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Discover how the EU supports your local area
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View of Kuressaare from the Baltic Sea

Western Estonia, Estonia

View of Kuressaare from the Baltic Sea
© Anilah | Adobe stock

Western Estonia – the counties of Lääne, Hiiu, Saare, and Pärnu – is influenced most of all by its coastal position. All of the named counties are popular tourist destinations with their attractive resorts. Other important areas of the economy in Lääne county include wood and food, as well as recreation; in Hiiu county, fishing, forestry, and the plastics industry; in Saare, boat-building, fishing, food, electronics, and welfare services. At the centre of the diverse economy of Pärnu county is the city of Pärnu, with its strong industrial potential; in rural areas, agriculture (especially milk production), forestry, and the extractive industry (including peat production) are strong.

Examples of projects and initiatives supported by the EU

Developing Lottemaa’s business model

Through different projects the EU has supported business development at local level. Lotte Village theme park (based on a children’s character from a series of popular books and films), which was originally created with the support from the EU, has received funding for a project to further develop their business model by constructing a new building for year-round use to reduce their seasonality and weather dependency.

Design and development of the internal control system of Pärnumaa local governments and its processes

Support from the EU has helped to improve the efficiency of local governments and develop their organisational leadership capabilities. For example, a joint internal audit system was developed by Pärnu county local governments to manage corruption risks.

Restoration of semi-natural biotic communities in Western Estonia

Parks, coastal and wooded meadows, and other special conservation areas of Western Estonia have been regenerated with the support from the EU, which has helped to improve and conserve the condition of protected species and habitats. The aim of one of such projects has been to restore semi-natural communities in special conservation areas of Väinamere Sea, Kahtla-Kübassaare, Väike Väin Strait, Ranna-Põitse, and Pöide in Saare and Muhu rural municipalities.

Construction of Läänemaa primary health centre

Various healthcare centres in Western Estonia have been upgraded or renovated with the support from the EU. Among others Läänemaa Primary Healthcare Centre was established in Lääne county, securing access to all mandatory primary care services, including GP and general practice nurse services, to the residents of the town of Haapsalu and the rural municipalities of Ridala, Lääne-Nigula, Kullamaa, Martna, Nõva, Noarootsi, and Vormsi.

Acquisition of a ferry to connect between the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa

The EU funding has helped to improve connections between islands, and between islands and the mainland, renovate harbours, purchase ferries, improve and advance the network of harbours. For example, with the support from the EU a new ferry, Soela, was purchased, which now provides ferry service between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands. The cost of the ferry was EUR 9.4 million.

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Discover how the EU supports your local area