According to The Social Democrat Lauri Western Forest, the distribution of European Union funds in the new budgetary period requires fundamental changes, the most important of which is the wider targeting of euromillions in less prosperous municipalities.

"It is essential to increase subsidies that go directly to regional development and help reduce regional disparities. Today, this amount is planned at EUR 219 million, which is 30 million less than in the previous funding period. An additional EUR 350 million must be added to this figure and this money should be directed only to create jobs outside the major cities and to support entrepreneurship there," said West Forest, speaking on behalf of the Social Democrats in the Riigikogu. He pointed out that two thirds of national wealth is currently created in Tallinn and Harju County. This situation has been exacerbated by the rules on the distribution of euro money, which, on the other hand, have widened regional divides. According to Western Forest, the state should not use euro money for investments to cover fixed costs.  "The Social Democrats consider it important for the Riigikogu to have a greater right to speak and decide here. Today, the Government has made a plan for the implementation of European Union funds, which it is already coordinating with the European Commission at a very final stage, but no input has been requested from either the Riigikogu or the political groups. In the government's vision, our role is to be a rubber stamp. I believe that Parliament must take the lead here and tell the government how to actually use European Union funds," west forest said. The post Lauri Western Forest: more Euromillions need to be channelled into regional development, and the first is the Social Democrats.