International relations and EU Affairs

Estonia’s accession to the European Union took place on May 1, 2004. Since then, participation in the EU decision-making process has become an important function of the Ministry of Agriculture’s international communication. It accounts for up to 70% of the business travel of the Ministry’s officials. Being present at decision-making is highly necessary, as the Common Agricultural Policy is one of the few common EU policies and the main developments are decided on the EU level. On the other hand, the accession has intensified our bilateral contacts with European and also other world countries, especially on the level of specialists, who meet with their colleagues in working groups and committees, as well as on the ministerial level, through meetings at the Council of Ministers or bilateral visits. After the re-independence in 1991 and accession to the EU, delegations from the Ministry of Agriculture have visited most of the European countries, as well as countries like USA, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Guatemala, Azerbaijan, the Republic of South-Africa, China and many others. The Ministry of Agriculture also holds cooperation agreements with many countries.
 

In the European Union matters, Estonia has proven to be an active and constructive partner and will continue the same direction also in the future. Estonia’s presidency of the EU will take place from January-June 2018.