EU Affairs Committee of Estonian parliament to be renamed

TALLINN - In the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union, the EU Affairs Committee of the Estonian parliament is to be renamed committee for the affairs of the EU and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Despite the UK's exit from the EU, the country will retain a certain special status in the union, an explanatory note to the respective bill says. This means that a large part of EU legislation, while retaining force, will acquire a different kind of mandatoriness and be secured with different executive mechanisms.

The said area will fall within the competence of the EU Affairs Committee also in the future but this with consideration of the changed juridical reality, which should be reflected in the committee's name as well. The name also should emphasize the committee's function to address issues connected with the actual Brexit process.

The bill requires a majority in the Riigikogu to become a law. It is planned to enter into effect in the usual order on the 10th day after publication in the official gazette Riigi Teataja.