Minister: National Museum Will Be Built, Hook or By Crook
Estonia looks set to build another multimillion project on faith, without the funding in place.
Minister of Culture Rein Lang told ETV on July 3 that the new Estonian National Museum building will be built whether or not funds comes from the European Union.
The building - based on an ambitious modern design by a France-based architecture office - was originally supposed to be completed by this fall, but not even the foundation has been laid. Lang says the architects have granted permission to adapt the design.
The new construction contract will be organized by the government's Public Property department.
Talks with Brussels will continue - unlike the case of an oil shale plant in Narva where the state has decided not to seek permission to subsidize the project - but all of the decisions on the museum must be made this year.
"If there are no EU funds, the funds must be found from the Estonian state budget and Estonian banks and I am completely convinced of this," said Lang.
He noted that the KUMU Art Museum was funded when the economy was much smaller. "We are much richer now. KUMU has been paid off as of today. The last payment will be made this month. So that plan can be continued," added Lang.
Kristopher Rikken