Agenda Profile: Mait Klaassen
First reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Traffic Act, and the State Fees Act (461 SE)
2024-09-18
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The central theme revolves around amendments to the Waste Act, the Traffic Act, and the State Fees Act, particularly the regulation governing the handling of end-of-life vehicles and the clearing of the traffic register. The political focus is aimed at encouraging the utilization of vehicles, treating the 800-euro state fee more as an environmental tax, although criticism was also raised regarding its high cost. The position taken is both procedural and policy-based, concentrating on the implementation of the draft bill and the achievement of its objectives.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates strong procedural and technical competence, providing detailed summaries regarding the updating of the traffic register, the scope of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (M1 and N1 categories), and the requirement for a certificate of destruction. They accurately relay expert responses, demonstrating knowledge regarding producer responsibility and the oversight of illegal waste handlers. Their competence is further evidenced by their skill in addressing the complex issues of unregistered vehicles and temporary deregistration.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is extremely formal and neutral, focusing exclusively on conveying the content and procedural decisions of the Environmental Committee session. The speaker acts as a rapporteur, presenting logical and fact-based summaries of the questions and answers while strictly avoiding emotional appeals. The presentation is detailed and thorough, emphasizing the transparency of the proceedings.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The course of action relates to managing the legislative process, having been appointed as the representative of the lead committee during the first reading of the bill. This involves presenting the results of the committee meeting (on September 9th) and the procedural decisions (on September 18th) to the Riigikogu plenary assembly.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker presented criticism regarding the impact of the 800-euro state fee, pointing out that it could push people to look for alternatives and impose burdens on less solvent owners. The view was also relayed that the issue of illegal waste handlers can be resolved even without such a high state fee. A direct personal oppositional stance was not expressed; instead, the speaker conveyed the objections raised during the debate.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is consensual and procedure-focused, as all procedural decisions within the committee were made by consensus. The cooperation involved close communication with experts from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Climate (Vladimir Svet, Piret Otsason, Margus Tähepõld), whose presentations and responses constituted a large part of the discussion. A decision was also made to seek the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is national, concentrating on streamlining the traffic register and clearing cities of abandoned scrap vehicles. The End-of-Life Vehicles Directive is also mentioned, which points to the transposition of international regulation.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives are tied to regulation, emphasizing the expansion of producer responsibility and the introduction of an 800-euro state levy, which is being treated as an environmental tax aimed at channeling end-of-life vehicles toward legal processing. The objective is to regulate the waste management market and curb the activities of illegal operators.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social issue concerned the impact of the 800-euro fee for deletion from the register on less financially capable people who acquire older vehicles. This underscores the awareness of the bill's potential to generate social inequality.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is entirely on Draft Bill 461 SE, which aims to streamline the Road Traffic Register, establish a requirement for an end-of-life vehicle certificate (demolition certificate) for M1 and N1 category vehicles, and resolve the issue of illegal waste handlers. The speaker is the representative of the leading committee, who supports continuing the bill's proceedings and concluding the first reading.
1 Speeches Analyzed