Lack of Permit for Art School Building Puts EU Funding in Doubt
The Academy of Arts did not receive a building permit by the deadline of December 4, jeopardizing the 12 million euros of construction money allocated by the European Regional Development Fund for the university's new building.
The Tallinn City Government has so far refused to issue the permit, because some of the area's residential neighbors oppose the construction of the 16-story school, as it would block sunlight from reaching their apartments, wrote Postimees.
According to Maido Puna, representative of the Archimedes Foundation, through which the EU funding is channeled, missing the deadline gives the organization the right to terminate the financing agreement. But it does not necessarily mean it will cancel it.
"The academy has issued both the foundation and the Ministry of Education a request to extend the deadline, which is currently being processed," said Puna.
The art academy is hopeful. "Even if we will get the permit next year, we would still be able to construct the building before the deadline [in 2015]," said Solveig Jahnke, spokeswoman of the academy.
Ingrid Teesalu