Eesti in brief - 2011-06-30

The Estonian minister of foreign affairs met with the European Commissioner in charge of Enlargement and EU Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, Paet emphasized that Estonia supports the EU’s further steps in bringing Turkey and Serbia to the union. He noted that it is good that accession negotiations with Croatia have progressed well. The Estonian minister expressed hope that after the elections which took place in Turkey on June 12, the reforms directed towards integration with the European Union would gain new momentum in that country and there would be an opportunity to move forward with the accession negotiations. “Cementing Turkey’s EU-perspective requires words as well as actions,” he added.  According to Paet, it is in the EU’s interests to achieve the conclusion of an agreement on readmission of individuals. “It is important for controlling illegal immigration.” 

During June, TNS Emor carried out a poll revealing that just 8 percent of Estonian residents firmly believe that financial support for countries in debt crisis is necessary, reports Aripaev. According to the survey, the number of those firmly of the position that aid should not be granted is three times bigger. Adding to the number of supporters of aid, those who “rather” agree shows that 42 percent support granting help. The opponents of financial aid account for 58 percent of Estonian residents. Respondents with higher education, who live in cities and earn higher incomes, are the most sceptical towards aid. The minister of foreign affairs, Urmas Paet, stated that the poll was overly simplified. “Those polled ought first be granted information on what would it mean for Europe if the countries in trouble were not supported,” he said, adding that the consequences for Estonia, which has a very open economy, should be particularly pointed out.