Second reading of the Draft Act on the Amendment of the International Sanctions Act and the Amendment of Other Acts Related Thereto (332 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session.
Date: 2024-05-08 21:05
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 27
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 53m
AI Summaries: 27/27 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerns the second reading, currently in the proceedings of the Riigikogu (Parliament), of Bill 332, initiated by the Government of the Republic, regarding the amendment of the International Sanctions Act and related amendments to other acts. The objective of the Bill is to strengthen domestic mechanisms for the implementation of international sanctions, clarify restrictions and obligations, and address critical legal and administrative issues, including financial and supervisory systems. The discussion raised two main themes: issues concerning the domestic implementation of international sanctions, and broader topics related to the Bill, such as the freezing of assets and their use for Ukraine as an advance payment for damages, defensive and legal limitations, and the principle of proportionality. Furthermore, experience-based proposals submitted by various institutions and parliamentary factions were addressed, and potential amendments affecting the ministries' notification, administrative, and judicial review mechanisms were considered.
Decisions Made 3
The Committee decided to consolidate all 211 rejecting amendments into a single joint proposal, No. 4. This is a collective management decision aimed at ensuring the transparency of the proceedings and streamlining the subsequent debate.
The Steering Committee decided to conclude the second reading of the draft bill based on the progress of the debate and the proposals submitted, including consideration of the proposal put forth by the EKRE faction to suspend the second reading and expedite the procedure. Furthermore, a desire was expressed to finalize the second reading and proceed with deliberations for the third reading.
The Riigikogu voted on the EKRE faction's proposal to interrupt the second reading; the result of the vote was 7 in favor and 49 against, with no abstentions. The second reading of the draft bill has been concluded in accordance with the voting results.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker: BDH3H-JWux0 (Henn Põlluaas, EKRE). Position: right (right-wing); that is, a recipient distinct from the main factions and a strong catalyst in discussions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu will today discuss, as the fourth item on the agenda, the second reading of Bill 332, initiated by the government, concerning the amendment of the International Sanctions Act and related amendments to other acts, and the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee, Hendrik Johannes Terras, is invited to give the presentation.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Before sending the bill to the second reading, the Constitutional Committee discussed issues concerning the domestic implementation of international sanctions, clarified that an international sanction is not a punishment, and decided to submit amendments No. 2, 3, and 8: Amendment 2 expands notification regarding international sanctions and adds the Financial Supervision Authority (Finantsinspektsioon) as an involved supervisory body; Amendment 3 removes the obligation to notify the Financial Intelligence Unit (Rahapesu Andmebüroo) of violations, suspected violations, or threats concerning the prohibition on the import and export of goods, while maintaining the obligation to notify the Tax and Customs Board; and Amendment 8 establishes a six-month transition period for information technology development work, allowing credit institutions to transmit the citizenship and residence permit data of the securities account owner to the Estonian Register of Securities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair requested silence in the hall, and asked that anyone wishing to speak do so outside the room, so that the listening of the presentations would not be disturbed.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
I addressed the Constitutional Committee regarding the utilization of Russia's frozen assets for compensating damages incurred by Ukraine, stressing the necessity of balancing international law, European Union regulations, and the proportional interference with property rights, alongside fostering inter-state cooperation and developing the required mechanisms. Furthermore, I announced that the committee has decided to consolidate the 200 obstruction-related amendments into a single proposal and move forward with the procedure within the scope of international agreements, administrative procedure, and judicial oversight.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks how much extra time is desired.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras gave a very short speech that centered on the two-minute length.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar is granting three minutes of extra time so that we can stay within the limits.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The consolidation of 211 exclusionary amendments into a single amendment does not infringe upon the rights of the submitters, as they were afforded the opportunity to introduce all amendments in the lead committee, and to pose questions and take the floor during the debate of the second reading; the committee supported binding these proposals into one amendment and moved to conclude the second reading of the draft bill, a motion which the EKRE faction opposed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the presenter and announces that there are questions, and calls upon Henn Põlluaas to answer.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas asked whether any country has found and confirmed that the scheme developed in Estonia is legally valid and that they intend to adopt it.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Since this law has not yet been passed, no one has implemented or established it in their own country. However, there has been interest shown in it, and if it is passed and translated into English, several countries will want to review it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter, announced that there were no questions, declared the debate open, and invited colleague Anti Allas to the podium.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas stated that the Social Democratic Party supports the principle that the sanctioned assets of the aggressor state can be used under Estonian jurisdiction as a prepayment for damages to Ukraine, in accordance with international law, should the party responsible for the damage fail to compensate for it. Furthermore, Estonia must take the lead in this initiative and involve other countries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks the colleague and calls upon Kalev Stoicescu to the Riigikogu podium.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu stated that Bill 332 is crucial for Estonia and its allies in halting Russian aggression, compensating for damages inflicted upon Ukraine through the use of frozen Russian assets, and implementing broader sanctions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the audience and invites Urmas Reinsalu to speak next.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The Isamaa faction supports the implementation of this bill without delay and emphasizes that international precedents and the European Union legal order provide the opportunity to use the assets of Russian oligarchs for the benefit of Ukraine. Furthermore, it calls on the government to swiftly implement both EU and national sanctions to restrict the Russian economy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the previous speaker and invites Marko Mihkelson to the Riigikogu podium to deliver his speech.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Reform Party supports concluding the second reading of the current bill and adopting the third reading as quickly as possible, stressing that this constitutes a highly significant precedent in both Estonian domestic and international legal frameworks, and that utilizing frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction and making Russia's aggression more costly is a crucial step.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and invites colleague Henn Põlluaas to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak next.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Speaking about Russia's aggression, Henn Põlluaas emphasizes that Russia must be stopped, and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to provide aid to Ukraine must take place within the framework of European Union law and international law, and collectively, because Estonia's plan is legally uncertain and risks damaging the credibility of the euro.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks if additional time is desired.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He asks for an extension and confirms that three minutes is suitable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasized that Estonia must not unilaterally initiate a scheme for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. Instead, it must develop a mechanism, in cooperation with other states, that is consistent with international customary law and the principles of state immunity, for holding Russia accountable for damages and providing aid to Ukraine, and he proposed suspending the second reading of Bill 332.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker concluded the consideration of amendments to Bill 332 and submitted for a vote the EKRE faction's motion to interrupt the second reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The results of the vote indicated that 7 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion, 49 voted against it, and there were no abstentions. Consequently, the proposal failed to gain support, and the second reading of Draft Act 332 has been concluded.