Estonian parliament committee to discuss future of EU single market in public sitting

TALLINN - The European Union affairs committee of the Riigikogu is set to discuss Estonia's positions on the future of the EU's single market at a public sitting starting at 1:15 p.m. on Monday.

Peeter Tali, the chairman of the standing committee, said the economic security of the EU is deteriorating as a result of the war started by the Putin regime, and it is therefore important for the EU to strengthen its single market and the resilience of its economy.

"The impetus for today's discussion is the recently published reports by Enrico Letta on the European Union's single market and Mario Draghi on the European Union's competitiveness. Many of the recommendations and preferences set out in these reports align with Estonia's needs," Tali said in a press release. "To enliven the European economy, it is necessary to reduce bureaucracy, allow fair state aid, develop the defense industry, and create efficient and fast connections."

The single market, created in 1993, can be considered one of the greatest achievements of the EU. It gives EU citizens the opportunity to live and work anywhere in the EU, offers consumers a wider choice of high-quality services and products, and creates new opportunities for businesses by providing access to the entire internal market of 447 million consumers.

The views expressed by the Estonian government on the future of the EU single market will be presented at the meeting by representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the Foreign Ministry.

The public sitting, which starts at 1:15 p.m., can be followed via webcast on the Riigikogu website. A video recording of the meeting will be subsequently made available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.