Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday discussed the future of the European Union.
Estonian president, Merkel discussed future of EU
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«I agree with [the chancellor] that we don't need a call "More Europe!", but instead need a more successful European Union,» Ilves said. He added that Germany's leader role in several important issues is crucial to Estonia as well as the EU as a whole.
The impact of the decision of the British people to leave the EU, the future of the EU, defense of external borders, migration partnership, the fight against terrorism, restraining aggressiveness in the neighborhood -- these are challenges which need joint leadership, the Estonian head of state stressed.
According to Ilves Europe needs a locomotive that would pull the train that is the EU, and Germany's responsibility, moral fiber and the skill of listening and understanding others can be that locomotive.
«Our continent's economic development, our companies' competitive ability and the birth of new companies are some of the key questions of Europe's future. Protectionism, especially in the IT field, can become fatal for the EU,» Ilves said.