HE Mr Lauri Bambus, Ambassador of Estonia, gave an excellent talk about progress in Estonia and in particular on E-Commerce and E-Residency.
The relations between Great Britain and Estonia are active and good – communication takes place on the level of ministries and offices as well as on a higher political level. Allied relations in NATO and the mission in Afghanistan are common components in the defence relations of Estonia and the United Kingdom and pillars of their bilateral relations. Great Britain is one of the biggest contributors to NATO and to the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. That determines the character of the security policy dialogue between the two countries. Great Britain has provided assistance to Estonia in the implementation of defence reforms. Just like the UK, within the EU Estonia also feels that the development of the single market, including the digital single market, as well as innovation and facilitating the creation of new companies to be important. The main priorities in these activities are creating jobs and economic growth. In 2012 concrete opportunities for co-operation in the cyber realm were outlined and co-operation in the area of e-state intensified. The UK, like Estonia, is a supporter of the principles of EU enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy.
An integral part of the relations between the two countries is co-operation between the parliaments. In the UK House of Commons there is an Estonia friendship group led by Gordon Marsden and in the Riigikogu there is a UK friendship group led by Mailis Reps. Many Estonian and British political parties also have close ties. In 2012 members of the Riigikogu Defence Committee and the Special Committee for State Budget Control visited London, and chairman of the Estonia friendship group in the UK House of Commons Gordon Marsden visited Estonia.