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Estonian Head of State to President of Slovenia: the successful neighbourhood policy of the European Union will also contribute to the success of our union
05.05.2011
The President, Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and the President of Slovenia, Mr. Danilo Türk, who arrived to Estonia for an official visit, focused on the European Union neighbourhood policy, eastern partnership and the enlargement of the EU during their meeting today.
“A successful and, hopefully, strengthening neighbourhood policy of the European Union will also contribute to the success of our union,” President Ilves told. “The promotion of democracy, stability and economic development is still important for our neighbouring countries and the European Union.”
The Estonian Head of State emphasised that in both the eastern and southern regions of the EU the opportunities for integration with the European Union are present, but the development of such opportunities is mostly dependent on the ambitions and capabilities of the neighbouring countries.
“The responsibility and strong desire of the people and governments of a number of countries is to get closer to the European Union and commit to political and economic reforms to meet that purpose,” President Ilves added.
When speaking of eastern partnership, he confirmed Estonia’s continued support for the integration of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in the direction of the European Union, saying: “More efficient co-operation in political and other spheres is needed here, as well as the initiation of projects of practical value.”
Presidents Ilves and Türk support the enlargement of the European Union.
“Estonia and Slovenia, who are each other’s valued partners in international organisations and in bilateral co-operation projects in general, could together find options for assuring that the European Union enlargement policy is dynamic and viable,” President Ilves said. “Our enlargement mentality will not fade away, as it never faded away in countries that once supported our accession to the European Union.”
Here, the Estonian Head of State emphasised the importance of the Balkans: “The European Union will not be complete without the involvement of the Western Balkans and, particularly, Croatia and Serbia into the European Union.”
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