L’engagement européen de l’Estonie

10.04.2000 | 14:51

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Lecture by Mr. Mart Laar, Prime Minister of Estonia at the French Institute of International Affairs in Paris on 10 April 2000


Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentleman,

Last time I addressed this distinguished audience during my previous term in office in May 1994, I called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from our soil and resorted to the history for Estonia’s European credentials. Today I should maybe apologize for presenting a much more boring cause. Estonia has regained its soul and seat in Europe and ceased to be an exciting "if" country.

Standing on firm ground on our own feet is not a goal in itself but a position from which one looks around, ahead and above. I would like, therefore, to turn to the more general European issues. Back at home I could argue who did more for Estonia, father Fulco, who was in 1165 designated the first catholic bishop of Estonia (yes, your guess is right, he was Frenchman) or Messrs. Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman. No one doubts who did more for Europe. To be able to address you here just a month before the 50th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration is a special honor.

Today we need the vision and wisdom of the founding fathers of the Union more than ever. A number of decisions, which would determine the future of Europe for decades, will be made in few years from now. I see the incoming French Presidency of the EU best positioned to set the scene with the proper vision.

Europe is first of all the goal, not the means. Europe is a civilization, not a market. Europe is based on our common heritage and common values. Europe is bound together with our common European future, our role in the World of Tomorrow. All our efforts would be senseless and pointless if the Europe of Tomorrow would no more be able to bless the World with individuals like Descartes or Vincent van Gogh.

This may sound abstract but has a direct relation to the very practical and demanding agenda of the EU today. We should check our toolbox and add all the new tools we see fit. We should get ready for the New Millennium without giving up anything which has served and can still serve the EU’s unique success.

I see the IGC as the top of the agenda. The current IGC cannot resolve each and every challenge but we have to get the basics right. The QMV (qualified majority voting) has to be enlarged where practical. The Council should be able to act efficiently, saving time and effort. But this should not mean that we cease to work for unanimity. Europe is the fortress of democracy. Democracy is built on discussion and understanding, majority is just the roof. I do not share the fears of experts who are afraid that new members could be less eager or willing to find the consensus. The new members will not become an obstacle for the deepening of the EU. On the contrary. Estonia is certainly committed to build a closer Union. What we are going to gain from the membership can only be achieved in a strong, close and efficient EU. Or take another issue – the future composition of the Commission. We have to find a formula that would wisely combine the imperative of efficiency with proper representation of every member country.

I hope to see the IGC successfully concluded by the end of the French presidency. Other and no less pressing issues lie ahead. Our future and the values we praise have to be protected. The CFSP has to put behind its childhood. The dynamically developing European defence cooperation has to mature. Estonia is ready to commit itself fully to this cooperation. There should be no contradiction between Europe’s capability to project peace and stability, which is materializing in the rapidly developing ESBP concept, and the Euro-Atlantic solidarity, the firm commitment of all the NATO allies to the common goals. Joint effort requires everybody to be able to offer real substance.

I would also like to welcome and praise the e-Europe initiative. It is very much in line with the IT programs of my Government back home. We in Estonia have provided each and every school with Internet connection. A few weeks ago, our Parliament passed The Digital Signature Act. We are in the process of getting every civil servant online. Not only the legislation in force but more and more acts in preparation are made available via Internet. We have to offer our citizens real transparency and openness to deserve their cooperation. We have to offer every child and adult as wide access to the information, knowledge and business opportunities as we can. Our continent has never been and should never become a backyard of development and progress. But we have to remember, that the technology has to serve the mankind, not vice versa. We should offer the best content, the best ideas, the goals to follow. I believe – European civilization has the most to offer to the New Millennium.

We will face not only challenges but also opportunities in the years to come. The next round of the EU enlargement will be unique in its scope and meaning. Again, it is much more about Europe regaining its soul and sense than about potato quotas. Of course, economy matters. Pooled and combined resources will help Europe to be the great player of the 21st century. Nevertheless, what means most to a family is home. Home can only be safe, warm and supporting when family rules apply. The incoming French Presidency will draw the road ahead, based on a vision and taking into account all factors as the individual merits of the applicant countries, geography and historic ties. I guess the merits have most to do with the family rules. I think that the self-differentiation matters.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Estonia has applied to become a member of the EU. The first question one should ask is why. The answer is simple. We feel we belong to this family of common values. We share this social model. Our roots are the roots of this civilization. Estonia as a small nation is deeply interested in preserving its national identity. This can best be achieved among the nations of the EU. All this is why Estonia is prepared to subscribe without hesitation to all main policies of the European Union.

Estonia’s domestic political agenda coincides with our European agenda. My government, backed by a three-party majority coalition, is engaged in routine daily work. All we do is to target the needs and wishes of our people. Everything we do is being done for ourselves and has to be done anyway. Yes, we check all the changes in the making with the acquis communitaire, but there is no difference with the routine of the compulsory checking with our domestic legislation in force. We try to apply the best European practice and know-how. We see ourselves in Europe, not in any waiting room. We are not waiting but working. Our goal is to do our homework well. This is what counts, this is what will allow us to live better tomorrow.

Our serious and pragmatic approach appears to bear some fruit. A week ago Mr. Günther Verheugen, the EU’s enlargement commissioner, told me in Tallinn that he has no specific issue to raise. He saw Estonia’s preparations for the accession well on track among the leading candidates with every reason to believe that Estonia knows it’s way ahead. The working plan of my Government will allow Estonia to become ready for membership obligations by January 1st, 2003. This is one of the many targets we have set for ourselves.

This said I do not pretend as if we have no difficulties with complying with the acquis communitaire. Estonia is hardly able in 3 years time to make all the investments into the environment, which were not made during the 50 years of Soviet occupation. Under the same chapter we have difficulty to explain some issues raising from the unusual richness of Estonia’s wildlife. We have too many wolves, bears, lynxes and beavers to give up our regulated hunting procedures, something that the EU requires.

We have many plans to carry out in the coming years. I could mention the pension reform and administrative reform. An aging population requires us to secure a reliable three-pillar pension system, which should be accomplished next year. We are going to enhance radically the administrative capacity of the state and local self-government apparatus. The main tools will be clearly defined functions, lean management, modern technologies and better motivation. The number of local self-government entities will decrease manifold, but every citizen will be more welcome and get more efficient service from the officials.

Estonia is also building up a modern and capable national defence force ready to contribute to the European and Euro-Atlantic security. My government is committed to raise the defense budget to 2% of the GDP by year 2002. The lesson I drew from the meeting with the North Atlantic Council on March 22nd is to keep going. The message was short: the fulfilling of our program will make Estonia one of the best-prepared candidates for the next round of NATO enlargement. Again, this is far from being an easy task for a country which had to start from scratch 10 years ago. Most importantly my Government has a wide public support here. 84% of all Estonian men are willing to participate personally in the national defense. 54% of Estonia’s residents support our drive for NATO membership. This public awareness and support are largely due to our positive practice. Estonian units have since 1995 permanently served shoulder to shoulder with your troops in the trouble spots of our continent. Estonia is and remains true to our joint efforts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Europe is striving for security and prosperity. Both ask for good neighbours. The best approach is to turn the risks and disadvantages into advantages and stability. It takes a lot of patience, firmness, determination and hard work, but the price is worth all of it. The Mediterranean cooperation has many unused possibilities. Russia is still searching for its soul. Nevertheless the experience of my Government tells we can make business with Russia. The EU has adopted common strategies. We have to stick to them. We have to help our neighbours to prosper.

I would like to conclude remaining true to my education as a historian. I have to offer you one more explanation of why the Soviet Empire collapsed. Its totalitarian rulers were not Europeans in their heart nor by their education. They were nalve enough not to forbid the European classical literature. Even impressionist paintings were sometimes tolerated as the examples of decadence. The genuine ideas of liberty and democracy were not understood nor noticed, this sentenced the regime to death. The will, the drive of Estonians and other captured nations to rejoin Europe overthrew the Empire of Darkness. Civilization as strong as European can never be defeated. We should trust our common future and ourselves.

Thank you for your attention.