Western Estonia islands seek special treatment from state

Municipalities in Western Estonia have appealed jointly to the Estonian government for a separate regional programme, ERR reported, saying their island location limits competitiveness and requires special treatment.

The appeal follows the European Commission’s adoption this summer of the European Union’s first islands strategy, which highlights the need for special treatment of more than 4,000 inhabited islands across Europe.

The strategy covers 16 EU member states and more than 17 million people. It does not provide a direct financial measure for island development, but sets out ways for member states to support their islands more effectively.

“This would mean, for example, that Estonia could justify the needs and investments of Saaremaa or Hiiumaa specifically on the basis of their island location, so that member states would include measures intended for islands in their national plans. It does not come with an automatic fund or additional support for islands,” said Elis Paemurd, deputy head of the European Commission Representation in Estonia.

Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Ruhnu, Vormsi and Lääne-Nigula municipalities, together with Haapsalu city, submitted the appeal as Estonia prepares for the European Union’s next budget period. They are asking the government to treat the municipalities covered by the strategy through a separate regional programme.

“Western Estonia is lagging behind according to its indicators, which is why we need special treatment. We are not asking the state for anything new, but for what the state has already offered other regions to help them catch up,” said Laura Heinsaar, deputy rural municipality mayor of Saaremaa.

The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture said the EU islands strategy does not directly require Estonia to allocate money from European funds, but does support allowing exceptions.

“The government has decided that more European Union funds should be directed outside Harju County, and there is currently no further allocation. We would like the measures for the new period to also take into account that coastal areas and islands differ from the rest of Estonia,” said Helin Anton, head of a division in the ministry’s regional policy department.

Heinsaar estimated that several tens of millions of euros would be needed for Western Estonia to catch up with other parts of the country.

“The state must certainly direct funding here, so that we are not talking about several million, but tens of millions,” Heinsaar said.