Ratas will discuss Brexit, foreign affairs, and the next long-term budget with his colleagues

Stenbock House, 17 October 2019 – Today and tomorrow, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will attend the meeting of heads of state and government of the European Union, i.e. the European Council, in Brussels. Planned topics of discussion include the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, the working schedule and long-term budget for 2021–2027, and foreign affairs.

According to Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, the negotiators of the UK and the EU have had intense discussions over the last few days to reach a compromise on the withdrawal agreement. “I am convinced that everyone is serious about finding a solution. I believe that there is a path towards an agreement that satisfies all parties and hopefully, there is also a way to resolve the issues that have blocked that path until now. We would definitely prefer if the United Kingdom left the EU in the regular manner, i.e. on the basis of a withdrawal agreement,” said the prime minister.

Ratas expressed concern over Turkey’s military activity in Syria and emphasised the need to find a political solution quickly. “The steps Turkey has taken put the entire region’s stability in further danger and increase the number of refugees and internally displaced people in both Syria and the entire region,” said the prime minister.

The first day of the European Council will begin with a discussion of the 27 Member States regarding the negotiations of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. European Union’s Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier will inform the participants of the negotiations held with the UK in the last couple of days.

In the evening, a discussion of foreign relations will take place, where the initiation of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania will be discussed as well as relations with Turkey in connection with military activity in north-eastern Syria and illegal drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

The European Council will continue on Friday, 18 October, with discussions about the next long-term budget of the EU, the priorities of the union for the next five years, and the EU and global action plan for combating climate change. Ursula von der Leyen, President-elect of the European Commission, will also attend the meeting.

The discussion of the European Union’s next long-term budget is based on the proposal made by Finland, who holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The total volume of the budget and its division between larger areas will be discussed. The discussion should provide guidelines for the country holding the Presidency to develop specific proposals for the European Council meeting in December.

In addition, the Council is expected to make a decision on approving Christine Lagarde as the President of the European Central Bank.

Before the European Council begins, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark (NB6) will hold a meeting. This time, Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will chair the meeting. Ratas has also invited Leo Varadkar, Prime Minister of Ireland, to the meeting.

Prime Minister Ratas will return to Estonia on Friday evening.

Schedule and additional information about the topics: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/et/meetings/european-council/2019/10/17-...