Between sustainability, social cohesion and security. Regional development in North-Eastern Estonia

Gunnar Prause (), Gunnar Prause (), Tarmo Tuisk () and Eunice Omolola Olaniyi ()
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Gunnar Prause: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Gunnar Prause: Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design, Germany
Tarmo Tuisk: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Eunice Omolola Olaniyi: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 2019, vol. 6, issue 3, 1235-1254

Abstract: In 2012, the European Parliament (EP) established Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) in Northern Europe comprising the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the English Channel where from 2015 ships are obliged to use bunker fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.1%. Estonia is a maritime fuel producer due to its oil shale reserves in the North-Eastern parts of the country (Ida-Virumaa County). A large part of oil shale is used for the production of maritime bunker oil. Unfortunately, the sulphur content of oil shale is higher than it is allowed by the SECA regulations. The Estonian oil shale industry represents up to 5% of the national economy and plays an important role in a weakly developed Ida-Virumaa County, which shares a common border with Russia and hosts the majority of Russian-speaking Estonians. Approximately half of this regional workforce is employed directly or indirectly in this industry giving the oil shale industry an important role in the county's economic well-being. In addition, periods of low oil prices are putting extra pressure on the oil sector, which endangers the traditional business model of the Estonian oil shale industry. The research investigates the impact of the environmental regulations in the shipping sector on the socio-economic situation in North-Eastern Estonia and discusses political consequences for the region. The paper highlights possible regional development strategies for Ida-Virumaa County and their impact on sustainability, social cohesion and security issues in the context of the integration of Russian speaking Estonians into the Estonian society. Methodically, the research is based on expert interviews, a survey, a case study, and a further exploration of potential political options to improve the social coherence in North-Eastern Estonia.

Keywords: social cohesion; security; regional development; sustainability; smart specialisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 O33 O55 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ssi:jouesi:v:6:y:2019:i:3:p:1235-1254

DOI: 10.9770/jesi.2019.6.3(13)

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