“The aim is to increase the internal self-management of local authorities by making their organisation clearer, simpler and more flexible” said the Minister of Regional Affairs of Estonia, Madis KALLAS, during his address to the Chamber of local authorities.
In a monitoring report on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe calls on Estonia to revise the legislation on the division of tasks and competences between local and national levels, to allocate to local government financial resources commensurate with their responsibilities and increase the possibilities for local government to generate own resources by allowing them to introduce additional local taxes.
The rapporteurs welcomed very much the statement made by Minister Kallas regarding the intention of the Estonian Government to modify the equalisation formula in order to reduce the negative effects of regional disparities and the willingness to engage close discussions with the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities and municipal representatives. The rapporteurs look forward to continuing political dialogue with Estonian authorities.
In addition, the report recommends revising consultation mechanisms to ensure effective, timely and meaningful consultation with subnational authorities. It is also recommended to increase resources allocated to the equalisation fund and revise the criteria of distribution.
Overall, the report - prepared by Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG) and Sören Schumacher (Germany, SOC/G/PD) - concludes that the country’s local self-government system works well and that obligations under the Charter are respected. The 2017 territorial administrative reform had a positive impact. The use of new technologies is increased for administrative and democratic purposes, creating more engagement opportunities for the citizens. The report also evaluates favourably the increasing recognition of the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities since its creation in 2018 as well as the creation of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture which deals with local-self-governance in the country.
It is the fourth monitoring report on Estonia since it ratified the European Charter of Local Self Government in 1994. Estonia has also ratified the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority in 2011.The countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum number of rights, which form the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities makes sure that these principles are observed in the framework of its monitoring activities.
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45th Session
Agenda – Web file – Multimedia (Live webcasts, interviews, videos and photo)
