Estonian parliament's select committee to discuss use of EU funds

TALLINN - The state budget control select committee of the Riigikogu will gather for a public sitting on Monday to again discuss the use of the European Union subsidies available to Estonia.

Urmas Reinsalu, the chairman of the select committee, said the same topic was discussed by the committee in early summer, and MPs understood that absorption of EU funds is set to improve in the second half of the year.

"The Ministry of Finance emphasized in June that the pace of payouts must be significantly accelerated. However, in August it had to be acknowledged that rather the opposite has happened. The average amount paid out from this fund has been around 30 million euros per month in recent months, instead of the expected 50 million euros," the leader of the opposition Isamaa party said.

By the end of August, the Ministry of Finance had increasingly made it clear that the effective completion of projects funded with external support can be at risk. According to the ministry, Estonia has so far been able to make almost full use of all previous cohesion fund subsidies.

Since regaining independence, Estonia has received billions of euros in non-repayable foreign aid. The majority of the support comes from EU structural funds. In addition, Estonia uses subsidies from Switzerland, Norway and the European Economic Area. The grants go primarily towards the promotion of the Estonian economy, education, infrastructure and the environment.

Minister of Finance Mart Vorklaev, Minister of Health Riina Sikkut, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Climate and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Auditor General Janar Holm and representatives of the National Audit Office have been summoned.

The public meeting that starts at 1:15 p.m. will be live streamed.