Construction, Culture, Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Real Estate

According to the author of the proposal, member of the Riigikogu culture committee Signe Kivi, the amendment was necessary because the existing price cap had become obsolete, spokespeople for the Reform Party said.   

Kivi pointed out that since the law on the commissioning of artworks was passed in 2010, the principle has been applied that when a large scale reconstruction of a public building takes place or a new public building is constructed, works of art will be acquired the total price of which without the value added tax must be at least 1/100 of the price of the project, but not more than 65,000 euros.

The MP from the Reform Party, the largest opposition force in the parliament, said that the prices of works of art have risen in the past decade. 

"Besides, the prices of the works of art for large public buildings, such as work-intensive sculptures and installations, have been at the upper limit already for several years -- which is logical because building materials as well as other items entailed in the creation of a work of art, materials and auxiliary works have become more expensive," the MP added.