The Estonian National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) is a national multisectoral strategic document of Estonia for the period 2007-2013. Its main objective is fast and sustainable development, which entails rise of competitiveness of the economy; increased social cohesion; and more sustainable use of environment. The NSRF aims to improve access to potable water. To this end, the document notes that water supply systems will be built and renovated for guaranteeing quality drinking water for the people. In addition, the Framework aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable. To this end, it is planning to build and renovate water protection facilities (waste water collection systems and purifiers); to sanitise the water bodies, mitigate the impact of pollution or improve the biological state of the water bodies; to improve collection, sorting and reuse as well as recycling of waste; to close landfills not meeting relevant requirements and to construct new landfills and waste treatment places meeting the environmental requirements; to remediate residues generated by oil shale industry and energy production; to facilitate the technological upgrading of energy production enterprises and creating of incentives (e.g. via pollution permits, pollution charges) for the provision of sufficient treatment facilities; to focus on the preparation and implementation of management plans of sites belonging to the NATURA 2000 network as well as of protected areas and of endangered species; to support development of environmental education centres proceeding from the concept of education supporting sustainable development; to develop national, local and enterprise-level environmental monitoring system; and to upgrade the technical equipment of environmental supervision with the primary aim to make the protection of fish stock more efficient. Further, for reducing rural poverty, the document targets to improve the complex of local public services; to create conditions for promoting local employment; to support promotion and application of traditional know-how in economic development; to support creation and strengthening of regional innovation systems and development of regional competence centres and entrepreneurial networks; to improve the situation in terms of the difference in the wages of men and women; and to support raising the value of cultural, milieu and natural heritage as well as the development of tourism spots. In order to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the NSRF aims to increase the security of people and prevent the health risks; to finance activities aimed to increase preparedness for environmental hazards; to develop early detection and warning systems; and to upgrade equipment of rescue structures. In the area of energy, the document envisions to support application of environmental friendly production technologies and electricity and heat co-production and purchase of purification equipment; to support modernisation of remote heating and energy saving facilities by energy consumers; to establish production equipment and top load capacity employing renewable energy sources for production of electricity; and to support transition of boiler plants to renewable energy sources. The division of functions related to the implementation of the NSRF and the European Union Operational Programmes are laid down in the Structural Assistance Act that took effect on January 1, 2007. The Ministry of Finance will be the Managing Authority, Certifying Authority and Audit Authority for all Operational Programmes. Monitoring of the implementation of Operational Programmes will be organised by line ministries acting as 1st level Intermediate Bodies. A separate monitoring committee will be established for each Operational Programme for the purposes of monitoring. According to the document, establishment of separate Monitoring Committees for Operational Programmes facilitates the involvement of partners who have the most expertise and stake in areas relevant to the Programmes.
إستونيا · 2007-06-21