But the regional entrepreneurship theme which is so close to the new enterprise minister’s heart?
EAS administrates and applies EU support that comes through economy ministry and interior ministry. The measures towards boosting competitiveness of the regions, now under the domain of public administration minister, are continuing during this budget framework. How to better regulate these measures and to fulfil the coalition agreement promises, this will have to be discussed between enterprise minister and public administration ministers. At the end of last year, we clearly stated that we would like to support such regional development as creates jobs and makes establishing enterprises attractive even outside Tallinn and Tartu.
We hear structural changes are underway at EAS, with five percent of jobs cut. That true?
We have discussed with the council and let our entire collective know that on June 1st structural change will take place in the organisation. Several current units will be merged and the posts will be thinned 5 percent i.e. by 16 persons.
The changes are meant to improve communication with clients, so that our decisions would reach them faster. At the moment, our work processes are rather long, we want to adjust them and make them more effective. Also, we have noticed at the board that there is no need for all the support structures that we currently possess. The aim is becoming more of a competence centre, and do more things with content, not just be handing out the benefits.
In order to save and cooperate, is EAS willing to incorporate Development Fund?
We have not discussed that with EAS.