Parliamentary committee backs amendments needed for administrative reform
The Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu on Tuesday gave the green light to legislative amendments necessary for Estonia's administrative reform and decided to propose the bill for first reading.
The Constitutional Committee decided by consensus to put before the plenary the bills of amendment to the Government of the Republic Act and related laws arising from the dismantling of county governments, as well as amendments to the Local Government Organization Act and other laws necessary for the administrative reform, spokespeople for the Riigikogu said.
The amendment terminating county governments would do so as of Jan. 1, 2018, dividing the duties of county governments between local governments, ministries and other state institutions.
Addressing MPs on the topic of the abolition of county governments, Minister of Public Administration Mihhail Korb said that local governments are positive about the move. He said the purpose of the bill was to increase the role of local governments and better divide the competencies of state institutions.
Currently, the most important duties of county governments are the organization of public transport, supervision over educational establishments, issuance of activity permits in the domain of social services, land reform and procedures related to land, population/related procedures as well as supervision over legislative acts issued by municipalities.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS