Estonia - Strengthening of the institutional and administrative capacities

Short-term priorities:

• strengthening of the bodies responsible for regulation and control;
• drawing up a general national training strategy for civil servants;
• drawing up a strategy and timetable for consolidating the various monitoring agencies active in the financial sector;
• strengthening the relevant plant health and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards infrastructures at external borders;
• strengthening environmental institutions;
• making a start on setting up the necessary structures for structural and regional policies.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been partially achieved.

Estonia must continue its efforts to step up institutional and administrative capacity. No reform strategy for the public administration has yet been adopted. Further efforts are needed to create and strengthen monitoring and implementing bodies (especially in the fields of consumer protection, industrial and intellectual property, taxation, customs, mobile assets, competition, environment and plant health). A programme to consolidate monitoring agencies in the financial sector has already been adopted but no formal decision has been taken on how to implement it.

Assessment (November 2000)

Rural and national development plans are being drawn up. Progress has been made on the legislative framework for internal and external financial controls. Anti-fraud structures and audit units within finance institutions have not yet been put in place. More progress is needed on the independence of national internal auditors. Training for judges has been improved.

Assessment (November 2001)

The paying agent for SAPARD has been accredited. Progress has been made in the programming and management of the ISPA. Audit units and internal controls have been put in place. Anti-fraud structures and the independence of national internal auditors must be implemented. Training for judges has made good progress.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed. The section on the Partnership for accession in the 2002 report focuses on issues which require more work in order to prepare Estonia for accession.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• efficient management of the public sector at central and local levels;
• special attention should be paid to the budget process, internal financial control, statistics, customs, the environment and agriculture;
• improving the functioning of the judicial system;
• strengthening the relevant justice and home affairs institutions (enough suitably trained members of staff);
• strengthening the relevant foodstuffs control administrations.

Assessment (October 1999)

No progress has been made in these fields.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress has been made on this priority.

Assessment (November 2001)

The judicial system is continuing to improve. The financial control systems and statistical capacities have been strengthened. Coordination between ministries must be improved.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/264/EC, 30.03.1998Official Journal L 121, 23.O4.1998

Decision 1999/855/EC, 06.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2006 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 705 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 504 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 704 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1747Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1403Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1201Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004