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Priorities of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The motto of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is 'Unity through balance'. We believe that Europe has plenty of common ground to come together to successfully tackle all the challenges and make the most of all the possibilities that face us today. We must facilitate openness in both our economy and society, while also ensuring safety and security. Our role is to find a balance between the different views, traditions and interests in Europe today to achieve the best possible outcome for European citizens.
The four priorities of the Estonian Presidency are:
An open and innovative European economy
An open and innovative European economy means developing a business environment, which supports knowledge-based growth and competitiveness.
To this end, we will focus on:
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protecting and promoting the EU's four freedoms – free movement of goods, persons, services and capital
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making sure that providing services and starting a business in the EU is as easy as possible, and advancing trade negotiations
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creating new funding opportunities for companies and ensuring a stable banking sector
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establishing a stable and well-functioning electricity market and empowering consumers
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ensuring fair competition by preventing tax evasion
Only by acting together and preserving its unity on the global stage can the EU keep its citizens safe and promote peace, prosperity and stability.
To this end, we will focus on:
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strengthening the fight against terrorism and organised crime, strengthening the internal security as well as the protection of the EU’s external borders by improving cooperation and using cutting-edge information systems
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continuing the work tackling the migration crisis and reforming the Common European Asylum System
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supporting and strengthening relations with Eastern Partnership countries
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an increase in defence expenditure, developing European defence cooperation and the EU-NATO partnership
A digital Europe and the free movement of data
Europe must exploit the benefits of the technological progress that is resulting in constant change for citizens, businesses and governments.
To this end, we will focus on:
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developing cross-border e-commerce and e-services for the benefit of consumers, producers and businesses
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ensuring modern and secure electronic communications available everywhere across Europe as well as creating a favourable environment for new innovative services
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advancing cross-border digital public services to facilitate everyday life
An inclusive and sustainable Europe
An inclusive and sustainable Europe supports equal opportunities for high-quality education, employment, access to services and development of skills. A sustainable Europe cares about and is committed to achieving a cleaner environment.
To this end, we will focus on:
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modernising rules in order to promote labour mobility and free movement of persons
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ensuring equal opportunities in the labour market and social inclusion
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securing a more sustainable environment
Estonian ambassador Frosch: It takes wide-scale staff training to take over EU Council's presidency
Estonia's ambassador in Bucharest Ants Frosch said Wednesday that in order to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union any EU member state has to invest in wide-scale staff training, adding that Estonia wants to continue its excellent cooperation with Romania.
"I am sure that Romania has huge resources here, and it should not find it as hard as Estonia, which has only 1.4 million inhabitants, does," Frosch told a news conference that marked Estonia taking over the six-moth rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. "Such an opportunity provides in the future hundreds, and even thousands in Romania's case, of well-trained young people. That generates a change in the future," said Frosch.
Also attending the news conference hosted by the European Commission Representation in Bucharest was Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu.
In his speech, Melescanu mentioned the preparations by the Romanian staff of Romania's taking over the rotating presidency in the first half of 2019 and the employment caps in place his ministry.
He said emphasis will be placed on staff training. "As far as preparations for Romania's presidency are concerned, one of the most important instruments to be finalised theses days will be an agreement with France's Ecole Nationale d'Administration that will provide a training programme for the Foreign Ministry's central office staff, the Permanent Representation in Brussels and various specialist ministries," said Melescanu.
Adding to these preparations will be various training and cooperation projects involving Romanian universities. "We are faring quite well," the minister said.
He went on to say that his ministry will not be able to hire staff because there are employment caps in place set by the government. "What we can do is find volunteers. And there is very advanced cooperation with various NGOs in this area and then there can be employment for a definite time using funds from the budget earmarked for the presidency of the Council of the European Union," said Melescanu.
In his turn, the Estonian ambassador said he has had excellent cooperation with Romanian officials.
"The Romanian team for the presidency has cooperated quite well with the team of our ministry. I can see very active and serious cooperation on the part of the Romanian colleagues, and certainly it is not too late," said Frosch.
He added that security and digital agenda are the main priorities of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union. "Citizens must be the centre of our attention," he said, adding that "security is the main thing citizens are expecting from the European Union."
"We want to continue the excellent cooperation with Romania, the country that will hold the presidency in 2019," he said.
In his turn, Melescanu mentioned Romania's contributions toward EU security.
"We are joining our Estonian colleagues in improving security inside the EU, while securing defence cooperation between the member states that are in the Schengen Area and those outside the area," said the Romanian chief diplomat, adding that the border-free Schengen Area is one of the greatest benefits to the European Union citizens generated by European integration.
"We are still convinced that by joining the Schengen Area, Romania will fully contribute toward consolidating the area and security inside the European Union," said Melescanu.
He added that he wants the H1 2019 Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union to be a success story. "We have to be pragmatic and efficient. We have to prove solidarity and common will," he said.