Regional policy
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-11-13 14:24
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The present discussion regarding the third question focused on regional policy and the rationale for creating regional cooperation areas. Member of the Riigikogu Helir-Valdor Seeder presented a critical proposal: instead of forming artificial, illogical regions, the basis should be Estonia’s administrative division, the boundaries of local governments, counties, and local identity. He emphasized that regions should be shaped on the basis of reasonable logic and needs, in order to maintain a non-uniform, but functioning regional development system. It was also stressed that regional policy should not fall further than an inter-ministerial matter, but must be a common priority for the entire government and involve local governments, businesses, and universities. The second part of the discussion focused on why regional disparities need to be reduced and how to coordinate entrepreneurship, security, education, and social policy at the regional level. Minister Piret Hartman further explained that the goal is not to shift local structures or lose identity, but to create sufficient competence and resources for solving major issues regionally, and to utilize the experience of pilot projects and international cooperation (OECD).
Concluding the topic, the importance of cooperation was emphasized and the need to bring discussions and decisions to regional levels, and to critically examine the composition of Central Estonia’s region, not as legally binding limits, but as a basis for technical discussion.
Decisions Made 1
At the end of spring, the government decided that 40% of entrepreneurship and environmental measures must reach beyond the golden rings; previously, a large portion of these measures had reached the golden rings. The next stage involves a more detailed analysis and reporting, with submissions to the government by the end of the year that will determine the scope and form of the continued distribution. There are also plans to ensure that 38% of measures reach rural areas, with 10% already distributed; the aim is to strengthen regional representation and cooperation between local governments, businesses, and universities. This was a collegial decision, and its implementation will focus on cooperation and the integration of regional policy into various fields (education, social affairs, security, infrastructure), and not solely focusing on spatial maps.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa), a member of the Riigikogu, whose PIN is Iov5Jop5kE4. Seeder raised two key questions on the topic of regional policy and brought up additional questions, actively participating in the discussion and drawing attention to the problems of regional development. His political positioning is on the right of the political spectrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
A Riigikogu member, Helir-Valdor Seeder, asks Piret Hartman, the Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, about regional policy.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder urges stopping the creation of four artificial and illogical regional cooperation areas, and emphasizes that Estonia has never been divided into four, but regional development must be guided by administrative borders, local identity, and by the centers and the hinterland, not by officials' pressure or substitute activities.
Regionaal- ja põllumajandusminister Piret Hartman
AI Summary
Regional and Agricultural Minister Piret Hartman said that regional disparities are growing and there is a need to establish a five-region level, where, in collaboration with local governments, companies, universities, and the OECD, development plans would be prepared to reduce social inequality and to promote economic growth and entrepreneurship, while at the same time preserving the identity of local governments and counties.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is a clear invitation to the public to take action, saying that their time has come.
Regionaal- ja põllumajandusminister Piret Hartman
AI Summary
Regional and Agricultural Minister Piret Hartman said that at the regional level there has been unprecedented cooperation between different counties thanks to their development initiatives, and the latest such feedback came from Tartumaa's municipalities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked and asked Helir-Valdor Seeder to present a clarifying question.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder believes that the creation of artificial regions will not solve Estonia's regional problems, counties are the optimal level of regional governance, and regional policy must operate across the government as a whole, where each ministry develops its own regional vision for its domain, and an agreement must be reached with the prime minister that regional policy would be a priority.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech calls on listeners to act, saying: "Your time has come."
Regionaal- ja põllumajandusminister Piret Hartman
AI Summary
Piret Hartman emphasized that regional policy must encompass all sectors, focus on cooperation, and bring resources and expertise to the regions through local governments, rather than drawing maps, in order to solve regional problems and foster development.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar asked Martin Helmet to present a supplementary question.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the government of incompetence and of a lack of regional policy, claiming that they want to push decision-making and funding to even lower levels, thereby diminishing regional life, and finally asks whether local governments know where people will be evacuated to.
Regionaal- ja põllumajandusminister Piret Hartman
AI Summary
The Minister of Regional and Agricultural Affairs, Piret Hartman, said that the government aims to bring decision-making and resources down to the local level and to increase the share of measures that reach rural areas, and to maintain the country's regional representation in close cooperation with local governments, companies, and universities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanks and announces that he will conclude today's discussion of the third question.