Ms Kristiina Ojuland: Identity through Integration

Summary of the address by
Ms Kristiina Ojuland,
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia,
at the ninth international conference
Estonia and the EU
31 October 2002

Tallinn, Estonia



Identity through Integration:
Estonia’s Preferences in a Changing Europe
(summary)

The European Union has been characterized as the “most successful union of states in the history of mankind”. The European Union has set an attractive example as the motor, which activates development and growth. The aim of the careful steps, which are being taken, on the threshold of new challenges and achievements, is not change for the sake of change, but the creation of surplus value.

The European integration policy makes sense only if it is able to fulfil two aims: firstly, to stimulate the EU’s development dynamics; secondly, to contribute, concretely and effectively, to every European citizen’s quality of life. This can be achieved only if the EU strengthens individual identity. Let us not forget, that every nation’s -- and especially a small nation’s -- survival and development are greatly dependent upon its ability to influence political, cultural, administrative, and economic systems outside its ethnic borders. From this perspective, the enlargement of the EU offers, for us Estonians, both opportunities and responsibilities.

From Estonia’s point of view, it is essential that the EU becomes more transparent and comprehensible, both for its own citizens, and for the Union’s external partners. If this can be achieved with the simplifying of treaties, and the incorporating of the fundamental rights charter into the treaties, the legitimacy of the EU will be increased for the citizens of both today’s and tomorrow’s Europe.

Today’s generation no longer asks why the EU was created. It is primarily interested in how its rights and interests will be represented and guaranteed. In Estonia, doubts are often raised about how smaller states could possibly have a say in the affairs of the EU. But the Irish referendum, concerning the Nice Treaty, should lay these worries to rest. And the EU must create a framework, within which, the national parliaments of the Member States are made a part of the overall European process in a way, which maintains their individuality, and also promotes their efficient co-operation with the European Parliament.

The following are my personal positions on some of the more important basic questions being debated at the European Convention:

Fistly, I support the idea of giving national parliaments a larger role in the controlling of subsidiarity. In other words, this means the establishment of a procedural mechanism, which gives a national parliament a greater opportunity than before to participate, starting from the first stage of the decision making process, in the EU’s legislative procedures, thereby increasing the relevancy of the EU for a Member State’s domestic politics and citizenry.

Secondly, I believe, that the Charter of Fundamental Rights, as the document, which establishes the primacy of Europe’s common values and democratic principles, should become legally binding.

Thirdly, I believe, that it is necessary to explicitly establish the legal personality of the EU. I also believe, that the EU’s present column system is only temporary, and in the future, it should be integrated into one unified system.

Fourthly, I support the increasing of the role of the European Commission in the co-ordinating and executing of economic policy. We also believe, that in the sphere of taxation, the EU’s jurisdiction should remain the same as established in the Treaty of European Union. Since Estonia’s practice of not taxing corporate profits, which are re-invested into the firm, has totally justified itself, I believe that it is right to leave taxation policy within the direct jurisdiction of the individual Member States.

For Estonia, an essential factor in our accession efforts is the desire to belong to a body, which has clearly defined goals, and is capable of dealing with international issues. When faced with today’s challenges, the EU must, with clearly stated tactics and policy positions, establish a plan of action, which would coincide with the Member States’ common interests.

Estonia bears responsibility, equally, with the present Member States, for the success of the upcoming inter-governmental conference. We will justify the trusting of this responsibility with us only if the citizens of Europe find that as a result of the reforms and enlargement, a new EU is born, which will be more congenial, and have clearer goals than its predecessor.