Head of State at the meeting with Mogherini: the European Union must become more confident

This morning, President Kersti Kaljulaid met in Kadriorg with Federica Mogherini i, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meeting focused on both the internal developments of the European Union and the role of the European Union in the world in general.

"The European Union must become internally stronger and more confident, as this will give our views more strength beyond the EU itself. Perhaps the EU is currently excessively focused on being useful only to as many individual citizens of the EU as possible; we should instead focus more on the common interests of the EU in general," said the President of the Republic.

The future of Europe, including strengthening defence-related cooperation and expansion, were discussed at the meeting. According to the President, the door of the EU is open to all liberal and democratic countries that share the same values. "However, the goal and objective of efforts [to join the EU] among these countries must be these values, and not simply the benefits offered by the EU, as if in exchange. Only in this way can the EU remain powerful and uniform," said President Kaljulaid.

In addition, President Kaljulaid and Mogherini discussed Estonia's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU, the situation in Syria and Ukraine, and the role of Russia in these conflicts, as well as the relations between the EU and Africa. The issues of the Eastern Partnership were discussed in depth, as Estonia, in its role within the Presidency of the Council, of the EU will organise a summit on this matters in Brussels during the second half of the year.