The Estonian head of government gave President-Elect Costa an overview of Estonia's priorities in the EU for the coming years, stressing the need to bolster the European single market, improve the EU's competitiveness and invest more in common defence capabilities and Europe’s own defence industry.
Prime Minister Michal remarked that Europe must make more of a collective effort if it is to tackle the challenges facing it. “We are actively engaged in boosting the competitiveness of our economy and developing our own defence capabilities here in Estonia at the moment,” he said. “These are issues that also need to be dealt with more seriously at the EU level.”
In particular, the head of government highlighted the need to reduce administrative burden and simplify the EU’s regulatory framework in order to improve competitiveness. However, he added that there will be a need for greater investment in secure cross-border communication, transport and energy connections in the future.
Prime Minister Michal said a clear focus must also remain on multilateral support for Ukraine: both in its war of independence against Russia and in its accession to the EU. “The end of that war will determine the future of European security,” he stated. “We need to increase the military assistance we are providing to Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia so bring a complete halt to the funding of Moscow’s war machine.”
Today’s visit forms part of President-Elect Costa’s tour of Europe, on which he plans to meet with as many heads of state and government as possible before taking office. The former Portuguese prime minister will officially become President of the European Council on 1 December, when the term of office of President Charles Michel comes to an end.
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