News.

On the 14th of January 2016 vision seminar concerning on the amalgamation negotiations for the constitution of Lääne-Harju municipality took place in Pärnu. At the seminar, important topics for the amalgamation of Kernu, Nissi as well as Saue urban and rural municipality were discussed: the positioning of the new municipality...

In the framework of the Tallinn Day 2016 a seminar on “Tallinn Old Town – Meeting Point for World Heritage and the World of Tourism“ took place on the 13th of May 2016. Nowadays, Tallinn Old Town celebrates the 50th anniversary since its declaration as heritage conservation area. What is...

The focus is on the proposed local government reform. During the past weeks, the debate on the reform bill has revealed several different approaches. One of the issues raising questions is rural municipality districts. Here, the provision of services and solutions to local democracy are central. Which functions could rural...

On the LEADER Information Days organized by the Estonian Rural Economy Research Centre on June 15-16, 2016 in Jäneda, Geomedia consultant Rivo Noorkõiv and RegPol2 fellow Bianka Plüschke-Altof were invited to present their current research projects to representatives of the Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs, the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board (PRIA) as well...

Geomedia's employees are involved in local government amalgamation negotiation cooperation, providing both consultancy and research. The work is currently going on with the amalgamation regions in Järva, Lääne and Valga county. In the framework of the amalgamation talks, in addition to the preparation and hosting of negotiations, several background analyses...

On the 21st of June 2016, the municipality councils of Helme, Hummuli and Põdrala rural as well as Tõrva urban municipalities have signed an amalgamation treaty. As a result of the amalgamation, the new local government unit Tõrva – covering 600 m2 and 6500 inhabitants – will come into being...

On the 25th of February 2016 a meeting took place between the President of the Estonian Parliament, Eiki Nestor, and NGO Polis and its partners, the researchers in the field of local governments and the representatives of the local government unions. The topics of the meeting covered current national development...

The child protection law (entered into force on 01.01.2016) specifies the functions of local government units and provides that the children rights and the compliance with the principles of child welfare should be outlined in the local governments' development plans. Geomedia is conducting a training, which focuses on drafting local government development plans that provide...

Geomedia is conducting the management and work organization audit for Saue city government. The analysis is carried out using a combination of evaluation methodolodies that take into account the nature of public sector (CAF Common Assessment Framework, EFQM Excellence Model). Instruments of the work include structured interviews, secondary analysis of...

On 10.-11. September 2016 the Estonian Village Movement Kodukant organized a summer school that took place at the Rural Economy Research Centre in Jäneda. The meeting focused on the question how to deal with changes on the community level? The points of discussion were the possibilities to enlarge the knowledge...