Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas: Our meeting should lead to a digital cooperation between Estonia and Germany

Stenbock House, 25 August 2016 – “I hope that after your visit, Estonian information technology (IT) companies and experts will have a concrete opportunity to cooperate with their German counterparts in order to initiate a digital revolution in the industry; and develop smart cyber solutions together,” said Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas in a statement at the SpaceX Event Centre while introducing the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the podium today.


“Our era requires open and positive forward-focused thinking. Pooling Estonia’s and Germany’s strengths provides a great opportunity for a Europe facing new challenges,” emphasised Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas. “Estonia's expertise in information technology and Germany’s industrial might must be turned into an engine that gives a new impetus to Europe’s economies. I know that Estonian IT companies and professionals are ready for such a cooperation.”


German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas visited the e-Estonia Showroom and the SpaceX Event Centre today, where the Chancellor delivered the speech ‘Estonia – a pioneer in digital technology – and Germany – a global industrial power – shaping the future of Europe together’.
Prime Minister Rõivas presented Chancellor Merkel with an Estonian e-Resident ID-card as a seal of future cooperation. Angela Merkel is Estonia’s e-resident No. 11,867.


Chancellor Angela Merkel has had a sustained interest in the success story of e-Estonia. It was on Chancellor Merkel’s invitation that Taavi Rõivas visited Germany in May this year to attend a German cabinet retreat in Meseberg. At the meeting, the Prime Minister presented an overview on the modern digital state and cyber security, highlighting Estonian e-government and cyber security experience.


“I hope that my visit to Meseberg this spring and Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Tallinn today will lay the foundations for concrete cooperation between Estonia and Germany in the field of IT,” said Rõivas during yesterday’s meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. “Estonian IT companies and experts are keen to cooperate with Germans in order to find new solutions to boost our economies and improve the lives of our citizens.”


Yesterday, Taavi Rõivas and Angela Merkel visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn – one of the objectives of Merkel’s visit to Estonia. Germany is the second largest contributor, after Estonia, to the operation of CCD COE – the decision to become a founding member of which was made by the first government of Angela Merkel. Germany is also implementing an important reform in developing its cyber security. The reform includes, among other things, the launch of national cyber command.


Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ridn4sadzjjiy17/AABqzQPB5y-GdXPnPH98TylDa?dl=0