Ursula von der Leyen Presses Kaja Kallas About Estonian EU Presidency Priorities

European Commission President meets Estonian Prime Minister to discuss plans for Estonia's upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Key Points:

• Ursula von der Leyen met with Kaja Kallas to discuss Estonia's EU presidency priorities.
• Estonia is set to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2023.
• Key topics on the agenda include the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, and the future of Europe.

On June 23, 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Tallinn to discuss Estonia's priorities for its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Estonia is set to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2023, for a six-month term. During this time, Estonia will chair meetings of the Council and help to set the agenda for EU legislation.

In a statement released after the meeting, President von der Leyen said that she had discussed a range of issues with Prime Minister Kallas, including the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the future of Europe.

President von der Leyen said that she was "very confident" that Estonia would do an "excellent job" as president of the Council of the European Union.

Prime Minister Kallas said that she was "honoured" to be hosting President von der Leyen and that she looked forward to working with her and the European Commission during Estonia's presidency.

Estonia's presidency of the Council of the European Union will be a significant moment for the country. It will be the first time that Estonia has held the presidency since joining the EU in 2004.

The Estonian government has said that its priorities for the presidency will include the following:

• Supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
• Addressing the energy crisis and ensuring the security of energy supply.
• Strengthening the EU's economy and competitiveness.
• Promoting the EU's values and rule of law.
• Preparing the EU for the future.

The Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union will be a challenging one, but it is also an opportunity for Estonia to make a significant contribution to the future of Europe.