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President Ilves met with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu

19.11.2009

The discussion in the meeting today between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu focused on subjects related to Europe.

When speaking of energy security and energy independence, which assume the availability of different supply channels, both the head of state and the members of the parliament emphasised that the future Minister of Foreign Affairs of the European Union and the new European Commission have an important role to play in this regard, as they need to ensure the application of the generally acknowledged principles of transparency with regard to the union.

Co-operation between the Baltic states was discussed at the meeting and President Ilves stated that the political and economical stability and success of each single Baltic state plays an important role for the success of us all. Therefore, it is our duty not to leave any one state in this region alone with their concerns and problems, as we are all very closely linked with each other; the success of one of us works wonders for the rest, while the failure of one will affect the reputation of all, said the Head of State.

President Ilves and the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu discussed Estonia’s possible transition to the European single currency, the euro, in 2011, as we have met all the pre-requisites; we need to continue with conservative budget politics and must not be misled from the chosen way by populism and the short-lived interests of political parties.

The importance of trans-Atlantic relations was also discussed at the meeting. The participants of the meeting stressed that a democratic Europe needs the support of the United States of America just as the United States of America needs a democratic Europe, for example in stabilising the situation in Afghanistan or solving the nuclear problems of Iran and Northern Korea.

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