Foreign Minister Sven Mikser confirmed that the draft state budget for 2019 approved by the Government today will help strengthen the country’s foreign service and meet the objectives of Estonian foreign policy.
“The aim of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to contribute to the stability of international relations and thereby ensure the security of Estonia. It is also our goal to promote the interests of Estonian companies abroad and assist Estonian citizens in other countries. I am delighted that the new draft budget strengthens Estonia’s foreign service and helps the country move towards its foreign and security policy objectives,” Foreign Minister Mikser commented.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is planning to open three new representations and at the same time bolster its current representations in major European capitals. The estimated allocation for these initiatives is €1.8 million. “Estonia is planning to open a representation in the United Arab Emirates. This is something Estonian businesses have requested for a long time and it will also give us an opportunity to participate in the foreign and security policy processes of the region. In the light of our economic interests, Estonia also intends to open a representation on the West Coast of the US in the coming years,” Mikser explained. “Both of these representations will help us better assist and protect our citizens and promote the development of tourism,” he added.
Foreign Minister Mikser also pointed out the re-opening of the embassy in Budapest, with the aim of protecting Estonia’s interests and strengthening Estonia’s presence in the Balkans. Under the current plan, the ambassador residing in Budapest will also cover Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia*, Montenegro and Serbia. “One important keyword here is business diplomacy, as our goal is to seize all opportunities offered by the Hungarian market,” Mikser emphasised.
Foreign Minister Mikser stressed that next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is planning to contribute more to cybersecurity and digital diplomacy to support the activities of Estonian companies, and contribute more to aid for digital development and international cooperation projects. “In September Estonia appointed its first ambassador at large for cybersecurity, which demonstrates how important this topic is for Estonia,” he added.
Estonia’s campaign for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 will continue in 2019. “The non-permanent membership of the Security Council would significantly increase Estonia’s ability to defend its values and interests in the most important international organisation,” Mikser said.
The foreign ministry will also receive extra funding to issue and renew the growing number of e-residency cards. The number of applicants for e-residency has increased around 60 % every year.
In total, €73.9 million will be allocated for the 2019 budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At present, Estonia has 34 embassies as well as permanent representations to the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), the EU (Brussels), the UN (New York), the UN Headquarters and Other International Organisations in Geneva, OSCE (Vienna), OECD (Paris) and NATO (Brussels).
The draft state budget for next year is based on the Government’s efforts to promote sustainable economic growth, increase population, strengthen security and increase society’s well-being and cohesion. The Government forwarded the state budget bill to Riigikogu who must pass the state budget as an Act. The state budget is drawn up based on the state budget strategy updated each spring. The objective of the state budget strategy is to make long-term plans in view of the Government’s priorities, forecasts and global trends. The state budget strategy binds together the Government’s objectives, the plans and activities of the ministries and their funding for the next four years.
*The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Additional information:
Sandra Kamilova
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Communication Department
56675362
[email protected]