Finance Minister Reveals Doubts Over National Museum Funding
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi said in a televised interview on Thursday that the large cost and size of the National Museum project in Tartu has become a major concern.
On Thursday, State Real Estate announced that the 78.5-million-euro project will be partly financed from the national budget, but also with funds from the Cultural Endowment and State Real Estate itself. Any shortcomings will be covered by a loan that the Cultural Endowment will pay off over several years.
The European Commission recently rejected EU funding for the project, saying that construction would cost more than planners insisted; building procurements have been delayed and the aim of having 170,000 visitors by 2018 is unrealistic.
"I have family ties with this project and my soul wants it to succeed, but I am very concerned about its size and cost," Ligi told TV3.
According to Ligi, the Cabinet will discuss the financing plan presented by State Real Estate next week.
Ingrid Teesalu