Prime Minister Kallas presents overview of implementation of ‘Estonia 2035’

14.11.2022 | 00:00

Stenbock House, 14 November 2022 – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has provided the members of the Riigikogu with an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy ‘Estonia 2035’, which sets out five agreed targets of equal importance to the country and its people.

The head of government says the strategy is gaining in importance as an instrument of national leadership and is a good indication of the direction in which Estonia is headed. “However unexciting it may seem for all its numbers and statistics, this document describes the kind of Estonia our children and grandchildren will be living in,” she remarked.

The strategy sets out the goal of Estonia being home to a population of smart, active, health-conscious people living in an open, caring and cooperative society. Its economic objectives are strength, innovation and responsibility in regard to both people and the environment. In terms of the country’s living environment, the aim is for it to be safe and of the highest possible quality, and for it to take everyone’s needs into account. The fifth target set by the strategy is innovative, trustworthy and people-centred state governance. Prime Minister Kallas provided an overview of the progress that has been made in regard to all five objectives.

Speaking of the strategy’s first target, Prime Minister Kallas underscored the significance of good education, in maintaining which both the salary levels of teachers and the provision of safe, friendly and bullying-free school environments are important. On the issue of a caring and cooperative society, she noted that a number of decisions were taken for the 2023 budget that will boost people’s ability to cope. In regard to progress towards economic goals, she said that geopolitical instability had added to uncertainty in Estonia as well. “That said, our economy has been maintaining a steady course, which gives us hope that sooner or later we will emerge stronger from the crisis,” she added. Discussing the targets for the living environment, she noted that 84.5% of the Estonian population are satisfied with where they live but that there remains room for improvement, primarily in regard to the energy efficiency of buildings and economical forms of mobility. In terms of state governance goals, she stressed that Estonia would continue to support a world order based on the rule of law. “We will be unwavering in our support of the Ukrainians, because we know that in helping Ukraine we are also helping Estonia,” she remarked.

Prime Minister Kallas ended her speech by saying that ‘Estonia 2035’ sets targets for all of the country and that everyone needs to contribute in thought and deed to their implementation. “To me it is important that we implement the strategy with the same openness and inclusivity with which it was devised,” she said. “Every year, new ways are tested of enabling the population to have their say in and contribute to the realisation of the state’s long-term goals. For example, an ‘Estonia 2035’ brainstorming round is being held throughout November, with anyone interested able to submit ideas. People all over the country are sitting down and talking to their friends, their families and their communities, gathering suggestions on how to move towards achieving national goals in different areas of life.”

The full text of the prime minister’s address can be found online at https://valitsus.ee/uudised/peaministri-eesti-2035-elluviimise-ulevaade-riigikogus-14-novembril.

Progress in achieving the goals of ‘Estonia 2035’ is expressed by the Tõetamm solution of Statistics Estonia, which centralises key state indicators.

Contributions to the country’s development can be made online at https://www.arvamusrannak.ee/.

Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/sets/72177720303665565/with/52499229401/

Government Communication Unit

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