Formins of Baltic countries, France discuss vaccination policy

  • 2021-01-27
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - The foreign ministers of the Baltic countries and France issued a joint statement on Wednesday in which they affirm their countries' wish to coordinate the vaccination and border control policy related to the pandemic among EU member states. 

At the meeting of the Baltic ministers with the foreign minister of France in Paris, Estonia was represented by Mart Volmer, deputy secretary general of the Estonian Foreign Ministry for European affairs, spokespeople for the Estonian ministry said.

In the joint statement adopted at the meeting, the ministers affirmed their wish for the vaccination and border control policy related to the pandemic to be coordinated among EU member states. They also welcomed progress on the EU recovery plan and affirmed the importance of defense cooperation and transatlantic relations. Also talked about were Russia, the EU Eastern Partnership, the situation in Belarus, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Sahel, as well as relations with China.

Volmer described the centennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and France as an important milestone in the relations between the two countries.

"Diplomatic relations between Estonia and France have continued for 100 years, but it is specifically in recent years that we have achieved cooperation where in addition to shared values and goals we support each other with practical steps in resolving problems in the Sahel and in strengthening NATO's deterrence," Volmer said.

"Thanks to the strategic partnership concluded recently between Estonia and France, which encompasses fields such as cooperation in the EU and international cooperation, security and defense, digital economy and cybersecurity, climate and the environment, education and research, culture and development cooperation, our cooperation is becoming more specific and mutually beneficial still," the deputy secretary general of the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

On Tuesday, Volmer met with Clement Beaune, secretary of state for European affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas on Wednesday he met with Alexandre Adam, adviser on European affairs to French President Emmanuel Macron.