Agriculture minister recommends moving 13 state institutions out of Tallinn

Estonian agriculture minister Helir-Valdor Seeder recommends moving 13 state institutions out of Tallinn to increase the state's presence in all Estonian counties, LETA/Postimees writes.

Seeder sent a corresponding letter to regional minister Siim Valmar Kiisler in connection with updating the Ida-Virumaa county action plan. He noted that although his proposals haven’t been systematically prepared, "I think it is the high time to make decisions".

Seeder proposes that the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People be moved to Jõhvi, Ida-Virumaa; OÜ Estonian Environmental Research Centre and AS Eesti Loto be moved to Rakvere, Lääne-Virumaa; Environmental Investments Centre be moved to Türi, Järvamaa county, where the former Tartu University Türi College building is empty; Environment Supervision Authority and Private Forests Centre be moved to Pärnu; National Culture Centre Foundation and State Forest Management Centre be located to Viljandi; Estonian Internet Foundation to Kuressaare, Saaremaa; Citizenship Society Foundation to Võru; Health Development Institute and Environmental Information Centre to Tartu.

Seeder said that the majority of agriculture ministry sphere institutions are located outside Tallinn and the ministry has preserved service bureaus of boards of the ministry's sphere in all county centres. "Such politics have justified themselves well," he said. This year, the Country Life Development Foundation will be moved from Tallinn to Viljandi.