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President Ilves met with the Riigikogu European Union Affairs Committee

25.10.2007

The traditional meeting between the members of the Riigikogu European Union Affairs Committee (EUAC) and the President of the Republic took place on Wednesday. The discussion included the government’s framework document for EU policy in 2007-2011, the accession to the Schengen zone, and opportunities to better involve Estonia in the European IT market.

Marko Mihkelson, the chairman of the EUAC, provided an overview of the proceeding of the government’s framework document for EU policy in the Riigikogu, led by the EU Affairs Committee. This is the second governmental plan of its kind, whereas the involvement of non-governmental organizations is also becoming good practice. After its approval by the Government of the Republic, the policy document will be discussed once more by the EU Affairs Committee.

The discussion on the enlargement of the Schengen zone focused on its possible impact on Estonia. The EU Affairs Committee is planning a public session on November 12th, where the specific impact of accession to the Schengen zone on Estonia will be discussed along with Minister of the Interior Jüri Pihl and the representatives of concerned agencies.

A similar public session is planned with the Foreign Affairs Committee on December 10th, where Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will participate at the joint session, and the agenda will include the EU Reform Agreement before its signing by the European Council.

Discussing Estonia’s IT developments, President Ilves found that, at the European Union level, service providers should understand that the restrictions on IT-commerce that exist within the Community in the trading environment of many IT-commerce companies are no longer fitting after the enlargement of the European Union.

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