OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2012. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and French Minister of European Affairs Bernard Cazeneuve, discussed the situation in the euro area at today’s meeting in Tartu Town Hall. According to the Prime Minister Ansip, the stability of the euro area is clearly in the interests of Estonia and in order to achieve this, the economic and financial cooperation within the European Union needs to be tightened.

“The European Stability Mechanism is necessary for protecting the euro area. This means that with its help we will also protect the stability of our own economy,” said Ansip stressing that it is in Estonia’s interests to hold the euro area together.

The French Minister of European Affairs Bernard Cazeneuve noted that the budgetary discipline of the Member States has to go hand in hand with economic growth through strategic investments. While speaking about the new budget of the European Union, the Prime Minister said that the support for creating physical infrastructure with the European Union is essential for Estonia. “A better infrastructure with the European Union would significantly expand the markets for our entrepreneurs and this would activate the economy,” Ansip said. According to Cazeneuve, Rail Baltica is obviously strategically important both for the Baltic states, but also to Europe as a whole, as it would substantially improve the connection between the countries.

The Prime Minister confirmed at the meeting that Estonia is in principle interested in establishing the Banking Union. At the same time it is also important for Estonia that the established cooperation on banking supervision with the Nordic and Baltic countries would continue. “For us, the cooperation within and outside of the euro area is a very practical issue, as there are several Swedish and Danish banks operating in Estonia,” Ansip said.

France considers it essential to impose a tax on cross-border financial transactions at the European Union level. In Ansip’s words, Estonia is also seriously considering the question of whether, when and on what terms to join the more effective cooperation.

Today French Minister of European Affairs Bernard Cazeneuve will also meet Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.