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Close to EEK 48 million to be Invested in Environmental Infrastructure

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will support the development of the Estonian economy and infrastructure through the Environmental Investment Centre with close to EEK 48 million next year. This includes state co-financing in the total amount of EEK 5 million.

32 projects will be supported through the ERDF next year. However, applications were submitted for financing 81 projects in the total amount of EEK 152 million.

As a result of a formal evaluation 63 applications and applicants were acknowledged to be conforming to the relevant requirements. After that, a substantive evaluation took place on the basis of which the Minister of the Environment signed the decisions to accept or reject the applications. The funds of the ERDF and the Republic of Estonia will be invested in 32 environmental projects in the amount of EEK 47.7 million. The total amount of self-financing and co-financing provided by final recipients will be EEK 55.1 million.

With the help of the ERDF the projects of the following four sectors will be financed next year:

* In the field of biological and scenic diversity altogether three projects in the total amount of EEK 5.2 million will be financed (the following organisations will be supported: one non-profit association, one foundation and one state authority).

* In the field of waste handling altogether 8 projects in the total amount of EEK 12.2 million will be financed (the following organisations will be supported: one company, one non-profit association and 6 local governments).

* In the field of water use and protection altogether 18 projects in the total amount of EEK 19.2 million will be financed (the following organisations will be supported: one state authority, one non-profit association and 16 local governments).

* In the field of renewable energy altogether three projects in the total amount of EEK 11.1 million will be financed (three companies will be supported).

Among others, financial support will be given to the following organisations: the Kotkas Society for Nature Conservation, OÜ Roheline Ring (private limited company), the Rural Municipality Government of Roosna-Alliku, AS Räpina Paberivabrik (Paper Factory), the Rural Municipality Government of Tähtvere and the Land Improvement Bureau of Jõgeva. Additional information on all the 32 supported projects can be found under the subdivision ERDF on the homepage of the Environmental Investment Centre at the address

http://www.kik.ee/

The European Regional Development Fund is one of the four regional policy funds of the European Union to support the development of the economy and infrastructure, including the development of the environmental infrastructure.

The Environmental Investment Centre foundation as the implementing body of the environmental measures financed by the ERDF will mediate a total of EEK 150 million for environmental infrastructure development from 2004 to 2006.

Further information:
Helen Sulg
ERDF Project Coordinator
The Environmental Investment Centre foundation
Phone (+372) 627 4175; (+372) 503 2230
E-mail:

Monika Kopti
Press Representative of the Ministry of the Environment
Phone (+372) 626 2993; (+372) 521 2602
E-mail: