The Ministry of Defense has decided to appeal the decision of the Tallinn Administrative Court regarding the expansion of the Nursipalu training area. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that the development of national defense must be rapid. The expansion of the Nursipalu training area is important for Estonia’s defense capability to remain strong.
The government decided in October 2023 to expand the Nursipalu training area on an accelerated basis. This decision was made for security reasons. Pevkur emphasized that Nursipalu is very important for Estonia's defense capability. Both the Estonian Defense Forces and allied forces train there.
The Ministry of Defense stated that the expansion of Nursipalu has been discussed with local municipalities. Studies were also conducted, including on birds, noise, and archaeological investigations. The government decided to pay compensation to local municipalities to reduce disruptions. This amount increased to 1.35 million euros. Four municipalities were also given 10 million euros to improve the quality of life.
The Tallinn Administrative Court annulled the government’s decisions regarding the expansion of Nursipalu. The court found that the government had to conduct a special planning procedure. The court noted that although a larger training area is necessary, the government’s hasty decision was not justified. The court found that the government had sufficient time to conduct a proper procedure.
The court stated that the government must initiate a new procedure. During this process, various alternatives must be considered. The court found that important information needed to be known before the decision was made, not afterward.