Today, the President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma met with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. During the conversation, topical European Union issues, including the developments in the euro zone and EU cooperation projects, were discussed.

Ergma thanked the President for his effective work and the compromise that had been achieved between the states regarding the EU’s long-term budget at the Council in the first half of that month. In Ergma’s words, it is important that small states were also listened to and Estonia has reason to be happy with the result.

Ergma emphasised that the necessary transport links with Europe, including the Rail Baltica railway project, are important to Estonia. “Rail Baltica will have to be an example of concrete cooperation of the Baltic states and the decision of the EU Council to support this rail link so vital to us provides an opportunity to start the actual work together soon,” she said. Van Rompuy confirmed that Rail Baltica would remain among EU’s priority transport projects.

Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Arto Aas also participated in the meeting.

Herman Van Rompuy also delivered a thematic speech “Estonia in Europe – a Glance to the Future” in the Riigikogu Conference Hall.

Photos of today’s meeting are available at: https://fotoalbum.riigikogu.ee/v/2013/Riigikogu/Van+Rompuy/

The Riigikogu Press Service