Operational programme for the Development of the Living Environment 2007-2013 guides the utilization of the funds of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) in the area of environmental protection, energy, local and regional development, education and health care and welfare services. The operational programme includes drinking water and waste handling, activities related to the preservation of the natural environment, the field of energy conservation and renewable energy as well as development of infrastructure for bringing the living environment, education, healthcare and social welfare institution facilities up to date.
Planned activities are divided between the following priority axes:
1. Development of water and waste management infrastructure. Development of the following fields is funded: supplying drinking water, collecting and purifying wastewater, as well as ensuring the good condition of watercourses, elimination of residual pollution from former military and industrial areas, closing down landfills not in conformity with the requirements and the construction of new ones, and development of waste recycling.
2nd level intermediate body: Environmental Investment Centre
2. Development of infrastructures and support systems of sustainable use of the environment. Preparation and implementation of management plans for the protected areas and development of ecological reserves belong to this priority axis. Important keywords are also development of an environmental monitoring system and supervision, sea pollution control and improvement of readiness for accidents on the land as well as environmental education.
2nd level intermediate body: Environmental Investment Centre
3. Development of energy sector. On the one hand, energy management means introducing more and more renewable energy sources, on the other hand, energy saving in the apartment houses is taken care of, and renovation of houses, expert assessments and energy audits and raising consumer awareness are supported.
2nd level intermediate bodies: Environmental Investment Centre, Credit and Export Guarantee Fund KredEx
4. Integral and balanced development of regions. Funds given for this priority axis are for the development of local public services giving special attention to improving living conditions in urban regions. The scope of investments is very broad: starting from renovation of schools and building of sport fields to building bus shelters.
2nd level intermediate body: Enterprise Estonia
5. Development of education infrastructure priority axis focuses on the construction and modernisation of training bases and classrooms of vocational schools, and on the renovation of their boarding school facilities. The classrooms and living spaces for children with special educational needs, open youth centres, hobby schools and information and counselling centres are renovated as well.
2nd level intermediate body: Foundation for Lifelong Learning Development INNOVE
6. Development of health and welfare infrastructures. The objective of this priority axis is the modernisation of nursing and acute care hospitals and state welfare institutions for children and people with special psychiatric needs.
2nd level intermediate body: Ministry of Social Affairs
7. Horizontal technical assistance and technical assistance based on the Operational Programme is for covering the administrative expenses related to providing structural assistance.
