Agenda Profile: Peeter Ernits
Draft law (667 SE) for amending the Atmosphere Protection Act and other laws (partial transposition of amendments to the directive on greenhouse gas emission trading) - second reading
2025-09-10
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political stance is strongly opposed to draft bill 667 SE, stressing its negative economic impact on businesses and consumers. Criticism centers on the poor quality of policy execution and procedural confusion, particularly concerning the inadequacy of compensation mechanisms and the incompetence of officials regarding the specific type of legislation involved. The approach is rather results-oriented, as emphasis is placed on the law's actual effect on ticket prices and the freedom to conduct business.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates detailed knowledge of the economic consequences resulting from the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System (ETS) in the shipping sector. They use specific data concerning ticket price increases on Tallink routes (e.g., 5.3–5.9 euros for a one-way trip to Helsinki) and quote Tallink's positions in detail, referencing specific pages and legal arguments (such as the violation of the freedom of enterprise). Furthermore, the speaker is aware of the selective nature of the compensation measures (25 million for vessel adaptation, compensation for labor costs).
11 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is combative, ironic, and critical, employing strong language to describe the incompetence of officials ("What the hell is this, then?", "not even a pig would eat this"). It balances emotional criticism with the citation of specific data and documents. To assess the quality of lawmaking, literary comparisons are used, referring to the draft bill under discussion as a light "novella" compared to Hanno Pevkur's massive work "War and Peace."
11 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is highly active during the second reading of the draft bill, posing repeated questions and directing criticism toward the committee representative. Their mode of operation includes the detailed analysis and citation of external documents (such as Tallink's official positions or website pricing information) throughout the session.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary targets of criticism are the officials who drafted the bill and the representative of the commission, who are accused of being unaware of business concerns and of incompetence (confusing a directive with a regulation). The criticism is intense, focusing on procedural negligence and substantive failure, which creates the impression of a "partial picture" of the situation. The government's approach is also criticized for ignoring the concerns of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Shipowners' Association.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative approach is directed outwards, representing and citing the opposition to the draft bill voiced by shipping companies (Tallink) and trade organizations (the Chamber of Commerce, the Shipowners' Association). He/She also refers to the concerns mentioned by colleague Reinsalu, thereby demonstrating unity when criticizing procedural matters.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is directed at international shipping (the Helsinki and Stockholm lines) and its economic impact on consumers. Additionally, attention is paid to Estonia's domestic ferry routes (Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Vormsi), raising questions about their special treatment within the context of the green transition.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic views are strongly oriented towards protecting entrepreneurial freedom and criticizing regulations that result in significant costs for businesses and consumers (such as rising ticket prices). He criticizes the inadequacy of compensation measures (for instance, reimbursing labor costs to only two out of 14 firms) and dismisses them as merely "shifting funds from one pocket to another." Priority is given to addressing the concerns of the business community.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Not enough data.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on opposing Draft Bill 667 SE (the transposition of the greenhouse gas emissions trading system), emphasizing its procedural and substantive shortcomings. He/She is an active opponent whose criticism relies on the views of entrepreneurs. Furthermore, he/she brought up the Civil Defense and National Defense Act as a massive piece of legislation for comparison, noting that the current draft bill is a light "novella" compared to it.
11 Speeches Analyzed