Address by the Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland at the Institute of European Affairs in Dublin
The Added Value of an EU of 25
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would, first of all, like to thank the organisers for the invitation to address you, here, at the Dublin Institute of European Affairs.
Ireland is the country that, we in Estonia, respect and admire in so many ways. The openness of your economy has set a positive example, and has been a motivation for us. By successfully holding the Presidency of the European Union, for the sixth time already, you have proven yet again, that small nations can have a say in both European and world affairs.
Your current Presidency is particularly significant. On 1 May, in less than a month, ten new countries, Estonia among them, will join the European Union. Instead of fifteen Member States, there will be twenty-five. The population of the European Union will increase by nearly eighty million. The EU’s territory will grow by more than twenty percent.
But this enlargement is not just a simple arithmetic sum of countries, people, and square kilometres. It is much more than that. The political and economic dimensions of the enlargement are more than obvious – twenty-five European countries acting as one, is a considerably stronger force than the sum total of twenty-five individual and separate countries. The enlargement in May erases the dividing line between Eastern and Western Europe. This line was drawn during the Cold War era, and had no moral justification. Therefore, in reality, we are speaking of the reunification of Europe. There is only one Europe, but one, which was artificially divided for more than six decades. Reunification will create the added value of prosperity and security, that a divided Europe would never be able to provide.
European integration has worked for Western Europe, both in terms of economic reconstruction, as well as the creation of post-war peace and stability. It works for Eastern Europe as well, and we already have ample proof of this. The accession process has transformed the Acceding Countries considerably. And this has undoubtedly contributed to the stability and prosperity of Europe as a whole. Bearing this in mind, we have to continue working towards even greater European integration. This of course concerns the potential EU membership of the remaining Candidate Countries. It also applies to the stabilization of, and co-operation with, the Union's neighbours. The security of Europe is indivisible, and it is important to extend the model of stability and prosperity, that has worked so well for the countries involved.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is, of course, obvious, that the imminent enlargement also constitutes a challenge for the European Union. All previous enlargements in the Union’s history have changed it in significant ways. As did the first enlargement in 1973, when Ireland, together with Britain and Denmark, joined. So did the accession of Greece, Spain, and Portugal in 1981, and the joining of Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995. The enlargement in May is, however, particularly challenging, owing to its "big bang" magnitude.
What are the most immediate challenges that the enlarged Union will have to face?
Firstly, the functioning of the EU now means the reconciling of the domestic priorities of, not fifteen, but twenty-five Member States. This requires changes in the decision-making process and institutional structures of the Union.
Secondly, it also means, the formulating of a common foreign policy for an increased number of countries. The Union’s concerted efforts in this sphere are particularly important, considering the growing instability in various parts of the world and the continuing spread of international terrorism.
Thirdly, the borders of the EU will change. Consequently, the Union will have new neighbours, and hence a need for new policies for relating to them.
And fourthly, there are also concerns about the future of the European economy.
How should we face these challenges? Let me emphasize, that the aforementioned challenges are not inherently new. The European Union has always been a constantly changing and developing organization. Fighting international terrorism, as well as working towards the stability of the EU’s neighbours, are crucial for European security, no matter how big the Union is. Increasing the competitiveness of the European Union is the core of the Lisbon Strategy, and crucial, considering Europe's aging labour force, and the ongoing competition with Asian and American economies. All of these are endeavours, to which the new Members can positively contribute. Allow me to share with you some thoughts on this, from the Estonian perspective.
Increasingly closer integration renders it necessary to make many changes in previous operating procedures. Changes in the decision-making process of the European Union, as well as its institutional structure, are currently being debated at the Intergovernmental Conference. It is essential, that the Acceding Countries have been participating in this process as equals with the Member States. Significantly, all countries have been unanimous about the need to make the European Union's legislative process, as a whole, public, and more comprehensible for the citizens of Europe.
Estonia supports the development of the EU as a union of states, in which the equal treatment of all Member States is assured. This has been one of the European Union’s basic principles, and must be maintained as one in the future. After the failure of the European Council last December, the idea of the so-called "two-speed Europe" was proposed by some Founding Members, distinguishing between the "core Europe" and the rest. The making of such distinctions is politically dangerous and counter-productive. The idea of an enlarged Europe is to unite our forces rather than to create new divisions. The possibilities for closer co-operation already exist in the current treaties. There are even successful examples, such as the economic and monetary union and Schengen. Closer co-operation should, however, be flexible, and adjustable to the needs of Member States in all policy spheres.
In spite of the considerable progress achieved, during the Italian Presidency, at the Intergovernmental Conference, there are a few big issues – for example, the definition and scope of qualified majority voting (QMV) – and several smaller ones, that remain to be discussed and agreed upon. Estonia strongly believes, that we should carry on with the talks, take into consideration the results achieved so far, and be as flexible as possible in our positions.
The results of the last European Council assured us, that the Irish Presidency is making progress in finding solutions to the still open issues in the draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. It is essential, that the European Council expressed the political will to reach, by June, an agreement acceptable for all present and future Member States.
Estonia is satisfied with the broad consensus, that has developed, concerning some questions of great importance for us. Among these are, having one Commissioner per Member State, and retaining five seats as a minimum in the European Parliament. The representation of all countries in the Commission offers a good possibility for injecting new ideas into the system.
As for the voting system, Estonia is ready to support the double majority system, provided there is parity between the Member States criterion and the population criterion. Estonia’s successful experiences with economic reforms have led us to support the maintaining of unanimity in taxation. We find it essential for the conducting of an effective and competitive national economic policy.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Please allow me to also say a few words about the European Union’s common foreign and security policy. As far as the Union’s external relations are concerned, Estonia totally shares the majority of the Member States’ conviction, that the EU’s international role needs to be strengthened. There exists a lot of potential for this, considering, that the collective opinion and actions of twenty-five states carry much more weight than the simple sum of the actions of individual states.
Regarding the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), Estonia would agree, in principle, with increasing the Union’s capabilities. We support the EU and NATO agreement – Berlin Plus – which enables the European Union, within the framework of the so-called Petersberg Tasks, to carry out military operations. Also, combating terrorism has to remain one of the main priorities of the European Security and Defence Policy. The recent tragic events in Madrid clearly demonstrated, that terrorism is a constant threat within the borders of the European Union. But the further development of the ESDP should not cause a weakening of the transatlantic link, or duplicate NATO. We must never forget, that NATO is the only credible guarantee of collective security in Europe. Strong transatlantic co-operation between Europe and the United States is crucial for European security.
The security of the European Union is particularly dependent upon the stability of the countries in its immediate vicinity. Bearing this in mind, Estonia welcomes the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the New Neighbours Initiative. It is important to actively develop relations and co-operative projects with the European Union’s eastern and southern next-door neighbours. Helping to stabilise Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova, as well the Balkans, contributes to the security of the whole region. The countries of the Southern Caucasus should also be involved. Of particular concern are the developments taking place in Russia, and the country’s relationship with the EU and NATO.
Estonia welcomes the ongoing formulation, by the European Union, of concrete action plans based upon an individual approach towards every state. We expect similar involvement and active co-operation from the countries that these policies are aimed at. Ukraine has set a good example, expressing a clear wish for a more intensive level of partnership with the European Union.
The development of relations with New Neighbours is the sphere in which the historical experiences and know-how of new Members are particularly useful. Estonia has already gained valuable experience with carrying out bilateral development co-operation with several of the mentioned countries, Ukraine and Georgia in particular. And we expect to intensify our contacts with Moldova. After having acceded to the European Union, we can even better contribute to the international efforts to aid these countries. Our contribution could be particularly effective in the information and communication technologies sector, since this is a field in which Estonia has been especially successful.
As to relations with Russia, the European Council in March reaffirmed the Union’s strong and genuine interest in an open, stable, and democratic Russia. Relations with that nation should develop further on the basis of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the so-called Four Common Spaces approach. It is essential, that Russia, in turn, extends the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the ten acceding Member States, without precondition or distinction, by 1 May 2004. This would remove one of the main obstacles to the intensifying of co-operation between the European Union and Russia.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Let me conclude with a few words about the economic implications of the enlargement. This is where the added value is most obvious and discernible. The reunification of Europe means an expansion of the single market. This contributes to the Lisbon goal of transforming the European Union into the most competitive economy in the world. Enlargement adds almost eighty million new citizens to the European Union. Romania and Bulgaria, having a clear prospect for joining in 2007, would add another thirty million people. This, without doubt, is a crucial and healthy contribution to the Union's labour force. We must keep in mind, that the population of Europe has been decreasing and aging constantly, and this, in the long run, is having an adverse effect upon the region’s competitiveness.
Hence, an enlarged Europe should aim at increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of the Union's economy with a strong internal market. In order to revitalize the European economy, it is important, that all Member States adhere to the conditions prescribed for their fiscal policy in the Stability and Growth Pact. Even further liberalization of markets, and the maximization of the potential of all Member States is of particular significance. Another important issue is the free movement of labour. We hope that this will, in the near future mean, for the eight new Member States, the free movement of capital, goods, and services within the European single market.
Efficiency and increased competitiveness are the core goals of the so-called Lisbon Strategy. Estonian priorities coincide, to a large extent, with the measures, that the European Union, under the Irish Presidency, has been implementing within the framework of its endeavours to carry out this strategy. Most significant are: the creating of more employment opportunities in Europe, investments in human resources, life-long learning, and the promotion of environmentally safe technologies. In addition, to secure economic growth in Europe, and to increase the continent’s competitiveness, research and development (R&D) and scientific innovations should be prioritised even more. Increased attention has to be paid to the development of information and communication, as well as to the so-called frontier technologies, biotechnology in particular.
New Members are economically dynamic and reform-minded, and will therefore have a significant contribution to make to the revitalizing of the European economy. Estonia has been in the forefront, among the Acceding Countries, with its open economy policy. The bases for Estonia’s success have been its economic reforms, its liberal economy, and its free trade policies with other countries. In 2003, according to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, Estonia was the world's 22nd most competitive economy, ahead of seven EU Member States. In the 2004 Heritage Foundation / Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom, Estonia ranks sixth, just behind Ireland. We sincerely want to take this forward-looking and open-minded economic approach with us, into the European Union.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Irish Presidency of the European Union has declared the successful enlargement of the Union to be one of its primary goals. The joining of ten new Members on 1 May is not integration for its own sake. It is the beginning of the process that should bring with it very real benefits for everyone. It will contribute to making Europe more secure, more prosperous, and more dynamic.
Thank you for your attention!
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would, first of all, like to thank the organisers for the invitation to address you, here, at the Dublin Institute of European Affairs.
Ireland is the country that, we in Estonia, respect and admire in so many ways. The openness of your economy has set a positive example, and has been a motivation for us. By successfully holding the Presidency of the European Union, for the sixth time already, you have proven yet again, that small nations can have a say in both European and world affairs.
Your current Presidency is particularly significant. On 1 May, in less than a month, ten new countries, Estonia among them, will join the European Union. Instead of fifteen Member States, there will be twenty-five. The population of the European Union will increase by nearly eighty million. The EU’s territory will grow by more than twenty percent.
But this enlargement is not just a simple arithmetic sum of countries, people, and square kilometres. It is much more than that. The political and economic dimensions of the enlargement are more than obvious – twenty-five European countries acting as one, is a considerably stronger force than the sum total of twenty-five individual and separate countries. The enlargement in May erases the dividing line between Eastern and Western Europe. This line was drawn during the Cold War era, and had no moral justification. Therefore, in reality, we are speaking of the reunification of Europe. There is only one Europe, but one, which was artificially divided for more than six decades. Reunification will create the added value of prosperity and security, that a divided Europe would never be able to provide.
European integration has worked for Western Europe, both in terms of economic reconstruction, as well as the creation of post-war peace and stability. It works for Eastern Europe as well, and we already have ample proof of this. The accession process has transformed the Acceding Countries considerably. And this has undoubtedly contributed to the stability and prosperity of Europe as a whole. Bearing this in mind, we have to continue working towards even greater European integration. This of course concerns the potential EU membership of the remaining Candidate Countries. It also applies to the stabilization of, and co-operation with, the Union's neighbours. The security of Europe is indivisible, and it is important to extend the model of stability and prosperity, that has worked so well for the countries involved.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is, of course, obvious, that the imminent enlargement also constitutes a challenge for the European Union. All previous enlargements in the Union’s history have changed it in significant ways. As did the first enlargement in 1973, when Ireland, together with Britain and Denmark, joined. So did the accession of Greece, Spain, and Portugal in 1981, and the joining of Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995. The enlargement in May is, however, particularly challenging, owing to its "big bang" magnitude.
What are the most immediate challenges that the enlarged Union will have to face?
Firstly, the functioning of the EU now means the reconciling of the domestic priorities of, not fifteen, but twenty-five Member States. This requires changes in the decision-making process and institutional structures of the Union.
Secondly, it also means, the formulating of a common foreign policy for an increased number of countries. The Union’s concerted efforts in this sphere are particularly important, considering the growing instability in various parts of the world and the continuing spread of international terrorism.
Thirdly, the borders of the EU will change. Consequently, the Union will have new neighbours, and hence a need for new policies for relating to them.
And fourthly, there are also concerns about the future of the European economy.
How should we face these challenges? Let me emphasize, that the aforementioned challenges are not inherently new. The European Union has always been a constantly changing and developing organization. Fighting international terrorism, as well as working towards the stability of the EU’s neighbours, are crucial for European security, no matter how big the Union is. Increasing the competitiveness of the European Union is the core of the Lisbon Strategy, and crucial, considering Europe's aging labour force, and the ongoing competition with Asian and American economies. All of these are endeavours, to which the new Members can positively contribute. Allow me to share with you some thoughts on this, from the Estonian perspective.
Increasingly closer integration renders it necessary to make many changes in previous operating procedures. Changes in the decision-making process of the European Union, as well as its institutional structure, are currently being debated at the Intergovernmental Conference. It is essential, that the Acceding Countries have been participating in this process as equals with the Member States. Significantly, all countries have been unanimous about the need to make the European Union's legislative process, as a whole, public, and more comprehensible for the citizens of Europe.
Estonia supports the development of the EU as a union of states, in which the equal treatment of all Member States is assured. This has been one of the European Union’s basic principles, and must be maintained as one in the future. After the failure of the European Council last December, the idea of the so-called "two-speed Europe" was proposed by some Founding Members, distinguishing between the "core Europe" and the rest. The making of such distinctions is politically dangerous and counter-productive. The idea of an enlarged Europe is to unite our forces rather than to create new divisions. The possibilities for closer co-operation already exist in the current treaties. There are even successful examples, such as the economic and monetary union and Schengen. Closer co-operation should, however, be flexible, and adjustable to the needs of Member States in all policy spheres.
In spite of the considerable progress achieved, during the Italian Presidency, at the Intergovernmental Conference, there are a few big issues – for example, the definition and scope of qualified majority voting (QMV) – and several smaller ones, that remain to be discussed and agreed upon. Estonia strongly believes, that we should carry on with the talks, take into consideration the results achieved so far, and be as flexible as possible in our positions.
The results of the last European Council assured us, that the Irish Presidency is making progress in finding solutions to the still open issues in the draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. It is essential, that the European Council expressed the political will to reach, by June, an agreement acceptable for all present and future Member States.
Estonia is satisfied with the broad consensus, that has developed, concerning some questions of great importance for us. Among these are, having one Commissioner per Member State, and retaining five seats as a minimum in the European Parliament. The representation of all countries in the Commission offers a good possibility for injecting new ideas into the system.
As for the voting system, Estonia is ready to support the double majority system, provided there is parity between the Member States criterion and the population criterion. Estonia’s successful experiences with economic reforms have led us to support the maintaining of unanimity in taxation. We find it essential for the conducting of an effective and competitive national economic policy.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Please allow me to also say a few words about the European Union’s common foreign and security policy. As far as the Union’s external relations are concerned, Estonia totally shares the majority of the Member States’ conviction, that the EU’s international role needs to be strengthened. There exists a lot of potential for this, considering, that the collective opinion and actions of twenty-five states carry much more weight than the simple sum of the actions of individual states.
Regarding the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), Estonia would agree, in principle, with increasing the Union’s capabilities. We support the EU and NATO agreement – Berlin Plus – which enables the European Union, within the framework of the so-called Petersberg Tasks, to carry out military operations. Also, combating terrorism has to remain one of the main priorities of the European Security and Defence Policy. The recent tragic events in Madrid clearly demonstrated, that terrorism is a constant threat within the borders of the European Union. But the further development of the ESDP should not cause a weakening of the transatlantic link, or duplicate NATO. We must never forget, that NATO is the only credible guarantee of collective security in Europe. Strong transatlantic co-operation between Europe and the United States is crucial for European security.
The security of the European Union is particularly dependent upon the stability of the countries in its immediate vicinity. Bearing this in mind, Estonia welcomes the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the New Neighbours Initiative. It is important to actively develop relations and co-operative projects with the European Union’s eastern and southern next-door neighbours. Helping to stabilise Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova, as well the Balkans, contributes to the security of the whole region. The countries of the Southern Caucasus should also be involved. Of particular concern are the developments taking place in Russia, and the country’s relationship with the EU and NATO.
Estonia welcomes the ongoing formulation, by the European Union, of concrete action plans based upon an individual approach towards every state. We expect similar involvement and active co-operation from the countries that these policies are aimed at. Ukraine has set a good example, expressing a clear wish for a more intensive level of partnership with the European Union.
The development of relations with New Neighbours is the sphere in which the historical experiences and know-how of new Members are particularly useful. Estonia has already gained valuable experience with carrying out bilateral development co-operation with several of the mentioned countries, Ukraine and Georgia in particular. And we expect to intensify our contacts with Moldova. After having acceded to the European Union, we can even better contribute to the international efforts to aid these countries. Our contribution could be particularly effective in the information and communication technologies sector, since this is a field in which Estonia has been especially successful.
As to relations with Russia, the European Council in March reaffirmed the Union’s strong and genuine interest in an open, stable, and democratic Russia. Relations with that nation should develop further on the basis of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the so-called Four Common Spaces approach. It is essential, that Russia, in turn, extends the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the ten acceding Member States, without precondition or distinction, by 1 May 2004. This would remove one of the main obstacles to the intensifying of co-operation between the European Union and Russia.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Let me conclude with a few words about the economic implications of the enlargement. This is where the added value is most obvious and discernible. The reunification of Europe means an expansion of the single market. This contributes to the Lisbon goal of transforming the European Union into the most competitive economy in the world. Enlargement adds almost eighty million new citizens to the European Union. Romania and Bulgaria, having a clear prospect for joining in 2007, would add another thirty million people. This, without doubt, is a crucial and healthy contribution to the Union's labour force. We must keep in mind, that the population of Europe has been decreasing and aging constantly, and this, in the long run, is having an adverse effect upon the region’s competitiveness.
Hence, an enlarged Europe should aim at increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of the Union's economy with a strong internal market. In order to revitalize the European economy, it is important, that all Member States adhere to the conditions prescribed for their fiscal policy in the Stability and Growth Pact. Even further liberalization of markets, and the maximization of the potential of all Member States is of particular significance. Another important issue is the free movement of labour. We hope that this will, in the near future mean, for the eight new Member States, the free movement of capital, goods, and services within the European single market.
Efficiency and increased competitiveness are the core goals of the so-called Lisbon Strategy. Estonian priorities coincide, to a large extent, with the measures, that the European Union, under the Irish Presidency, has been implementing within the framework of its endeavours to carry out this strategy. Most significant are: the creating of more employment opportunities in Europe, investments in human resources, life-long learning, and the promotion of environmentally safe technologies. In addition, to secure economic growth in Europe, and to increase the continent’s competitiveness, research and development (R&D) and scientific innovations should be prioritised even more. Increased attention has to be paid to the development of information and communication, as well as to the so-called frontier technologies, biotechnology in particular.
New Members are economically dynamic and reform-minded, and will therefore have a significant contribution to make to the revitalizing of the European economy. Estonia has been in the forefront, among the Acceding Countries, with its open economy policy. The bases for Estonia’s success have been its economic reforms, its liberal economy, and its free trade policies with other countries. In 2003, according to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, Estonia was the world's 22nd most competitive economy, ahead of seven EU Member States. In the 2004 Heritage Foundation / Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom, Estonia ranks sixth, just behind Ireland. We sincerely want to take this forward-looking and open-minded economic approach with us, into the European Union.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Irish Presidency of the European Union has declared the successful enlargement of the Union to be one of its primary goals. The joining of ten new Members on 1 May is not integration for its own sake. It is the beginning of the process that should bring with it very real benefits for everyone. It will contribute to making Europe more secure, more prosperous, and more dynamic.
Thank you for your attention!
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