Estonian Foreign Minister: It is important to move forward with EU neighborhood, enlargement policy

TALLINN - Friday's meeting between Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser and EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini focused mainly on the organizational matters of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union and reaffirmed ongoing good cooperation.

Mikser presented the program of the Estonian presidency which was approved by the Estonian government on Thursday, focusing on the priorities in external relations and topics that address the European Neighborhood Policy, including fulfilling the objectives of the Eastern Partnership. Mikser and Mogherini also discussed transatlantic relations and the EU-Africa Partnership.

"The Eastern Partnership is one of the main priorities of the Estonian presidency and we would like to involve representatives of all six Eastern Partnership countries -- Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan -- in the discussions," Mikser said.

They also discussed preparations for the informal meetings of ministers in Tallinn.

Mogherini recognized Estonia's contribution to the preparations of the presidency in a situation where it is unexpectedly taking place six months earlier.

Mikser reaffirmed Estonia's readiness for the presidency and added that the so far active cooperation with the European Commission and the External Action Service will continue during the presidency.