Estonian government meets with European Commission ahead of EU presidency
At Thursday's cabinet meeting, the Estonian government met with visiting representatives of the European Commission to discuss cooperation between the Commission and the Council presidency, among other topics.
Other topics discussed with Secretary General Alexander Italianer and Head of the Cabinet of the President of the European Commission Martin Selmayr included the Estonian government's upcoming visit to Brussels and Estonia's priorities during its Council presidency.
"Our priorities are a unified, open and innovative Europe and advancing the issues of a single market and security," Prime Minister Jüri Ratas said, adding that a digital Europe and the free movement of data were important topics for Estonia as well. "The four fundamental freedoms of Europe can only truly function if the continent is strongly connected. This must be one of our primary goals."
Ratas also emphasized that the EU must remain unified, decisive and united even as a union of 27 member states.
On May 3, members of the Estonian government will meet with members of the European Commission in Brussels on a traditional visit for the government of the incoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.
"During this meeting, we will introduce the priorities of our our incoming presidency and build the necessary relationships with Commission members that are crucial for a successful presidency," the Estonian prime minister said.
During this visit, the government will also hold a field session in Brussels. This session and the subsequent press conference will be held at the offices of the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU in Brussels.
Following discussions with the cabinet, Italianer and Selmayr will meet with Heiki Loot, the Estonian Secretary of State, and the management team of the EU Secretariat of the Government Office in order to receive an overview of the preparations for the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to discuss the visit of the Commissioners of the European Commission to Estonia in June.
On Thursday afternoon, Italianer and Selmayr will also meet with senior officials of the Estonian Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication and the Ministry of the Interior to discuss the Estonian Presidency’s priorities for these specific ministries in greater detail.
Editor: Aili Vahtla
