time for the implementation of technical and administrative changes.
Decisions Made 1
The first reading of Draft Law 417 is concluded. Three proposals (concerning termination or moving forward) failed to gain approval in the vote. As a result of the conclusion of the first reading, no amendments are made: the voting result was 17 in favor, 50 against, with no abstentions. Notice: The deadline for submitting amendments intended for the first reading is May 15th at 17:15. The consideration of the second agenda item is concluded.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Rain Epler (ID VrDPwHs2xBs). He represents the opposition faction, posing several questions and making critical remarks regarding the pre-expenditure clarity of state levies and the financial impact on the public sector. Position: other (not definitively belonging to a specific classification – general oppositional and critical role)?
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announces the next item on the agenda: the first reading of Draft Act No. 417 on the Amendment of the State Fees Act and related Amendments to Other Acts, and invites the honorable Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, to the Riigikogu rostrum as the presenter.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The draft bill amending the State Fees Act aligns state fees with actual costs by increasing the state fees for ID card, passport, and alien status procedures, as well as for the operations of foreign representations, extending concessions up to the age of 18 (and in special cases for the elderly and people with disabilities), and amending the state fee rates related to the Arms Act, security activities, and population register procedures to cover the costs incurred by local governments for these procedures, while also adding the right for consular officials to issue multilingual certificates; the expected revenue generated by the draft bill will increase from 14.09 million to 25.11 million euros by 2025, and the bill will enter into force on January 1, 2025, while IT systems are simultaneously being developed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi expressed his thanks and called for questions, while simultaneously inviting Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to speak.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He is posing a critical question on behalf of the voters regarding the reasons for the increase in state fees, asking whether the state is offering better services or if inflation is truly that high, why people's incomes are not rising, and on what basis the state is robbing its citizens.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The report highlights the problem of low income and the need for a robust increase in the minimum wage. It also explains the principle behind charging government service fees to cover costs, citing the price hike for the ID card as an example, alongside the discounts offered to minors (up to 18), pensioners, and children to make obtaining documentation more affordable.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Jaanus Karilaid to speak.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid criticized the situation, arguing that the impact analysis existed only on paper and the law was not being followed. He referenced the increased figures and questioned whether the additional revenue of 9–10 million would actually meet the objective, requesting more precise calculations on how much the cost of getting married would increase.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The adjustment of state fees underwent a thorough analysis led by the Police and Border Guard Board and the Ministry of the Interior. During this process, costs were reduced, and in some cases, fees were lowered to a minimum or zero. A political vision was also incorporated, for example, that the state fee for marriage does not necessarily have to reflect the actual cost, and that the fee for firearm permit applications will be raised reasonably so that engaging in hunting does not become unreasonably expensive.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Rain Epler to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler argues that ministers discuss the public's financial well-being and hardships, yet they constantly generate new expenses, first by raising salaries and then by increasing cost-based fees and taxes. He questions whether their objective is simply to repeat the same cycle annually.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets stated that the main priority is people's incomes: raising the minimum wage, ensuring a simultaneous and equitable rise in public sector wages, and distributing the burden among everyone through tax changes, rather than exclusively favoring the private sector.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi notes that Rain Epler waved his hand and asks if there is some technical problem.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks whether costs are increasing due to public sector wage hikes and whether raising taxes triggers a cycle, and points out that the minister spoke about the minimum wage and the Social Democrats' program.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi notes that the listeners heard it very precisely.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler says he can hear himself, but he isn't sure if the microphone was working and if his question actually got through.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He emphasizes that the listeners themselves admit they heard the minister speaking.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker asks if their message is reaching the minister.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi confirms in the affirmative that it is perfectly sufficient.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler simply confirms that everything is clear.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi remarked that if something reaches him, it also reaches the minister, because he sits further away.
Alar Laneman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Alar Laneman stated that these are cost-based processes necessary for the functioning of the state, that the costs do not depend on the number of procedures performed, and that the concept of "benefits" creates an unfair atmosphere. He added that the PPA is not a massage parlor and that people go there to fulfill state requirements, and he requested clarification on how these costs are directly related to the state fees.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
The costs of state operations must always be covered—either through state fees or tax increases. While the human element is taken into account for some procedures, and covering the full cost might not be affordable for everyone, the expense ultimately exists and must be settled. If the principle is to be changed, it necessitates an open debate, as this is a question that operates within the broader tax landscape, not merely a state fee issue.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Arvo Aller is invited to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasizes that this concerns amendments to several laws, not an increase in the minimum wage. He explains the nature of state fees—charges levied for documents and certifications—and asks the explanatory memorandum to clarify the meaning of multilingual standard forms, why they are utilized in foreign representations, and what their associated costs are.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
If a foreigner is intended to be brought here, or if they are bringing a spouse along, the marriage must be certified in the language of the respective country. The same principle applies in Estonia: the foreigner's ties and previous activities must be substantiated with documentation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister, notes that Vadim Belobrovtsev's name was displayed on the screen for the transcript, but he is not present in the chamber, and directs the discussion to the report of the lead committee, presented by Mati Raidma of the Legal Affairs Committee.
Mati Raidma
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
State fees will be adjusted to reflect the actual costs of the procedures, including changes to the fee for a birth certificate, expedited processing for identity cards, and fees for gun permits and other procedures. This matter concluded with a substantive discussion, and it was decided to place the draft bill on the plenary session agenda for April 30th and appoint Mati Raidma as the lead committee representative for the first reading.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanks the presenter and proceeds to the questions, inviting Andrei Korobeinik to pose a question.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik thanked the chairman of the session, noted that he was not a member of the committee, and asked whether the committee had discussed whether the 250-euro state fee for expedited passport processing seemed inadequate, and what the outcome of that discussion was.
Mati Raidma
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mati Raidma said that the expedited procedure is a benefit offered by the state, and the draft bill reduces the receipt time from five working days to two working days, which is why the taxation is higher. This matter was discussed in the committee.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to the stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev asks the commission's representative if the benefits intended for pensioners and people with disabilities are actually in place, and whether they will be increased or stay the same.
Mati Raidma
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mati Raidma said that the topic discussed in the committee's debates concerned Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, and Kaspar Lepper explained that although fees usually follow the cost principle, there are discounts for the aforementioned preferential groups, and applying for an identity document is 50% cheaper.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanked the rapporteur, announced that there were no questions, opened the debate, and invited Jaanus Karilaid, the representative of the Isamaa faction, to the Riigikogu rostrum, noting simultaneously that Priit Sibul was authorized to speak in the discussions concerning draft bill 417.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid criticizes the draft bill put forward by the Reform Party and the Social Democrats as a political choice that will shrink the economy and people's purchasing power while simultaneously increasing taxes and state fees. He calls on the Isamaa faction to reject draft bill 417—the Act on Amendments to the State Fees Act and Related Acts—at the first reading.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker invited Siim Pohlak, the representative of the EKRE faction, to the podium in the Riigikogu.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak claims that the government is burdening the Estonian people with tax hikes and increased state fees, allocating funds to ministry salaries and climate policy, and permitting the tax-free export of large capital by foreign investors. He calls for an end to the increase in state fees and the rejection of Bill 417.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas called upon Vadim Belobrovtsev, the representative of the Centre Party faction, to take the floor.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The faction requested a ten-minute break before the vote.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that the lead committee intends to conclude the first reading of draft bill 417 and vote on three proposals, which were submitted by the Centre Party, EKRE, and Isamaa factions, and which essentially propose rejecting the bill during the first reading.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev, on behalf of the Center Party faction, proposes taking a ten-minute recess.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas expresses his thanks and announces that the break will last ten minutes.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that the proposal put forth by the Isamaa faction, the Conservative People's Party of Estonia faction, and the Estonian Centre Party faction would be put to a vote, and he requested that Kalle Grünthal raise a procedural question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He pointed out that there are three draft bills they wish to reject, and that, in fact, each proposal should be voted on individually, rather than all three simultaneously.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas explains that there is actually just one bill, accompanied by three substantively similar proposals, and requests a vote to reject Bill 417 at the first reading, which stems from the working practice of the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The result of the vote was 17 in favor, 50 against, and there were no abstentions, which concluded the first reading of Draft Law 417, and the deadline for submitting amendments is May 15th at 5:15 PM; the consideration of the second agenda item is concluded.