TALLINN — The Tallinn 2011 European Capital of Culture project might have to scale back on events as the European Union may not to grant 23.5 million krooni (€1.5 million) in anticipated funding.

Unlike its counterpart Turku, Tallinn did not receive the 23.5 million krooni Mercury Prize from the EU in April, as the organizers did not have a funding guarantee from the state nor the municipal government. The foundation’s representatives went to Brussels on [private_supervisor]April 28 to meet the European Commission’s Capital of Culture monitoring division, but while the program was greeted with applause the funding guarantee was not given.

Its chances are not lost though, as the national and Tallinn municipal government have until June 28, when the EU project monitoring representative Sir Robert Scott arrives in town, to send the guarantee letter. Both, the city and the state had promised to give 50 million krooni (€3.3 million) for the 2011 budget.

Andri Maimets, spokesman of Tallinn2011 Foundation told Baltic Reports that Foundation Tallinn 2011 does not have a say about the guarantee, this must be given by the investors — municipal government, city council, and the state.

“We’ve reminded them that such guarantee letters would assure us investments from the European Union,” said Maiments. “If we wont get the investment, then we’re facing 23 million krooni deficit.”

Maimets noted that there is still time left.

However, Minister of Culture Laine Jänes said that the state cannot give the guarantee before the new state budget will be turned to the parliament, and the city’s budget to the city council which won’t happen until late fall. That was also mentioned at the monitoring division in Brussels.

“The state and the city said that they cannot give the guarantees before the budgets will be approved,” Jänes told the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper, “Whatever happens, we cannot give the guarantee before.” [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]April 28 to meet the European Commission’s Capital of Culture monitoring division, but while the program was greeted with applause the funding guarantee was not given.

Its chances are not lost though, as the national and Tallinn municipal government have until June 28, when the EU project monitoring representative Sir Robert Scott arrives in town, to send the guarantee letter. Both, the city and the state had promised to give 50 million krooni (€3.3 million) for the 2011 budget.

Andri Maimets, spokesman of Tallinn2011 Foundation told Baltic Reports that Foundation Tallinn 2011 does not have a say about the guarantee, this must be given by the investors — municipal government, city council, and the state.

“We’ve reminded them that such guarantee letters would assure us investments from the European Union,” said Maiments. “If we wont get the investment, then we’re facing 23 million krooni deficit.”

Maimets noted that there is still time left.

However, Minister of Culture Laine Jänes said that the state cannot give the guarantee before the new state budget will be turned to the parliament, and the city’s budget to the city council which won’t happen until late fall. That was also mentioned at the monitoring division in Brussels.

“The state and the city said that they cannot give the guarantees before the budgets will be approved,” Jänes told the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper, “Whatever happens, we cannot give the guarantee before.” [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]April 28 to meet the European Commission’s Capital of Culture monitoring division, but while the program was greeted with applause the funding guarantee was not given.

Its chances are not lost though, as the national and Tallinn municipal government have until June 28, when the EU project monitoring representative Sir Robert Scott arrives in town, to send the guarantee letter. Both, the city and the state had promised to give 50 million krooni (€3.3 million) for the 2011 budget.

Andri Maimets, spokesman of Tallinn2011 Foundation told Baltic Reports that Foundation Tallinn 2011 does not have a say about the guarantee, this must be given by the investors — municipal government, city council, and the state.

“We’ve reminded them that such guarantee letters would assure us investments from the European Union,” said Maiments. “If we wont get the investment, then we’re facing 23 million krooni deficit.”

Maimets noted that there is still time left.

However, Minister of Culture Laine Jänes said that the state cannot give the guarantee before the new state budget will be turned to the parliament, and the city’s budget to the city council which won’t happen until late fall. That was also mentioned at the monitoring division in Brussels.

“The state and the city said that they cannot give the guarantees before the budgets will be approved,” Jänes told the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper, “Whatever happens, we cannot give the guarantee before.” [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]April 28 to meet the European Commission’s Capital of Culture monitoring division, but while the program was greeted with applause the funding guarantee was not given.

Its chances are not lost though, as the national and Tallinn municipal government have until June 28, when the EU project monitoring representative Sir Robert Scott arrives in town, to send the guarantee letter. Both, the city and the state had promised to give 50 million krooni (€3.3 million) for the 2011 budget.

Andri Maimets, spokesman of Tallinn2011 Foundation told Baltic Reports that Foundation Tallinn 2011 does not have a say about the guarantee, this must be given by the investors — municipal government, city council, and the state.

“We’ve reminded them that such guarantee letters would assure us investments from the European Union,” said Maiments. “If we wont get the investment, then we’re facing 23 million krooni deficit.”

Maimets noted that there is still time left.

However, Minister of Culture Laine Jänes said that the state cannot give the guarantee before the new state budget will be turned to the parliament, and the city’s budget to the city council which won’t happen until late fall. That was also mentioned at the monitoring division in Brussels.

“The state and the city said that they cannot give the guarantees before the budgets will be approved,” Jänes told the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper, “Whatever happens, we cannot give the guarantee before.” [/private_subscription 1 year]

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