Estonians expect the EU to move towards more flexible labour policies and a stricter control over commercial banks

Estonian people expect the European Union to offer new solutions in labour and social policies, revealed the European Citizens’ Consultations held last weekend in Tallinn. In two days, 25 randomly selected Estonians worked out ten proposals to promote social and economic wellbeing in Europe.

Above all, the participants were concerned about public health and social security in Europe. Their solutions comprised an EU-wide participatory health campaign, flexible labour policies and uniform European standards for social security policies in its member states. As a response to the ongoing economic crisis, citizens wished the EU to exercise a stricter control over commercial banks in Europe.

The Estonian Members of the European Parliament Mrs Siiri Oviir, Mrs Katrin Saks and Mr Tunne Kelam, who had been invited to debate the participants, considered the ideas to be relevant and adequate. “This forum is an excellent example of the level of Estonian citizens – if we make the effort to come together, the result is always above average or even very good,” the deputy Mr Kelam said.

When commenting the proposals, Raul Allikivi from the Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that the awareness of common people should never be underestimated.” This event again proved that in fact, people know perfectly well how to deal with the challenges facing our society. We just have to ask them,” Allikivi explained.

The participants highly appreciated the chance to have a say in European affairs. “I feel that my opinion and ideas are taken into consideration on a higher level as well,” said Margit, a 21-year old student from Raplamaa. “The first impressions look promising, we feel being part of the European community,” Aleks (80, retired) from Tallinn added.

In March, 1600 citizens from all Member States will participate in national forums. The results of the debates will be presented to the EU decision-makers in Brussels in May.

With financial support from the European Commission, citizens’ forums are organized by a network of non-governmental organizations, led by King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium). In Estonia, the forums are coordinated by Open Estonia Foundation.

About the ECC 2009

The European Citizens’ Consultations 2009 (ECC 2009) bring together citizens from all 27 EU Member States to in the run-up to the 2009 European elections the question: “What can the EU do to shape our economic and social future in a globalised world?”

An Online Debate

A pan-European online debate marked the first stage in the European Citizens’ Consultations 2009 process. Between the 3rd of December 2008 and March 2009, everyone was invited to take part and to make proposals for our economic and social future. These proposals then fed directly into the European Citizens’ Consultation in Estonia as material for discussion.

27 Identical Conferences

The 27 European Citizens’ Consultations will be attended by a total of 1,500 citizens selected at random by professional opinion research institutes reflecting their country’s demographic composition. These identical conferences, held simultaneously in nine countries at a time over three weekends in March 2009, are the heart of the ECC process. They enable citizens to develop recommendations on Europe’s economic and social future, and to discuss these with key national and European policy-makers. The European Citizens’ Consultations do not work according to a one-size-fits-all approach. While all consultations follow the same basic format, the size of these events varies between a minimum format of 30 participants and up to 150 participants. On the second day citizens are given a unique opportunity to debate their recommendations in the run-up to the European elections – with national MEPs.

A European Citizens’ Summit

A European Citizens’ Summit, attended by 150 participants from the 27 Consultations, will be held in Brussels on the 10th – 11th May 2009. There citizens will finalise a set of European recommendations and debate these with European policy-makers.

Estonian forum online: http://www.euroopa-kodanike-foorum.eu

Open Estonia Foundation website: http://www.oef.org.ee

Open Estonia Foundation weblog: http://avatudeestifond.wordpress.com


Additional information:

Ms. Kadri Ollino
Coordinator of the European programme
Open Estonia Foundation
Tel: 6313791
kadri@oef.org.ee