Brussels, 12/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 October, the European Commission approved the “Development of Economic Environment” and “Development of Living Environment” operational programmes of Estonia for the period 2007-2013, under the ERDT and the Cohesion Fund (see EUROPE 9484).
A sum in the region of €1.6 billion will be paid to the first programme, the objective of which is to improve the living environment and promote environmental protection. With this programme, Estonia will be in a better position to fight against forest fires and oil tanker accidents at sea. It will be able to develop waste infrastructure and invest in the education sector, for example by creating schools for children with special needs. €1.4 billion will be paid to the second programme, the aim of which is to stimulate the economic environment. This sum will go to improve the transport infrastructure, to develop the information society and increase the potential of businesses, by dint of research and innovation. This programme will be used to assist some 800 scientists. (gb)