Today 1 December, an informal video meeting of European affairs ministers was held to discuss the Conference on the Future of Europe and coordination related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Undersecretary for European Affairs Märt Volmer represented Estonia at the meeting.
The first section of today’s meeting included a representative of the European Youth Parliament. The ministers looked at the discussion paper of Young Europe Ambassadors on the Future of Europe, where young people from various European countries present their recommendations for the European Union in five policy areas: climate and energy, asylum, democracy, digitalisation and health.
Undersecretary Volmer said that it was crucial to include young people and their proposals could be considered in future discussions. The digitalisation policy vision includes several important suggestions for Estonia. “Taking leadership in the European Union in cybersecurity, providing opportunities for lifelong digital learning, upgrading the educational systems for the digital age, establishing a common European e-identification and eSignature system – these are the areas important for the development of the European Union and where Estonia can provide know-how and specific solutions,” Volmer said.
“Estonia sees the Conference on the Future of Europe as a tool to engage the people living in Europe and offer them a chance to participate in shaping European Union policies. The EU strategic Agenda priorities are a solid basis on what we could focus. Sustainability, including green, just and digital transition are among the key topics we expect to see. We also need to further acknowledge and address the EU’s role on the global stage,” Volmer added.
The meeting also covered international cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic. Volmer noted that all European Union states support coordination and finding common solutions. “Estonia supports the introduction of a joint cross-border digital solution for the mutual recognition of test results, which could also be used for vaccination certificates in the future. Estonia is ready to cooperate with the European Commission on developing a digital solution,” Volmer said.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSvguig
Additional information:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
