The President of the Republic at a meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union: European countries need to do more on defence, there is no other way

Dear Mr. Orzechowski,

Excellences, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

“Security, Europe!” Poland has indeed acted vigorously in line with this motto during its tenure. 

A few weeks still remain until the end of the Presidency, I would already like to extend my congratulations on a successful term that has addressed the security concerns of the European Union as well as our region. 

I am hopeful that the strengthening of our shared security, support for Ukraine, and enhancement of competitiveness will continue under the upcoming Presidency of Denmark. Best of luck to Denmark. 

Excellences,

In recent months, and surely in the near future as well, our domestic landscape has been quite eventful. We currently have a two-party government that – like any normal government – is striving to implement its program. 

At the same time, we are approaching the local elections in autumn, and as we all know, election season always brings with it tensions in domestic politics. This is not unusual – it is part of how democracy functions.

My concern is that amidst all of this, the trust between the government, politicians, and the people does not tear apart – that the state does not become distant from our people, and that the sense of belonging to Estonian society does not weaken. 

I already pointed this out last August in my speech on the anniversary of the restoration of independence, where I said that we need an honest dialogue between those in power and the citizens – one that dispels distrust and helps create clarity.

People want to understand why they are being burdened with taxes and how their money is being used. Asserting that state revenue and expenditures are imbalanced isn’t enough. 

The government’s policy might be correct, but people must perceive it as right and just. We have discussed these issues with the Prime Minister in a spirit of very good understanding, and he too recognizes these concerns.

I’m sure you have been following the developments regarding the legislation on Churches and Congregations. Whatever steps the government takes, the Constitution needs to be respected. Religious freedom has been interpreted rather expansively by the European Court of Human Rights, so that it also covers the internal organisation of churches. 

Any intervention by the state has to be proportional and based on a well-established threat to security or public order. This is what I also emphasised in my decision. The aim of ensuring state security is crucially important, of course, especially at the present time. 

But the Constitution requires that we keep this aim in view and not adopt restrictive measures that are unnecessary or go beyond what is strictly needed. The parliament will now reconsider the law and should they adopt it in a modified form, I will again assess it in the light of these criteria. 

The concluding foreign policy season has been as volatile and varied as the Estonian summer weather. But just like with the weather, in foreign policy too: after the storm, the sun always breaks through the clouds. 

Estonia remains firmly on course, continuing to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine, standing up for a rules-based international order, and emphasizing the need for reform of the UN Security Council – just as I have done in my last three national statements at the UN General Assembly. 

Lately, the B9-Nordic all agreed that NATO needs a much higher spending commitment. Our job now is to convince the allies who are still reluctant to do this. European countries need to do more on defence, there is no other way.

We also share the understanding that there is no ceasefire agreement in sight for Ukraine. Russia is not interested in it. Russia’s ambitions are much wider than some territories of Ukraine. 

Staying on the security track – the EU commission is forward leaning in increasing the defence readiness and industry of Europe, which is good. 

Currently EU countries account for only 25% of NATO defence spending.  The average defence spending of EU countries currently is only 1,9%. The commission wants to change that with REARM and SAFE initiatives. 

Also, the goal put forward by EU commission to end all energy imports from Russia by 2026 would be a highly important step. It is preposterous, that the EU is still the world’s biggest buyer of Russian gas.  

Excellences, 

My own activities in international relations have also been more intense than usual, ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine and from the Vatican to the Western Balkans. Before the height of summer arrives, meetings are still scheduled in Kultaranta, Seville, and Geneva. 

Over the past six months, I have had the pleasure of hosting the President of Poland and my counterpart from Botswana on their state visits to Estonia, as well as the Presidents of the Maldives, Slovenia, and Finland. This autumn, I look forward to welcoming my colleagues from the Arraiolos group countries to Tallinn.

And last but not least, alongside current international issues, interest in Estonia’s role as a digital pioneer and in our AI Leap initiative has continued to expand.

Estonia isn’t just adopting AI – we’re testing, improving, and showing what responsible integration looks like. 

We build our AI use on the legacy of previous digital transformations, applying the same principles – scale, public-private collaboration, and inclusion – but with a modern focus: preparing the next generation to thrive in an AI-driven world. Hence, we are becoming the first country to bring AI-based education tools to every high school, combining the best global tech with local vision. 

For us, sovereignty is not about doing everything alone – it is about having the ability to choose, adapt, and control the technologies we use. That is what keeps Estonia safe, agile, and globally competitive.

I wish us all a summer that includes both rest and time to read books. As we all know, this year is a year of book in Estonia.

Thank you for your attention!