President Karis says the changes that are needed to ensure that the EU is prepared for its next wave of expansion were debated at the meeting. “Estonia is willing to discuss, within the possibilities afforded by EU treaties, the reforms to the union’s budget, policies and institutions that are required for its unity, development and efficient functioning in the expansion process,” the head of state confirmed. “The formula for success with expansion is simple: candidate countries must do their part, and the EU must do its part. What one does both supports and depends on the other.”
President Karis stressed that in establishing an action plan in regard to expansion it was important to maintain the strength and unity of the EU and to listen to what its citizens have to say. He drew attention to the fact that the majority of Europeans want to see sustainable development promoted, energy consumption reduced and inflation countered.
“Most people feel that partnership relations with like-minded countries make the EU more resilient,” he said. “Given what is taking place in our immediate neighbourhood, we must certainly enhance our defensive capabilities and connectivity, bolstering our energy security in the process. Migration, inflation and people’s well-being are other problems that affect us all. Finding solutions to them that we can all employ is as important as ever. These issues must be on the agenda of the forthcoming European parliament elections.”
The Estonian head of state also called for vigilance in the run-up to the election. “We must keep alert to simple solutions being offered to complex problems,” he cautioned.
President Karis expressed his immutable belief that the EU must place education at the core of its existence. “Educated people are more critically aware when it comes to populism and disinformation,” he said.
The Arraiolos Group is the name given to a series of informal meetings which started in 2003 and which are attended by heads of state who are not involved in the work of the European Council. This year’s meeting was attended by the presidents of Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia. Next year’s event will be held in Poland, while the 2025 meeting will be hosted by Estonia.
