The Estonian Government meets with the European Commission ahead of the Estonian EU Council Presidency

At today’s cabinet meeting, members of the Estonian Government met with Alexander Italianer, Secretary General of the European Commission i, and Martin Selmayr, Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Commission, to discuss cooperation between the European Commission and the Council i presidency, the Estonian Government’s upcoming visit to Brussels and Estonia’s priorities during its Council presidency.

“Our priorities are a unified, open and innovative Europe and taking forward the issues of a single market and security. A digital Europe and the free movement of data are also important topics for Estonia,” Prime Minister Jüri Ratas i said. “The four fundamental freedoms of Europe can only truly function if the continent is strongly connected. This must be one of our main goals,” the Prime Minister emphasised and added that the European Union must remain unified, decisive and united even as a Union of 27 Member States.

On 3 May, members of the Estonian Government will meet with members of the European Commission in Brussels - a traditional visit for the government of the incoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“During this meeting, we will introduce our incoming presidency priorities and build the necessary relationships with Commission members that are crucial for a successful presidency,” the Prime Minister said.

During the visit, the government will also hold a field session in Brussels. The session and the subsequent press conference will be held at the offices of the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU in Brussels.

After discussions with the cabinet, Italianer and Selmayr will meet Heiki Loot, the Secretary of State, and the management team of the EU Secretariat of the Government Office in order to get an overview of the preparations for the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to discuss the visit of the Commissioners of the European Commission to Estonia in June. It is good practice for the visit of the President of the European Commission and all the Commissioners to officially launch a presidency.

This afternoon, Italianer and Selmayr will meet with senior officials of the Estonian Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, and the Ministry of the Interior to discuss the Estonian Presidency’s priorities for these specific ministries in greater detail.