The council of the Center Party's Tallinn chapters decided on Wednesday to support the signing of a coalition agreement with the Estonian Greens, who will also be granted one deputy mayor position.

Center Party mayoral candidate Taavi Aas said that both the Center Party and the Greens share a people-oriented, social and caring worldview.

"A Greens deputy mayor at the table in the Tallinn city government will help further strengthen environmental thinking in the governing of Tallinn by helping us move in the direction of a greener city, which at some point could be chosen the European Green Capital," Aas said.

He noted that the Greens are not represented on Tallinn city council, but in a situation where the Center Party has the majority, introducing fresh ideas to its city governance is undoubtedly important.

Estonian Greens chairwoman Züleyxa Izmailova said that she was very glad to see that included in the coalition agreement are getting Tallinn added to the Pesticide-Free Towns list, utilizing local renewable energy solutions in the construction of new buildings, and taking individuals with special needs into account, among other things.

"For us, the biggest point of concern is evidently [the planned construction of] Reidi Road, but it is clear that, as a coalition member, we can have a say in the construction of the project and together find the most environmentally friendly solutions that will help preserve as many current trees as possible," Izmailova added.

Coalition agreement signed

"The Estonian Center Party and the Estonian Greens share a people-centered and social worldview, which prioritizes balanced and sustainable develoment," it stands in the coalition agreement, which was signed by Aas and Izmailova at the Tallinn Botanic Garden on Thursday morning.

"We jointly want for Tallinn to be a caring, innovative, intelligent and green-thinking city, which decreases the carbon footprint of its urban facilities and adjusts to climate change," the coalition agreement continued. "We understand together that broad-based and inclusive city governance is that which will provide the best opportunities for the city's development and the creation of new ideas. The city space is for us to design, determining Tallinn's image for generations to come."

Urban planning

• Better public use of waterfront
• Green energy, solutions for buildings, including reconstructed Linnahall
• Minimizing environmental impact of Reidi Road
• Making Tallinn more accessible to those with special needs
• Functional public transport, bike, pedestrian network

Environment

• Work toward goal of European Green City title during 2020-2023 period
• Work toward getting added to Pesticide Free Towns list
• Cleaning up Tallinn Bay
• Better waste management, increased opportunities fo recycling
• Double city district maintenance, environmental protection budgets in four years
• Establish Astangu protected area

Mobility and transport

• Continue developing free transport
• Extend existing, build new tram lines
• Reconstruct Gonsiori Street
• Reduce traffic loads on Narva and Pärnu Highways
• Reduce auto traffic in city center
• Reduce city authorities' use of fossil fuels
• Compile, apply low-carbon, climate change action plans

Education and children

• Continue free school lunches at K-12 level
• Round-table discussion on transitioning schools to organic food
• 100 new playgrounds, repair existing ones
• Increase Estonian-language instruction in Russian-language kindergartens
• Support creation of language immersion kindergarten groups
• Free extracurricular per child at their school
• Vegtable gardens at schools, kindergartens
• Ensure better opportunities for students with special needs
• Build gymnasiums for Nõmme High School, Tallinn French School

Culture and sports

• Repair Kalev Central Stadium
• Build 50-meter pool at Tondiraba Ice Hall
• Build pool, public sauna, sports complex in Mustamäe
• Build new cultural center in Mustamäe

Welfare and health

• Increase pension bonus for elderly
• Build new hospital in Lasnamäe
• Continue increasing municipal rental housing stock
• Fight against domestic violence
• Increase resources for drug addicts' rehab

Communication with city residents

• Develop city media, including Tallinna TV
• More regular English-language city news
• Increase communication with local community organizations