On 17 June 2004, the Estonian Parliament adopted the Seafarers Act Amendment Act (298 SE). The purpose of the Act is to ensure that there is state supervision over conditions of employment at sea and to bring the Seafarers Act into compliance with International Labour Orgnization (ILO) conventions.

  • the Nature Conservation Act Amendment Act (390 SE). This Act reinstates a provision that was omitted due to a technical error from the original law, pursuant to which activitiy for which a nature conservation grant is given is not considered to be related to commercial activity and is therefore exempt from tax.

  • Pollution Charge Act Amendment Act (375 SE) This Act amends the manner in which the oil shale industry is taxed with pollution charges. The Act also introduces a number of new activities with regard to which a polluter can apply for permission to invest in environmental protection measures in lieu of paying a pollution charge.

On 15 June 2004, the Estonian Parliament passed:

  • the Act to Amend the Dwelling Act and § 121 of the Republic of Estonia Principles of Ownership Reform Act (313 SE). The purpose of the Act is to repeal the provisions within the Dwelling Act regarding the extension of rent ceilings established by local government councils for municiapally owned dwellings to dwellings that have been returned to their rightful owners, in order to eliminate this restriction on the possession of private property. A provision was added to the Republic of Estonia Principles of Ownership Reform Act which establishes that rent increases and disputes regarding rent increases that arise in connection with the repeal of rent ceilings are subject to the time limits and procedure set out in the Law of Obligations Act.
  • the Act to Amend § 22 of the Housing Privatisation Act (228 SE). The objective of this Act is to resolve the situation arising from the Housing Privatization Act where the principle of equal treatment has been violated with regard to residential tenents as a result of the provision that establishes that after 1 June 2001, a person who has entered into a residential lease contract no longer has a preferential right to privatize the dwelling in question.

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