Estonia’s recovery and resilience – Supported projects: Reforms

Disclaimer: This page exclusively serves information purposes and is not an exhaustive database of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Notably, the map provides a snapshot of projects based on the current status of their implementation. It does not reflect the distribution of the projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility across the different areas within Estonia. The map will be regularly updated to include additional projects and information. The showcase of the projects in this page is without prejudice to any future assessment by the Commission in the context of the verification of the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The measure references mentioned below are those contained in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision approving the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan and allow for easy identification of the measures.

For more info on the projects, please contact the Commission’s representation: Ave SCHANK-LUKAS, European Semester Officer, European Commission Representation in Tallinn, GSM: +372 55 77297, ave [dot] schankec [dot] europa [dot] eu (ave[dot]schank[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Energy efficiency promotion

(reference 4.1 in the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The reform seeks to reduce the administrative barriers to energy efficient renovations through the establishment of a regional advisory network which can advise apartment associations, private households and local governments on legislation, technical aspects and financing of renovations. By end-2022, agreements were concluded with county development centres to provide at least one trained renovation specialist in each centre. In addition, a digital tool helping to visualize the result and estimated energy saving will be set up by 31 December 2024.

More information can be found also on the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications website in Estonian and English at the following links:

More information can be found on social media here.

Birdseye view of Tallin — Copyright: Estonian Government

Boosting the green transition in the energy economy

(reference 4.1 in the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The reform consists of several actions to be carried out by end-2025 to facilitate uptake of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency and security of supply. To that end, the National Development Plan of the Energy Sector will be updated with relevant targets. The process of the renewal of the plan was launched in 2021. Also, in 2021, the government decided in 2021 to alleviate the defence-related height restrictions on wind parks. In addition, the necessary legislation and guidance materials will be prepared for accelerating the installation of renewable electricity production capacity.

More information can be found on the project webpage here or on social media at the following links:

Strengthening primary health care

(reference 6.3 in the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform, which was completed by 1 July 2022, is to ensure access to general medical care, improve the continuity of treatment and make provision of primary health care more flexible and human-centred. The reform consists of three sub-measures: extension of e-consultation in primary care, increasing the level of support for general practitioners in remote areas and extending the rights of nurses to prescribe medicines to patients.

More information can be found on the website of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund via the following links:

Press releases can be found via the following links:

More information can also be found on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs here or on social media here.

Extending the duration of unemployment insurance benefits

(reference 6.7 in the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to address the long-standing challenge of improving the adequacy of the social safety net by establishing a unique automatically adaptive mechanism to activate the extension of the period of the unemployment insurance benefits by 60 days or 120 days depending on the length of the applicant's insurance period and on the current unemployment rate. The automatic extension of the unemployment insurance period depending on the labour market situation ensures better coping for people, increasing consumption and having a positive effect on the economy as a whole. The legislative changes which constitute the reform will enter into force on 30 June 2023.

More information can be found on the Ministry of Social Affairs website here or on social media here.

person at laptop keyboard — Copyright: Estonian Government

Long-term care

(reference 6.8 in the Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The reform is set to improve the provision of long-term care and it consists of four sub-measures:

The amendments to the Social Welfare Act entered into force on 8 May 2022 laying down the definition/concept of the long-term care and requiring local authorities to consider the principle that a person must be able to live as long as possible in his or her home, in his or her usual environment, with sufficient quality services available.
By the end of 2022 there was prepared an Action Plan on providing social and health care in an integrated way to establish an integrated care model throughout Estonia, incl. laying down the roles and responsibilities of the actors involved and defining the financing of the system. The action plan is expected to get ministerial approval in March 2023.
By 31 December 2024, a Decree of the Minister of Social Protection will enter into force to define the design and characteristics of care services provided by local authorities to people with lower care needs, as well as the conditions for their implementation.
By 31 March 2025, the legislative amendments will enter into force to improve the support system for children with higher care needs. The services provided in the health, education, social protection and employment areas shall be integrated in order to provide comprehensive support for families under care burden.

More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs via the following links:

More information can also be found on social media here.

Stylized group of people — Copyright: Estonian Government

Videos are available via the following links: