During the plenary session (01-04/10/2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the future of Europe with Jüri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister. He is the tenth EU head of state or government to debate the future of Europe with MEPs. Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, also participates in the debate.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Estonia (T)

RATAS, Jüri (EE)

speech

future of the European Union (T)

ANSIP, Andrus (Renew, EE)

Future of Europe: extracts from the opening speech by Jüri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (English), J&#252;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, I vividly remember watching Finnish TV as this was our only connection to the free world. This is why I, from the bottom of my heart dislike borders in Europe (applause).

SOUNDBITE (English), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Allow me to express here modest enthusiasm when it comes to grand institutional designs in Europe which could lead to lesser role of smaller nations in our common institutions. Less diversity will also result in less Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, The key in decreasing irregular migration is to work with third countries. We must use all the instruments that our trade, visa and development policies offer. New Africa-EU alliance proposed by president Juncker to support jobs, skills and private investments in Africa definitely serves long-term effects. (...) Estonia is geographically distant from Africa, but digital world does not recognize distance.

SOUNDBITE (English), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, In the world of hybrid warfare, cybercrime and fake news, security in cyberspace should come by design and go hand in hand with emerging technologies. We need to build data integrity into systems, to be able to guarantee that the sensor inputs and computing of the robotic systems are not compromised. 

SOUNDBITE (English), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, It is time to adopt proposals to complete the Digital Single Market and enable digital transformation. The world will not wait.

SOUNDBITE (English), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, I really hope, that in ten years from now, I can listen to a colleague from any of the current candidate countries in the same role that I am standing here today.

<p>SOUNDBITE (Estonian), J&uuml;ri RATAS, Estonian Prime Minister, Eesti kirjanik Anton Hansen Tammsaare on &ouml;elnud, et t&ouml;&ouml;d tehes kasvab armastus. Nii see on. Euroopa oli, on ja j&auml;&auml;b minu s&uuml;damesse. </p>  <p>Estonian writer Anton Hansen Tammsaare has said that as the work progresses, love grows. That's how it is. Europe was, is and will remain in my heart.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, As ever, Estonia is showing the way, the motto for its Presidency 'Unity through balance' shows us the way forward for our European Union. It is time to take it. Thank you.