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"The aim of the small islands program is to make vital services better available to the communities of the islands and to improve their quality. We wish life to be good on small islands. Therefore we support very different projects ranging from the improvement of transport and rescue capabilities to the renovation of necessary buildings," Minister of Public Administration Jaak Aab said in a press release.

The small islands program is in effect for the seventh year. In this year's call for proposals applications for 1.3 million euros in funding were filed.

The approved initiatives this year include projects for the acquisition of a hovercraft for the Lake Peipsi island of Piirissaar, acquisition of rescue equipment for the island of Aegna, developing of the Vikati port on Visandi, renovation of a store on Piirissaar, acquisition of new furniture for the school of Ruhnu, setting up a filling station on Abruka island and a fire water station on Manija, and improving the maritime rescue capability of the island of Vormsi.

The small islands program covers 12 islands: Naissaar, Prangli, Aegna, Osmussaar, Vormsi, Kihnu, Manija, Kesselaid, Vilsandi, Ruhnu, Abruka and Piirissaar.

Eligible to the support are municipalities, NPOs, foundations, state institutions and businesses.

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas is about to kick off a tour of islands on Thursday that will take him to Ruhnu, Saaremaa, Abruka and Vilsandi until Sunday.