President of the Republic today offered the traditional lunch to County Governors at the end of the year. On the invitation of the President, also Prime Minister Mart Laar participated at lunch, as well as, traditionally, the MP Peeter Olesk. The administrative reform and the enlargement of the European Union were discussed. The meeting concentrated on the part evaluating the administrative reform in the European Commission's success report speaking of Estonia’s good progress. The President said that the accuracy, thoroughness and transparency of the report should set an example to Estonia.

The participants of the meeting reached a common conclusion that first of all, it is important to improve the efficiency of both the local governments and the executive power of the state. Also the uniting of rural municipalities is only reasonable when it helps to improve the efficiency and frugality of rural municipalities or towns.

The Prime Minister mentioned that in connection with uniting rural municipalities, the Government would like to point it out to the enterprises that there should be a bank or a post office at each local centre. As he said, the Government is trying to find resources especially for preserving the network of representations of infrastructure enterprises in rural areas. The President was concerned that today, people do not have sufficient information on the meaning of the completion of the administrative reform. As the President said, the administrative reform should be carried out so that the inhabitants of Estonia would know what to reckon with in six months' , a year's or three years' time. The administrative reform must produce stability and security and not reduce them, the President said.

President of the Republic recognised the efforts of the Prime Minister and the County Governors to analyse the current administrative arrangements and to find solutions. The President reminded the County Governors and the Prime Minister that after the administrative reform has been completed, every inhabitant of Estonia will have to be able to perceive that this is the reason why life in Estonia has changed for the better. The administrative reform is a process to be completed within five or ten years, and nothing but Auntie Maali's opinion can serve as the final criterion of its success, the President said to summarise what had been said at the lunch table. President Meri also spoke to the guests of the results of the state visit to Germany and Estonia's expectations in connection with the Nice Summit. The Hiiu County Governor Hannes Maasel, who is currently the co-ordinator of County Governors, thanked the Head of State and the Head of Government in the name of the County Governors.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg November 29, 2000

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