On the basis of political guidelines issued by the Government in April 2015, the European Union Secretariat of Government Office has initiated the development process of Estonia's European Union policy for the coming years. This goal-setting process, which involves all ministries and is being led by the top officials from the ministries, focuses on Estonia's ambitions in various areas and defines our goals and priorities in EU-related matters for 2015-2019. The first draft of the document is available in the draft legislation system.
"The better deliberated our goals are, the more focused our efforts to influence the future of the European Union as well as our work to achieve Estonia's goals in Europe will be," said Klen Jäärats, Director for European Union Affairs of Government Office. "The development of the European Union and the decisions we take within the EU support the development of Estonia and have an increasing effect on our everyday life. We have to consider where is it that we want to go and what has to be done to improve things in Estonia and in Europe," he added.
The European Union Policy is a document that will be prepared in cooperation between all ministries and the Riigikogu, and it is the fourth time this kind of policy document has been prepared. The process aims at producing a vision of maximum breadth – ministries have already held related discussions in a variety of fields and involved experts and organisations in the formulation process of their views. The discussions will continue in September and October.
"Joint responsibility for the future of Europe and mutual responsibility form the cornerstones of a functioning European Union. We need a longer-term vision in all areas, but there are some topics that are of key importance and require good cooperation as well as positions that have been thoroughly deliberated together," Jäärats said.
"For Estonia, and also for Europe, issues related to the security of the European Union as well as the future of the euro area are on the forefront today, with the development of information society and the economy, including the unification of the peripheral markets of the EU, ranking high among other topics of priority," Jäärats remarked. "Although this will be a next step, we are already hoping that the idea-gathering will also yield some fresh ideas and goals for Estonia's 2018 Presidency," he added.
The result of the discussions and deliberations that have been held to date is now collected into one document for the first time. The first draft of "Estonia's European Union Policy 2015-2019" is available in the draft legislation system until 1st September for reading as well as comments and proposals that can be submitted via the participation website.
The European Union Secretariat invites everyone to participate actively in the deliberation process. In September, the next version of the document will be prepared and passed on to the Government.
Additional information: Klen Jäärats, Director for European Union Affairs, +372 693 5205, [email protected]