Estonia’s sweeping administrative reform continues, as local governments were asked to agree on mergers so that no less than 5 thousand would live per municipality. The aim of the reform is to cut the number of local governments from 231 to 75.
160 out 213 local councils have merger agreements lined up as the first stage of the implementation of the Administrative Reform Act ended on December 31, 2016.
Although the law was contested by several cities and municipalities, the Estonian Supreme Court found it constitutional, and the government has announced it will proceed putting it into practice.
The reform will now continue with the next phase and the Estonian central government plans to make proposals to the remaining municipalities by mid-February to merge with their neighbors. (BNN/Business World Magazine)