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Estonian Review: May 30-June 5, 2005
08.06.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS
TOP NEWS
After French, Dutch votes, EU needs time to reflect - Estonia Foreign Ministry
Jun 02 - Now that the Constitutional Treaty has been rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands, the European Union needs a period for reflection, the Estonian Foreign Ministry finds.
" We regret that the French and the Dutch have voted "no" in their respective referendums, but we must respect the decision of the French and Dutch citizens," a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said.
She said rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by France and the Netherlands should not prevent other member states where ratification still lies ahead from going on with it in accordance with their national plans and procedures.
EU Heads of State and Heads of Government are expected to exchange opinions about the situation that has emerged at the upcoming summit on June 16-17, she said.
"The Estonian Government presented the bill of ratification of the Constitutional Treaty to the Parliament on May 10 and its handling will continue in accordance with the arrangements laid down earlier," the spokesperson said.
Estonia welcomes the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010
May 31 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the meeting of European Union and Mediterranean Foreign Ministers of the Barcelona process (EuroMed) in Luxembourg. The purpose of meeting was primarily preparations for the Euro-Mediterranean meeting in November this year at the level of Heads of Government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
On Tuesday, co-operation between the Mediterranean region and the EU as well as the enhancing of the Barcelona process was under discussion at the final plenary session. The importance of the Middle East peace process for the whole region was also touched upon. The Foreign Ministers underscored the importance of the Barcelona process and of the complementing European Neighbourhood policy in introducing political, social as well as economic reforms in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries.
The Foreign Ministers discussed political and security, social and cultural co-operation, as well as economic and financial co-operation at the meeting. "Estonia's and the whole Baltic Sea region's experience over the last ten years has demonstrated, how much can be done in modernising the economy, and economic and financial co-operation," Paet said. He added that Estonia is supportive of the efforts being made and expects the creation of the free trade area by 2010.
The last meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers and their Mediterranean counterparts took place from 29-30 November last year in the Hague, where the enhancing of the Barcelona process was focused upon along with the EU's Mediterranean and Middle East strategy and how to support reforms in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries.
Poll shows 71 per cent support to EU among Estonian citizens
Jun 03 - An Emor survey revealed that 71 per cent of election-age Estonian citizens supported the country's membership in the European Union (EU), the State Chancellery reported.
Support for membership in the EU among all Estonian residents aged 15-74 was 69 per cent, the poll revealed. The poll also established that people were better informed about the EU Constitutional Treaty -- 66 per cent of election-aged citizens, seven percentage points more than in the pervious poll, had heard something about it.
Opinions of the usefulness of the Constitutional Treaty for Estonia had not changed since April. As before 45 per cent of residents aged 15-74 found the treaty was useful. Eighteen percent believed the treaty was detrimental.
Estonian PM finds EU budget bill acceptable
Jun 03 - After meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union (EU), Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that the EU budget bill was acceptable to Estonia.
The Head of Government said that it was a compromise for the years 2007-13, which could not take all the wishes into consideration, but made it possible to keep in mind Estonian interests.
Ansip said that although Estonia had calculated with the member states' payments amounting to 1.1-1.2 per cent of their gross domestic product, also the projected rate of 1.06 per cent made it possible to protect Estonia's interests.
The Prime Minister added that Estonia would nevertheless expect the member countries to show greater solidarity, for example in the guarding of the external border of the EU.
FOREIGN NEWS
Ratification of EU constitution in member states must continue - Estonian Chairman of the Riigikogu
Jun 01 - Members of the European Union must go on with the ratification of the constitutional treaty despite the French "no" to the document in Sunday's referendum, Chairman of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma has said.
Meeting with Finnish Parliament Speaker Paavo Lipponen in Tallinn, Ergma said rejection of the constitutional treaty by France should not prevent other member states from continuing its ratification in accordance with their domestic procedures.
The Estonian Government submitted the constitutional treaty to Parliament for ratification on May 10, Ergma said.
Lipponen said Finland has decided to ratify the EU constitutional treaty in a parliamentary vote early next year.
The two parliamentary leaders also discussed other matters of foreign policy, including the countries' relations with Russia. They also dealt briefly with the restrictions to free movement of labour that Finland imposed with regard to new EU member states last year.
Lipponen arrived in Estonia to take part in a meeting of the Group of the Party of European Socialists in Tallinn.
Estonia's Ergma, Austrian Lower House Chairman speak about EU Constitution
Jun 01 - Chairman of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma reiterated that other members of the European Union must move on with ratification of the Constitutional Treaty also after the rejection of the document in the French referendum.
Ergma made the remark during a meeting with the Chairman of the Lower House of the Austrian Parliament, Andreas Kohl, who is in Estonia on an official visit.
Both houses of the Austrian Parliament have approved the Constitutional Treaty. Kohl pointed out that when Austria takes over the EU's rotating presidency next year a broader discussion has to be launched on what are the political and economic outlooks for the EU in a situation where further candidate countries are set to join it while the union continues to be governed under the present accord.
Ergma and Kohl also spoke about the EU's interaction with its neighbours. The Estonian Chairman said that interaction has to be sustainable and must not depend on moods of the moment. Ergma spoke about a training programme to get under way in Estonia next week in collaboration with the Swedish Parliament to train Georgia's parliamentary officials.
"We are planning these kinds of co-operation programmes also in the future, because co-operation between new and old member states provides the subjects of training with a better picture of the parliamentary cultures of the EU," she said.
Estonia and Eritrea established diplomatic relations
May 31 - Estonian Ambassador in Sweden Jüri Kahn and Eritrean Ambassador Araya Desta signed a Joint Communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the Republic of Estonia and the State of Eritrea at the Estonian Embassy in Stockholm.
The existence of diplomatic relations is a pre-requisite for establishing normal relations between countries. Previously there were no diplomatic relations between Estonia and Eritrea. Eritrea formally became independent in 1995 after years of fighting for independence.
Eritrea's fight for independence ended on 24 May 1991 and two years later on 24 May a referendum on independence was held with the participation of international observers. The referendum was overwhelmingly positive for independence and as a result of that the independence got a wider international recognition.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonian Defence Forces get large field hospital from Sweden
Jun 02 - Sweden has given a 200-bed field hospital to the Estonian Defence Forces through the Baltmed aid programme that will reach its conclusion after five-years of co-operation.
The field hospital is an independent medical unit running on autonomous water, heat and electricity supply, spokespeople for the Estonian General Staff said.
In Sweden the field hospital would work with a staff of more than 400 and be capable of performing about 55 surgeries daily. Estonia will take it into use with reduced volume, retaining all the functions.
In addition to primary equipment, Sweden delivered the hospital complete with an X-ray and emergency breathing device. It takes 27 trucks to relocate the hospital.
"The medical service of the Estonian Defence Forces has over the past five years received a substantial part of its equipment from Sweden, which has significantly raised the capacity of the medical service,"
Chief Surgeon of the Defence Forces Maj. Andrus Remmelgas said.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonia: retail sales up nine per cent in April
May 30 - The Estonian Statistical Office said retail sales increased by nine per cent in stable prices this April compared to April 2004.
In April, the retail sales of Estonian retailers totalled 2.9 billion kroons (EUR 185 million). The retail sales of companies selling mainly groceries increased by 12 per cent and of those selling mainly manufactured goods grew by five per cent year-on-year in April.
Retail sales increased the most, 27 per cent, in non-specialised stores of manufactured goods. From January-April, retail sales increased by ten per cent in stable prices compared to the same period last year.
Moderate growth in retail sales continued in April compared with the racy start of the spring season the previous month. The arrival of spring collections increased the retail sales of clothing by 33 per cent.
Currency Rates in Kroons
June 5, 2005
British pound - GBP - 23.160
Canadian dollar - CAD - 10.215
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.197
Danish krone - DKK - 2.102
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.118
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.482
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.531
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.976
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.449
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.712
US dollar - USD - 12.744
Euro - EUR - 15.647
CULTURAL NEWS
Tallinn Old Town Days
Jun 5 - The 24th Tallinn Old Town Days took place from 3-5 June. The Old Town Days, taking place on the first weekend of June for the twenty-fourth time, never fail to be inspired by Hanseatic Tallinn's unique cultural heritage and its historical memory. The motto of the 24th Old Town Days - Every second is creation, added value to the cultural tradition that has been growing in the ancient town space over the course of times. As has become the custom over the course of twenty years, the focal point of the festival is our Town Hall Square, where new performers and groups appear every hour on the hour.
One of the basic principles of the Old Town Days is to combine practical activities with enjoyable ones. Exciting programmes included workshops, excursions, exhibitions, concerts, performances, theatre and cinema.
EESTI RINGVAADE is compiled from local news services, including BNS, and is issued by the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Eesti Ringvaade is also available through the Internet at http://www.vm.ee
To subscribe please contact: vmpress@vm.ee
 
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