Stenbock House, Tallinn, 16 May 2018 – this afternoon, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas will travel to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where the EU - Western Balkans Summit will take place tomorrow, on May 17.
The aim of this summit is to energise the relationship between the European Union and the Western Balkans. The central topics of discussion will be connectivity in the broadest sense, meaning transport, energy, and digital connections, but also, connections between people, and possibilities for learning. Additional focus will be on the topics of migration and security, both of which require common efforts.
‘The Western Balkans countries are on a clear path to the European Union. The stronger these countries are, the faster they progress and the more they share the same democratic values, the richer and more secure the European Union, including Estonia, will be in every sense. Improved connections will bring the Western Balkans even closer to the European Union,’ Ratas said.
At this summit, the states of the European Union will approve a joint declaration and a programme of priorities that will include specific actions for the intended cooperation with the Western Balkans countries.
At the invitation of Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, the leaders of the European Union will discuss today, on the eve of the summit, what can be done together to support innovation and digital development, since Europe is falling behind the USA and Asia. More specifically, Tusk is expecting opinions on how to support breakthrough innovation and bring the European Union to the forefront of using big data. Additionally, actual topics such as the Iran nuclear deal and trade relations with the USA will be discussed.
Bojko Borisov, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, who is currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, will provide the leaders with an overview of the development of the renewing of the common asylum system.
In Sofia, Ratas will also meet individually with Zoran Zaev, the Prime Minister of Macedonia, and Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, with whom they will discuss the reforms and endeavours of the countries on their way to Europe.
The prime minister will be back in Estonia tomorrow, on the evening of 17 May.