Estonian National Development Plan for Implementation of EU Structural Funds 2004-2006

The Estonian National Development Plan for Implementation of EU Structural Funds 2004-2006 is a national multi-sectoral plan. Its main objective is to make better use of the learning capacity of the country’s human resources and seize the opportunities presented by new technologies and expanding markets. This shall be done by promoting innovation in the business sector and anticipating the risks that occur inevitably as cost-based competitive advantages will begin to decline.
The Plan aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable. To this end, it aims to develop an environmentally sustainable agriculture that meets veterinary standards and the requirements of phytosanitary, animal welfare and hygiene; to sustain traditional cultural landscapes; to reduce the risks introduced to agricultural production by unfavourable water regime; to increase forest productivity; to create conditions for better use of land; to safeguard the good state of surface water within the land improvement systems; to secure access to arable land; sustainable forest management and its development; to preserve forest resources and improving their condition; investments to increase the economic, ecological and social value of forests; to establish new opportunities for using and marketing products of forest origin, and investments aimed at improving efficiency in the processing and marketing of forest management products; to establish associations of forest owners for more sustainable and efficient forest management; to restore forest management potential lost as a result of natural disasters and forest fires and applying necessary preventive measures; to increase awareness of the environment and promoting active attitude towards life; to secure safety of the environment (air, water, landscape, man-made environment) for human health and wildlife; preservation of valuable landscapes and habitats; to achieve good status of the environment; to adjust emissions levels to the corresponding requirements; application of environmental management systems and best available technologies; and sustainable utilisation of environmental resources (forest, water, fish, natural resources).
Further, for reducing rural poverty, the document targets to maintain employment in agriculture; encourage local initiative and intent to co-operate, thus strengthening social relations; develop social infrastructure; conserve natural and architectural village heritages and improving the outlook of settlements; improve the availability of different services for village populations; and alleviate socio-economic difficulties resulting from restructuring of fisheries.
To enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the Plan seeks boosting enterprise growth and create additional employment opportunities by developing entrepreneurial expertise and new market opportunities; bringing the processing of agricultural production into conformity with new market requirements, finding new markets for agricultural products and improving the functioning of marketing channels; improving processing conditions or increasing efficiency; assuring agricultural producers of an income; improving the quality of agricultural production, more efficient utilisation of by-products; ensuring conformity with environmental and energy conservation requirements; promoting innovative investments; supporting activities in non-agricultural small enterprises in rural areas; developing small enterprises that use local resources/materials or offer services in rural areas; developing the institutional framework and skills base necessary for implementing projects that use internal development potential in rural areas and are targeted for community development; building a model for local development in the form of the functioning local action groups representing partners important on the local level; provision of advisory, extension and support services; to provide a balance between the fishing capacities of the fleet and the fish stocks available; to ensure balance between the natural reproduction of fish stock and the use of it; to modernise food handling and technical conditions on board fishing vessels; investment support measures for fisheries production chain; and to promote the consumption of fish products as well as new products and to identify new markets.
In order to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Plan aims for the prevention of environmental emergencies and securing their liquidation, curbing environmental risks.
In the energy sector, it provides for energy saving and employment of renewable energy sources wherever possible.
The Managing Authority of the Single Programming Document for 2004-2006 is the Ministry of Finance. The Managing Authority shall perform its duties in co-operation with Intermediate Bodies and Final Beneficiaries. Within the Foreign Financing Department there will be a Structural Funds Co-ordinating Division dealing with SPD management questions and there is a Monitoring and Evaluation Division dealing with SPD monitoring questions.