Village Development

Unlike Denmark and Holland, which territories are comparable to the Estonian territory, Estonia’s population is at least ten times smaller. We have rich natural and cultural landscape, several unique traditions and handicraft skills have been preserved.

Nevertheless, urbanization has left its mark – around 30% of the Estonian population is living in Tallinn, concentrating a broad palette of services and the main market to that city. In comparison, there are 4433 villages in Estonia, where only 20% of the Estonian population is living.

The further from centers, the bigger is the challenge to receive necessary services and to find job. Therefore, improving the quality of life outside Tallinn and other bigger centers is critically important regarding the preservation and increase of population numbers.

The initiative of each person is priceless in rural areas, but considerable results can be achieved by cooperation. Since our Restoration of Independence, joint activities of communities have increased, people feel responsibility for their local area and contributions are made to local development. The Estonian Village Movement Kodukant with its county associations has done a good job. In addition to local initiatives, the state and the European Union offer significant supports with the aim of preserving the values offered by rural areas.

Village renewal and development investment support in the framework of the Estonian Rural Development Plan 2007 – 2013 and previous similar measures since 2003 focus on improving the attractiveness of the rural living environment and quality of life, supporting the renovation of community buildings, which are meant for joint activities of rural population and purchasing equipment for those facilities.

Since the beginning of the support measure, meeting places have been renovated, parks and green areas have been cleaned up, folk costumes and musical instruments have been bought. During the period 2007 – 31. Dec 2010, 973 applications have been approved, planning investments in the amount of 45 million euros. The need for such a support measure does not seem to end. Going along with new info technological possibilities, free Internet access points have been opened.

A new support measure will be added in 2011 – investment support to increase the Estonian broadband Internet network coverage. In the framework of this support, new fiber optic cable routes are planned, which enable rural areas to have Internet with the download speed of more than 100 Mb/s. This will deliver e-services provided by the state to people’s homes and farmers and small enterprises will have the possibility to better the offer of their products to the consumers through the Internet. In addition, possibilities for remote working and acquiring education at home will increase.

Contact at the Ministry

Sille Rähn
Chief Specialist
Local Initiative and Human Environment Bureau
Rural Development Department
phone: +372 625 6162
e-mail: sille dot rahn at agri dot ee