See also

Association of Estonian Cities

Association of Municipalities of Estonia

According to the Local Government Organisation Act local government units have the right to form associations and joint institutions to express, represent and protect common interests and to exercise joint tasks of municipalities. Co-operation is mainly carried out by joint provision of public services especially in areas such as waste management, education, transport, social care and health care. Local authorities co-operate also in elaborating development plans and organizing cultural events. Joint foundations, non-profit organisations and enterprises can be established or specialists hired to work for a group of local authorities. Many small local government units buy public services from neighbouring municipalities. This type of co-operation is usually carried out on a contractual basis.

Regional associations of local authorities

As there is no regional level local government in Estonia, the co-operation of local authorities within a county is of great importance for local authorities in terms of their relations with central authorities and co-ordination of their own activities. There are 15 counties in Estonia. In every county there is a regional association uniting all or most of the local authorities of the county. Regional as well as national associations operate according to the Local Government Associations Act, the Non-profit Organisations Act and other relevant laws. There is no directly elected body on regional level. Members appoint their representatives to the general meeting of the association for the term of the authority of the local government council from among the council or government. Membership of an association is voluntary.

The scope of activities of the associations depends on the needs of the local authorities involved. Regional associations of local authorities are mainly financed from budgets of member local authorities.

Regional as well as national associations may perform local government or state functions within the limits set up by law. The functions which require the exercise of powers of public authority may be transferred to an association for performance only if corresponding authorisation provided by law has been granted. Regional association is consulted on the appointment of a County Governor.

National associations of local authorities

A national association may be founded jointly by more than one half of the local governments in Estonia or by local governments whose combined population, according to the data in the population register, constitutes more than one half of the population of Estonia.

The objectives of a national association are, through the joint activity of the local governments, to foster the development of local government in general, to represent its members on both national and international levels, to protect the common interests of its members, to promote cooperation between its members and to create possibilities for improved performance of the functions prescribed by law for its members by law.

There are two national associations of local authorities in Estonia: the Association of Estonian Cities (Eesti Linnade Liit, AEC) and the Association of Municipalities of Estonia (Eesti Maaomavalitsuste Liit, AME). The Association of Estonian Cities was founded in 1920 and the Association of Municipalities of Estonia was founded in 1921. Both associations were re-established in 1990.

A joint organ, the Co-operation Assembly of Associations of Local Authorities (Omavalitsusliitude Koostöökogu) was established in 1994 with the main task to conduct negotiations with the Government of the Republic.