Estonia in the European Union
28.09.2009
- Treaty of Lisbon
- Enlargement
- The Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Climate
- Energy
- European Neighbourhood Policy
- The Stockholm Programme
- IT agency
- Financial perspective
- Estonians in European institutions
Since the spring of 2004, when Estonia became a member of the European Union, Estonia has demonstrated that it is an active and constructive partner and continues with these pragmatic policies in its further integration into the EU. European Union membership is an invaluable factor in raising Estonia's political and economic profile, so a strong and well-functioning EU that is politically influential and competetitive on the world stage is in our best interest. This goal is reflected in the Estonian government's European Union Policy for 2007-2011, which keeps in mind the broader interests and developments in the EU and presents Estonia's proposals for coming to terms with the challenges standing before the European Union.
The following gives a brief overview of Estonia's positions, as well as issues in the European Union that Estonia will be focused on in the near future.
The renewal of the fundamental document of the European Union came about primarily from the need to ensure the effective functioning of the Union and to update the Union's goals in a rapidly changing world. Another goal of the Treaty of Lisbon is to bring the European Union closer to the people.
The Reform Treaty was signed on 13 December 2007 at the European Council in Lisbon, after which the ratification process began in the parliaments of the member states. The Riigikogu ratified the Treaty of Lisbon on 11 June 2008. The only country to hold a referendum on the treaty was Ireland, where the document was rejected for many reasons on 12 June 2008. At the European Council in June 2009 a packet of legal guarantees to be promised to Ireland was approved. An agreement was also made that every member state would retain its representative position in the Commission. A repeat referendum took place in Ireland on 2 October 2009. The final member state to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon was the Czech Republic, which did so on 3 November 2009. The Treaty of Lisbon came into effect on 1 December 2009.
The Treaty will unify and simplify co-operation among the member states so that movement and business within the European Union will be understandable and simple for all European Union citizens. The Treaty of Lisbon will make the European Union more democratic, improving relations between the EU and its citizens by offering the possibility of motions made by citizens as well as more rights for national parliaments to join in on discussions. A permanent institutional framework for the Union will also come into effect along with the Treaty. The Treaty of Lisbon has notable significance in terms of shaping the European Union's role in the world and guaranteeing a strong Europe, which is a requirement for meeting the challenges of a globalising world. On the world scale, we are a significant partner only if we are a unified union, not a group of member states with different interests.
Estonia considers enlargement to be one of the EU's most successful policies. Enlargement has considerably increased peace, stability and wealth in Europe, and we believe that these will increase more with a continuation of the enlargement process. If nations with an EU perspective stay on course with their reforms, both the nation wishing to join and the European Union itself will win. Enlargement will improve the European Union's competitiveness and security, as well as increase the EU's role in the globalising world. Naturally the nations wishing to join must fulfil all the prescribed criteria. However, the European Union should not turn back from the accession promises it has already made—it should continue to motivate and provide aid to those nations that wish to carry out reforms.
Estonia sees the EU's enlargement policy as an opportunity for nations who want to share the same values with us—values based on democracy and a free-market economy, innovative views, and a society that looks to the future. We gladly share the reform experiences we gained when joining the EU with any nations that are interested.
We are interested in long-term stability in the Balkans, and as an EU member state we would like to do everything possible to achieve this. Keeping Turkey on the reform path is one of Estonia's priorities. We also feel it is essential to explain the benefits of enlargement to the public more clearly than before.
Currently the European Union has three official candidate states, of which Croatia and Turkey are involved in accession negotiations and Macedonia is awaiting the opening of accession negotiations. http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/index_et.htm.
Applications for accession have also been presented by Montenegro (presented 15.12.2008) and Albania (28.04.2009) and Iceland (16.07.2009).
The conclusions of the European Council a few years ago (2007) called on the European Commission to develop a Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. A corresponding resolution was approved in the European Parliament a year earlier.
In general the goal of this new EU internal initiative is to draw together previous policies to address the specific needs of the Baltic Sea region, particularly problem areas that impede the region’s development. The effort will be made within the framework of the strategy to have more purposeful co-operation in the region, making it more focused and concentrated on only the most essential topics. The consensus reached during the course of consultations organised by the European Commission over the last year is that the condition of the Baltic Sea maritime environment is still not acceptable and although the competitiveness of the macro-region as a whole is good, there are shortcomings in the infrastructure and, to give one example, issues with the implementation of the four freedoms of the EU internal market. Through the Baltic Sea Region Strategy, we want to increase the competitiveness of this region and of the entire European Union and create additional leveraging for getting out of the financial crisis.
The statement prepared for the Commission in June 2009 clearly outlines the topics that the strategy addresses. There are four primary points—the environment, competitiveness, infrastructure, and the safety of the maritime environment. Based on these points, the action plan for the strategy has been divided into 15 policy areas, under which have been distributed the specific projects that will start to be implemented.
Estonia’s goal is to implement the strategy as smoothly as possible one project at a time as well as the active launching of the projects, including in the internal market sector, which is under Estonian co-ordination. Being the leading nation in a certain sector entails monitoring the policy sector to see how the implementation of concrete projects is progressing, ensuring better ties with the commission and among participating member states by creating the necessary contact network, and regularly uncovering problem spots that arise in the implementation of the action plan.
The external aspects of the EU's internal Baltic Sea Strategy are covered in the project-based Northern Dimension, which has been active since 1999. Its members are the European Union, Russia, Norway, and Iceland as equal partners. We are active in the Northern Dimension's social partnership and act as observers in environmental partnership.
Read more about the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region here:
Web page of the European Commission
In the beginning of 2008, the European Commission proposed a legislation packet with the goal of establishing the framework for European Union climate policy until the year 2020. Another goal was to show the EU’s leading role in battling climate change and to work out concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the European economy’s transition to more environmentally friendly technology. At the end of 2008, the European Parliament and Council reached an agreement on the so-named “climate action and renewable energy package”.
Along with the package, the European Union accepted the responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020 compared with 1990 levels. In addition, a conditional obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% was also established, assuming that other industrialised nations accept equivalent and comparable responsibilities and responsibilities are also taken on by developing nations.
European Union climate policy is closely tied to global developments. The Kyoto Protocol, which has the goal of slowing climate change and reducing global warming, will expire in 2012. As a result, there is a need for a new global climate agreement. The new agreement should be as comprehensive as possible, involving all developed nations as well as developing ones. The most important component of the new agreement should also be the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to achieve this common goal, every nation needs to make an effort to meet its own reduction target. The European Union’s established goal to reduce emissions by 20% and the conditional promise to reduce them by 30% will hopefully set an example for our global partners.
On the issue of climate change, Estonia supports a strong global agreement that includes all countries. It is clear that due to its size, Estonia is not capable of being the impetus behind global change. This is precisely why we value the opportunity to discuss matters and act within the European Union. Estonia would like to be a productive participant in the European Union and, where possible, one that offers potential solutions. We believe that the member states must support the European Union’s role as a spokesman for climate matters. Therefore, it is very important for the Union to have internal unity and the solidarity of the member states.
Estonia is prepared to contribute to both reducing greenhouse gases and to the financing of the future agreement. Although in the short-term the climate policy will mean greater expenditure while focusing on environmentally friendly technology and developing new solutions, in the long-term perspective we will win economically and in terms of environmental policy. A climate-friendly policy is an investment into the future which will pay off exponentially. Estonia believes that accepting climate obligations is not purely an environmental policy goal. It will also provide assurance to businesses that are investing in technologies that are nature-friendly and based on renewable energy or participating in development activities for such solutions.
In 2009, developments continued for increasing the European Union’s energy security, which began with the Second Strategic Energy Review. Since we are of the opinion that in order to increase the European Union’s energy security it is necessary to develop a functioning internal market and establish additional energy connections, the greatest achievement for Estonia could be the approval of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) on 17 June. At the meeting that took place in Brussels, the BEMIP was approved by the European Commission and the eight member states located along the Baltic Sea. In order to increase the energy security of the Baltic region, it is necessary to both establish new energy connections and develop a common Nordic-Baltic energy market. In order to do away with the isolated “Baltic energy island”, the BEMIP dictates an action plan that includes establishing a second cable between Estonia and Finland (Estlink 2) as well as connections between Lithuania and Sweden and Lithuania and Poland. The political support put down on paper in the BEMIP as well as the allocation of 100 million euros within the framework of the European Economic Recovery Plan give us hope that the Estlink 2 cable will be completed in the year 2014. The first step in creating a joint Nordic-Baltic energy market is the launching of the Nordic electricity exchange NordPool for the Estlink market area on 1 April 2010. In order to support the uninhibited functioning of the market, we must continue to harmonise electricity trade regulations.
The gas crisis that hit Europe in January of 2009 clearly indicated the need to increase the member states’ preparedness to handle gas supply disturbances. In order to increase the security of the gas supply and be prepared to react to crisis situations, the European Commission proposed a draft that dictates the implementation of equal standards and better connections between the gas markets of the member states. Diversifying suppliers and supply sources has also become an important factor in European Union energy policy. A major role in increasing the European Union’s supply security is being played by the Southern Corridor, which should bring new gas supplies to the European Union from the Caspian region, Central Asia and the Middle East, independent from our current major suppliers. The most well-known project of the Southern Corridor is the Nabucco gas pipeline, but the Italy-Greece-Turkey Interconnector, Trans-Adriatic and White Stream pipelines, and other projects are equally important. Another factor that is important to increasing the energy security of Europe is the wider usage of liquid natural gas.
The European Neighbourhood Policy is one of the EU's most vital policies, which can be used to influence the development of the EU's new neighbouring states in areas such as political and economic reform, institutional development, drafting of new legislation, etc.
It is in Estonia’s interests to continue to give momentum to the European Union’s co-operation with its close southern and eastern neighbours through the European Neighbourhood Policy’s regional initiatives—Eastern Partnership and the Mediterranean Union. The goal of intensifying co-operation is to speed up reforms, conform legislation, and advance economic integration in partner states.
In the case of Eastern Partnership, Estonia feels it is important to further develop the initiative in accordance with the Eastern Partnership goals expressed in the Prague Declaration and to continue developing relations between the European Union and its Eastern partner states. We also emphasise that the Eastern Dimension must be flexible enough to allow an individual approach to partner nations, permitting the EU to move more quickly with the nations that are prepared for it.
In Estonia’s view, Eastern Partnership must become a concrete and comprehensive policy that serves as an effective and wide-reaching means for partner countries to grow closer to the European Union and includes the European Union’s support and resources, including association agreements, economic integration, visa freedom, and practical co-operation in energy and transport matters. One good device for implementing Eastern Partnership plans is having multilateral platforms by sector. A forum for multilateral communication between member states and eastern partners will help the region as a whole grow closer to the European Union.
In 2008 the southern partnership, which had until then been known as the Barcelona Process, transformed into the Mediterranean Union. The goal of the Mediterranean Union is to implement big regional projects. A Secretariat of the Mediterranean Union is being created, which will serve to help implement the projects of the Mediterranean Union. Criteria for the presentation of projects are also being prepared. It is essential to move forward with the Middle East peace process in order to create an atmosphere that facilitates co-operation and speeds up the regional integration of partners. The European Union will continue with a varied approach to building up relations with its southern partners, based on the concrete progress made by each nation and interest in intensifying co-operation with the European Union. A closer goal is the further liberalisation of trade with all Mediterranean partners. Although we have more contacts and experiences with our neighbours to the east, we believe the EU's co-operation with neighbours to the south is equally important.
In the area of development co-operation, Estonia will continue its co-operation with its priority partner countries Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. We believe that the process must be two-sided—an aspect of European Eastern Partnership must be included in Europe’s development co-operation policy, and European Neighbourhood Policy must take into account the goals of the European Union’s development co-operation policy.
A critical facet of the EU's Neighbourhood Policy is the degree of the EU's willingness to furnish the philosophy of its four main freedoms to its neighbouring nations. A sectoral approach would be a good method for disclosing these main freedoms to our partners. Neighbouring states should have clarity and perspective regarding what will occur once they reach a certain goal or milestone. Estonia also believes that the most important factor of all is the commitment shown by the neighbouring state.
Estonia believes that it is essential to ensure that financing for Eastern Partnership is allocated equally between the southern and eastern facets of European Neighbourhood Policy.
At the end of 2009, the new strategic EU justice and interior policy programme, called the Stockholm Programme, was approved. This is a strategic document that outlines the action plan, goals and priorities for justice and interiors affairs development for the years 2010-2014. Earlier this work was based on the Tampere (2000-2004) and The Hague (2005-2009) Programmes.
The Stockholm Programme addresses all the important EU justice and interior affairs issues, such as the fundamental rights of citizens, freedom of movement, data protection, border and visa issues, immigration and asylum policy, interior security, European police co-operation, the fight against terrorism, the prevention of major disasters, legal co-operation in civil and criminal affairs, cyber security, and much more.
Estonia supported the creation and approval of the new programme and our concerns are reflected in it. In compiling the programme, we felt it was important that the following matters be addressed: cyber security and the fight against cybercrime; the effective guarantee of the protection of personal data; the processing of flight passenger information in accordance with the goals of legal protection; the creation of a foundation framework for a common European contract law; continuing the commemoration of crimes perpetrated by totalitarian regimes; and the principle of voluntary acceptance and equal distribution of those seeking asylum in member states. However, the most important thing for Estonia in the Stockholm Programme addresses the creation of an IT agency for justice and home affairs.
Working groups are currently discussing regulations for the creation of an IT agency for the area of justice and home affairs and Estonia is a candidate to be its location. Estonia has a highly developed information technology sector and feels that it is important to use information technology more effectively than before in the European Union internal security sector.
In addition to the new generation of the Schengen Information System, SIS II, and the visa information system VIS, there are many other new information systems that are being drafted for use in European Union border management—for example, the Entry-Exit System, the Electronic Travel Permit, and so on. For this reason we feel it is necessary that both existing systems and those being created in the future would be managed and developed under the jurisdiction of one concrete institution. For this we support the creation of a separate IT agency.
In April the Interior Ministry submitted Estonia’s official proposal to the European Union member states to host the agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. The proposal can be seen at http://www.siseministeerium.ee/itagency. According to the proposal, Estonia is prepared to build a new data centre (server room) for the agency, guarantee an appropriate headquarters building for the first year and an office building for at least 100 workers after that. The country is also ready to invest in creating educational opportunities for the children of agency employees in accordance with the curriculum of the European School.
The new IT agency would guarantee the more effective, better co-ordinated and safer management of the aforementioned information systems. Estonia’s innovative and rapidly developing society would be an ideal environment for the future IT agency. We offer a stable, modern and flexible information technology environment that corresponds to the long-term IT needs of the European Union interior security sector.
Thus far, Estonia does not host a single EU agency. At a European Council in 2003, it was agreed that new European Union agencies should be located in “new member states”, or those member states that joined after 2004. The work to create the IT agency for justice and home affairs continues and Estonia is working actively with its candidacy to become the host country. The country that will officially become the host in 2012 will be decided by the member states. In addition to the Estonian proposal, France has also made a bid to be the host country.
The financial perspective is a budgetary framework that the European Union uses as the basis for its annual budgets. 2007 marked the beginning of a new 7-year budgetary period for the EU, for which the member states agreed on a long-awaited general framework in December 2005. The financial perspective for 2007-2013 focuses on the integration of a common market and the development of economic, social, and environmental policies.
During the budgetary period, Estonia will get over 4.5 billion euros from the EU budget (2004 standing price; estimated nominally 4.8 billion euros), of which close to 3.3 billion will go to regional aid, about 0.6 billion to rural life, and about 0.5 billion to support agriculture. Estonia will contribute about 0.9 billion euros to the EU budget over 7 years. In terms of structural funds, achieving eligibility for the VAT tax for municipal governments was an important success. Lifting the budgetary ceiling to 1.047% of the EU's national economy gross income, reducing reimbursements and increasing cohesion plans for new states means that opportunities for development are increased for the less wealthy member states, and that the Union's economic equality is generally increased.
Since many countries were not satisfied with the results of the negotiations in December 2005, the European Commission did a thorough and comprehensive budget analysis and presented a report in November 2008. The Commission examined the flexibility and stability of the EU budget and whether the policies therein are correct. They found that changes should be supported and that we must react to risks and challenges with an updated and flexible budget. Every country trying to grab its fair share should not dominate the budget policy. The Commission plans to present a White Book with its own proposals regarding budget reform before the end of 2009, after which serious discussions on the budget and financial perspective will continue.
From Estonia’s perspective it is important to preserve competitiveness and promote cohesion plans for new states. The budget framework should ensure the transparency of the budget, the uniformity of the financing process, and the stable adherence to all these processes. Estonia finds that there must be balance between the financing of the European Union and member states and that in agriculture the focus should be on a common policy instead of on direct support. Effective and prioritised EU policies are essential.
Public opinion
Polls carried out regularly in Estonia by TNS Emor have shown that support for the EU among Estonian citizens has within the past years remained consistently high, staying between 70-85%.
European Commission
In 2004 Commissioner Siim Kallas was nominated from Estonia to start work in the European Commission. Until 2010 his areas of work included administrative affairs, auditing, and anti-fraud. Siim Kallas was also one of the five vice presidents of the European Commission. In 2010 Siim Kallas will continue his role as vice president of the European Commission responsible for European Union transport.
European Parliament
The second European Parliament elections for Estonia took place on 7 June 2009. For the first time in Estonia it was possible to cast one’s European Parliament vote over the internet during the advance voting period. Nearly 15% of voters took advantage of this opportunity. Compared with the European Parliament elections in 2004, voter participation rose from 26.8% to 43.2%.
Estonia has 6 representatives in the European Parliament: Mrs. Siiri Oviir and Mrs. Vilja Savisaar of the Centre Party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); Mrs. Kristiina Ojuland of the Reform Party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); Mr. Tunne Kelam of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (European People's Party); Mr. Ivari Padar of the Estonian Social Democratic Party (Socialist Group); and independent candidate Mr. Indrek Tarand (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance).
The work of the Parliament takes place in various committees. Currently, there are 20 permanent committees in the European Parliament. Among Estonian envoys, Tunne Kelam and Kristiina Ojuland belong to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ivari Padar belongs to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Siiri Oviir to the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, as well as to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Vilja Savisaar to the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and Indrek Tarand to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
Other institutions
In 2004 Mr. Uno Lõhmus was nominated from Estonia as a judge to the European Court of Justice, and in 2009 his term was extended for another 6 years. Mrs. Küllike Jürimäe has been named a judge to the Court of First Instance until 2010.
The representatives of different fields of Estonian economic and social life are members of the European Economic and Social Committee, and Estonian local governments participate in the work of the Committee of the Regions. Estonia has 7 members in both committees. The composition of the committees is renewed every four years.
The Estonian representative in the Court of Auditors is Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, whose mandate lasts until 2016.
More information:
Estonian Permanent Representation to the EU
Estonian Government's European Union Policy for 2007–2011
 
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