Regional Minister to discuss regional development organisation with representatives of scientific community and local government associations

"I consider it very important that the process of discussing such important draft legislation that will directly affect the development of Estonian regions and the local government activities should involve both leading scientists and specialists in that field and representatives of local government associations," said Regional Minister Jaan Õunapuu.

The meeting participants will discuss the regional development guidance draft law, issues of legal regulation of the activities of the local government in its employer capacity and connections between the urban policy and the regional development strategy.

"I hope to receive definite opinions at today's meeting in Tartu so that we can proceed primarily with the regional development guidance draft law included in the coalition agreement as despite the increase of the financial resources in the recent years we have for several years been unable to fill that legal gap preventing strong development in this sphere," added the Regional Minister.

The meeting will be attended by Regional Minister Jaan Õunapuu and Minister of Social Affairs Jaak Aab, Club Polis president professor Eerik-Juhan Truuväli, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu professor Kalle Merusk and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the Tallinn University of Technology professor Sulev Mäeltsemees. The meeting will also be attended by Margus Lepik, Chairman of the Association of Estonian Cities, Kurmet Müürsepp, Chairman of the Association of Municipalities of Estonia, and other politicians, officials and scientists from national and local government bodies.