The example of Estonia offers inspiration how to overcome the crisis, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said at a press conference in Tallinn Tuesday.
Van Rompuy: Estonia offers inspiration on how to overcome crisis
26th February 2013, 19:31
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In the meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip matters of energy, the EU digital agenda and Eastern Partnership were talked about. "On all those issues we have similar views," Van Rompuy said.
Van Rompuy described Estonia as in many ways a good example not only of the crisis but also of how to handle the crisis. "When the crisis began, Estonia was one of the hardest hit. Since then you have made an impressive recovery," he said. "Not only have you recreated growth, you have also seen a decrease in unemployment." He said that therefore Estonia was an inspiration on how to handle the economic crisis.
The president of the European Council also said he believes that 2012 was the turning point of the crisis and that in his opinion the euro area was no longer in a crisis. Yet neither the member states, nor the European Union, nor the euro area should be complacent with that. "There is no way back," Van Rompuy said.
"We also have to be fully aware that the economy reacts with a time lag. Once financial stability starts coming back it takes time before this is translated into more confidence, investments and growth," Van Rompuy said. And after growth returns it also takes time before the positive impact on employment starts kicking in, he added.
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said he and the Council president discussed what the EU and Estonia will do with the funds to be received from the EU budget, as well as matters related to the future of the EU. The next multi-annual financial framework that has received the Council's approval "is an excellent budget for the EU and a truly good budget for Estonia," the Estonian head of government said.
Other matters dealt with at the meeting included the EU-Ukraine summit held on Monday. "Estonia supports closer integration of Ukraine with the EU," said Ansip.
Van Rompuy and the speaker of the Estonian parliament, Ene Ergma, talked about current EU topics including eurozone developments and cooperation projects, the parliamentary press service said.
Ergma thanked the EU president for resultful work that brought about a compromise on the bloc's multiannual budget. She said it is important that small countries' voice was heard and that Estonia has reason to be pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.
The speaker underlined the importance to Estonia of transport connections with Europe including Rail Baltic, the project for a high-speed railway link. "Rail Baltic has to become an example of concrete cooperation among the Baltic states and the European Council's decision to support this rail connection that is so necessary to us paves the way for starting together real work soon," she said. Van Rompuy confirmed that Rail Baltic remains one of the priority projects of the EU in the field of transport.