Giving the closing address at the conference, the head of government focussed on the future of Europe. “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself,” she remarked. “Our Europe is one that will never be ‘ready’. After each crisis, after each enlargement, after the formative experiences of each new generation, Europe has to reinvent itself over and over again. This is necessary if the European Union is to remain meaningful and relevant to its people. This is necessary to deliver not only hope in a better future, but also tangible benefits to our people.”
In her address, Prime Minister Kallas stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved by removing all of the grey zones in European security. “Such zones fuel conflicts and invite dictators to invade,” she said. “We need Russia to lose its last colonial war. Ukraine’s place is in the European Union and, once the war is over, also in NATO.”
Prime Minister Kallas added that Estonia has always championed the enlargement of the European Union. “There is no place for fear in discussions of the union’s enlargement,” she said. “It is not change that we must fear, but fear itself. The enlargement of the EU may not be an easy change, but it will lead to flourishing economies and the spread of democratic values and freedom – which is to say an increase in well-being for us all.”
The head of government urged the listeners not to get lost in what she described as the favourite pastime of Brussels: debates on the need for institutional reforms within the EU. “Next year will mark two decades since Estonia’s accession to the European Union,” she noted. “The EU Treaties have been made enlargement-ready since then. There is no need for us to review them again. I have no doubt that as a union we will cope admirably with any further enlargement. Past experience has shown that joining the EU has bolstered the economies of the new Member States, significantly increasing their levels of prosperity, and that has brought gains to the union as a whole.”
The L’Express conference, entitled “C’était bien avant, ça sera mieux demain” or ‘It was good yesterday, it will be better tomorrow’, brought together respected figures from the worlds of politics, culture, business and science. Prime Minister Kallas was awarded the L’Express Europe award (Prix de L’Europe) during the event for her championing of democracy and freedoms, her support of Ukraine and her role as an outspoken woman in the world of politics. She was presented with the prize by French Minister of State for Europe Laurence Boone.
Full address of Prime Minister Kallas (in English): https://valitsus.ee/en/news/speech-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-70th-anniversary-lexpress
Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72177720312031689
Video of addresses given by Prime Minister Kallas and Minister Boone (starting from 3:23:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MxaYW8iRDk
