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President Ilves met with the President of Italy

14.07.2009

“The successful functioning of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy and Mediterranean Union help to increase stability in the southern neighbourhood of the European Union and sets a good example for the development of the Eastern Partnership,” Presiden “The successful functioning of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy and Mediterranean Union help to increase stability in the southern neighbourhood of the European Union and sets a good example for the development of the Eastern Partnership,” President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said today in Rome at his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

The Estonian Head of State, who is on the second day of his official visit to Italy, said that the European Union Eastern and Southern Partnerships must be in balance because both are equally important.

President Ilves thanked Italy for its participation in the work of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn. “It is good that you have joined Estonia and our other allies to organize cyber defence and that you understand the importance of cybersecurity as a problem that transcends national borders,” the Estonian Head of State said.

According to President Ilves, Estonia places great importance on increasing the effective use of information technology in the field of internal European Union security. For this reason Estonia supports the creation of an IT Agency for EU Justice and Home Affairs and hopes that the Council will reach a consensus regarding its creation. “Since information technology is one of Estonia`s trademarks, our government has already made the decision to apply to be the host country for the IT agency, if its creation is approved by the member states,” the Estonian Head of State said.

The Heads of State also discussed the future of the European Union and expressed their hope that the further ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will progress without problems.

President Ilves also met today with Gianfranco Fini, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and Franco Frattini, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the meetings, the European Union`s energy security was discussed at length with great emphasis being placed on the need to guarantee a reliable energy supply for Europe and independence from individual energy suppliers.

This evening President Ilves will meet with Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).


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