Vitsut discussed the parliamentary events of the upcoming Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union and gave an overview of Estonia’s priorities. The meeting also addressed the negotiations in more detail surrounding the United Kingdom’s leaving the EU.

Parmley thanked Estonia for its readiness to take over the presidency of the council six months ahead of the original schedule, a situation that arose because of the result of the UK’s referendum on EU membership. “Although we are leaving the European Union, we are not leaving Europe,” Parmley pointed out. He said he had come to Tallinn to discuss economic and financial cooperation.

Talking about the future of the Estonian people living and working in the UK, Parmley stressed that it was not in anybody’s interest to keep talented and clever people from working there.

Committee member Marianne Mikko (SDE) said that the decision of the British people to leave the EU had made many people in Estonia sad. As the British were good partners of Estonia and contributed to ensuring the security of the Baltic region, Estonia would keep the exit negotiations separate from the United Kingdom’s contribution through NATO.

Committee member Aivar Sõerd (Reform) spoke about bilateral economic relations, and said that Estonia was interested in free markets.

The Lord Mayor of London is not to be confused with the Mayor of London. As Lord Mayor, Parmley presides over the City of London, the British capital’s district that is the financial and business center of the United Kingdom as well as one of the most important financial hubs in the world.