Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July to December 2017

Summary:

Estonia held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union between July and December 2017. The motto of the Estonian Presidency was 'Unity through balance'.

Further information:

It was the first time this country held the rotating presidency. The four priorities of the Estonian Presidency were:

• An open and innovative European economy
• A safe and secure Europe
• A digital Europe and the free movement of data
• An inclusive and sustainable Europe

Official

Estonia: Government Office: Coordinating the Estonian Presidency https://web.archive.org/web/20171005195957/https://www.eesistumine.ee/en

European Council: Statement, 29/06/2017: Speech by President Donald Tusk at the opening ceremony of the Estonian presidency http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/29-tusk-speech-opening-estonian-presidency-tallinn/

European Commission: Remarks by President Jean-Claude Juncker at the joint press conference with Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister of Estonia, on the occasion of the visit of the College of Commissioners to the Estonian Presidency http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-1862_en.htm

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News

E-Estonia, September 2017: President Kersti Kaljulaid: 'Estonia offers more transparency and less bureaucracy!' https://e-estonia.com/president-kersti-kaljulaid-estonia-offers-more-transparency-and-less-bureaucracy/

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Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: Briefing, June 2016: Priority dossiers under the Estonian EU Council Presidency http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2017)607253

EurActiv, 22/06/2017: The Estonian Presidency, at a time when ‘ice starts to melt’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/for-thursd-the-estonian-presidency-at-a-time-when-ice-starts-to-melt/

Politico, 20/12/2017: Estonia’s presidency: How it went https://www.politico.eu/article/estonias-presidency-how-it-went/

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