Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Legislation

Taavi Rõivas and Donald Tusk. Brussels, 5.05.2015. Photo: valitsus.ee

“As Russia has not met all the conditions stipulated in the Minsk Agreement, there is no other choice than to continue with the sanctions,” Prime Minister emphasised during the meeting with the European leaders in Brussels. Prime Minister added that with regard to the Eastern Partnership Summit that is currently held in Riga, it is essential to use the remaining weeks in order to take concrete steps towards visa freedom for Georgia and Ukraine.

At the meeting with the President of the European Commission, the main focus was on the integration of the energy market into European market in order to warrant energy security. “Given the current security situation, Baltic region’s energy independence from Russian market is of strategic importance for the whole of Europe,” said Prime Minister Rõivas.

“Support given by the European Commission to large-scale energy projects, for example, Balticconnector, as well as the electric power and gas connections between Poland and the Baltic States, is important for us,” said Rõivas.

At the meeting with President Juncker, Prime Minister also raised the question of air pollution limits suggested by the Commission. “In Estonia, the situation of air quality is among the best in the world. We have put the emphasis on a wider use of domestic renewable energy, including using solid biomass for the energy and heat production. European Union has set a goal of reducing the share of fossil fuels and environmental and climate policies of the Union must support each other.”

At the meeting with Donald Tusk, the President of the of the European Council, the topics of political and security situation of the Baltic Sea were also discussed.

Prime Minister recognised the preparation of the Digital Single Market Strategy under the leadership of Andrus Ansip; the Strategy will be disclosed tomorrow and will also be discussed at the European Council Summit in June.

In addition, Prime Minister Rõivas presented the priorities of this new government.