Siim Kiisler: Isamaa supports EU's joint loan

Siim Kiiser (Isamaa).
Siim Kiiser (Isamaa). Source: Siim Lõvi/ERR

Isamaa will support the European Union's proposal to take a joint loan of €750 million because Estonia will gain more from it than it will have to pay, said Siim Kiisler, member of Isamaa's political group in Riigikogu.

Kiisler said on ERR dicussion show "Otse uudistemajast" on Wednesday that Isamaa considers the joint loan a step in the right direction and if the conditions are right, the party would support a European joint loan.

"Yes, Isamaa would support such a package for ecnomic recovery," Kiisler said. He added that the council of Isamaa confirmed general views on the proposed loan on Tuesday.

"It is clear that discussions are happening. Right now we're talking about a loan of €750 billion to restart the economy. Sceptical member states in actuality, €500 billion of the whole sum will be distributed. A lot can change there. But I do think Estonia should be flexible. You can't just pound the table, moreover as a country who will end up receiving more than we put in," Kiisler said.

He does not predict the loan to become an origin of quarrel between them and EKRE. "I'll bring a parallel with Rail Baltic, where EKRE leaders have announced that they have stopped the development, which they obviously have not, but they make such statements to appease their voters. There may be more of those statements to come, but at some point actual agreements have to be reached in the EU and I believe those will be made," Kiisler said.

He added that two factors are critical to Isamaa. "It is important that the money will actually go to recover the economy, so we wouldn't have a situation where some member states will use the support on some inadequate measures and will add money from their own budget and will pay their people basic income instead. If we say that the money will go into the economy, then it should really be directed towards enlivening the economy, to raise the competitiveness of European countries," Kiisler added.

"The other half, which is very important, is that if we have borrowed money then that should also be reflected correctly. It needs to be transparent and understood how heavy the debt burden is on everyone," he noted.

ERR News wrote on Tuesday that while Isamaa does not have a final position on the joint loan yet, it should pass consensus of EU member states.

The European Commission would borrow €750 billion to restart the economy, of which €500 billion would be given to member states as support and €250 billion as loans. The fund based on the joint loan also would complement the European Union's seven-year €1.1 trillion budget.

The Estonian government does not have a common position on the joint loan. Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) has called it a step in the right direction, but coalition partner leaders Mart Helme (EKRE) and Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa) have opposed it.

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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste

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