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President Ilves to the Head of State of Malta: there are no small and faraway countries

President Ilves to the Head of State of Malta: there are no small and faraway countries © Erik Peinar (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

31.05.2012

"There are no small and faraway countries; there is only a narrow horizon. The global co-operation between Estonia and Malta is proof of the wide horizons that both countries share," told President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at his meeting with George Abela, Head of State of Malta, who arrived today in Estonia for a state visit.

Both Malta and Estonia – good partners in bilateral relations and international organisations – are reliable and responsible contributors to the southern region of the European Union, where the Estonians, for example, have helped to develop e-governance in Tunisia, told President Ilves.

He reminded that no one is a lonely island in Europe, not influenced by its surroundings, and this assumes commitment to participation in the regional development programmes of the European Union and European countries.

"The good information technology experiences of Malta and Estonia can help to build the future of several countries that have gone through major changes, provided that this is what the governments of these countries want," added President Ilves.

When speaking about the economic situation in the euro area and the European Union in general, the Estonian Head of State described opposing frugal and growth policies as the wrong approach.

"Frugality and growth do not rule each other out," emphasised President Ilves. "However, for me it is quite clear;: frugality translates into a policy, while growth is the outcome of this policy."

Estonia still supports compliance with all the rules in the euro area countries and the conservative budget policies in the European Union member states, the organisation of public finance and structural reforms as prerequisites for growth. The new fiscal framework of the European Union should be a budget that facilitates and supports investment and economic growth, told the Estonian Head of State.


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