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The President's TV Address on the Eve of Referendum, on 13 September 200313.09.2003
Dear People of Estonia,
Honourable Citizens of Estonia,
Over centuries the history has given our people only few chances to choose our destiny. Tomorrow, thousands of our citizens will decide in a referendum whether Estonia will become a Member State of the European Union.
This is one of the most momentous choices in the thus-far history of an independent Republic of Estonia. Therefore, the supreme power of state being vested in the people, it is only natural that they will make this decision. After the restoration of independence, it is for the second time that a referendum will take place. The previous time, in 1992, the vast majority of voters approved the new Constitution. Now we have to decide whether to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia so as to enable Estonia to join the European Union.
The tomorrow's choice will determine our future development way. If tomorrow the majority of voters would say "yes" we would continue on a stable way upwards leading us to the full membership in the largest community of nations and richest common market on 1 May next year. If in the referendum "no2 should win we would face a new situation, which none of the nations having taken the same way have experienced as yet. This would lead to critical changes in Estonian domestic and foreign policy and to a quick search of new directions.
All pros and cons of joining the European Union should be put forward by this evening. Let's once more discuss the most important of them together.
The focal point of our debate so far has been Estonia's independence. In the European Union, Estonia's independence will not disappear but obtain a new dimension. For as citizens of an independent member state we actually will take part in making decisions affecting life of other European nations too.
Even if we should remain outside the European Union we would, while ordering our life, have to take account of EU laws because this is set out in our Association Agreement. But a revocation of the latter threatened us with being left on our own and isolation, and to wish something like that here, on the eastern shore of the Baltic, were irresponsible indeed.
Let's ask ourselves, in which of the cases were our independence more secure: co-deciding as a member state all important issues or organising our life pursuant to decisions made without our participation? I have no hesitation in answering - as an equal among twenty-five nations making decisions, which will shape the future of the EU.
Well, someone might state that NATO guarantees of our independence and security would suffice. However, stability and security of small countries are not only in a need of security guarantees against a possible military assault. The security of countries in today's open and intertwined world can be affected by entirely new threats, which are much harder to fend off. Countries can successfully fight back against them only in close cooperation. Being in the European Union, Estonia will have far more opportunities to fend off present-day security threats.
Stability needed for normal life and rise in living standards is created by economic development. In the European Union new markets will open up to Estonian goods increasing export and creating new jobs in enterprises. When people have work and higher pay they feel more secure. Growth in economy and peoples wealth in its turn will increase tax revenues and then we can also afford to raise pensions and supports.
Estonia's development over the last years has been rapid largely thanks to foreign investments and an increasing trust in our country. The trust has been based on the knowledge that Estonia has chosen the way of stable development and is willing to join the European Union. On top of that, we have received a lot of money as EU supports, which after the accession are to increase manifold.
It's hard to imagine how we without these supports could repair and build roads, advance environmental protection, promote rural life, supply Estonian villages and cities with pure drinking water, or solve other problems left by the years of occupation. There is no reasonable explanation for why should we be inconsiderate towards our descendants who could live in conditions comparable to those of the EU peoples.
One should think just about children and grandchildren while pondering over what is Estonia's best choice. Even if our elder generation perhaps wouldn't have a share of all the benefits created in a united Europe, they will.
Dear Compatriots,
During the preceding debates there have also been questions on whether Estonia can manage in the European Union. Of course, we have had very little time to organise our life. But we, too, have achievements, experience and values appreciated by others, which we can share in the European Union. In our Euro-debates, maybe even too frequently the focal point were money and calculation of direct benefits. The gains arising from our accession obviously cannot be measured only in such units. Otherwise such rich countries as Austria, Sweden and Finland wouldn't have joined the EU in its so far last enlargement round. The European Union in addition to the advantages arising from common security and economic space has more values to share with its members.
The common values and goals based on the European culture, human rights and democracy join peoples together stronger than economic advantages only. Estonia follows the same values and pursues the same goals. We want to live safely and wealthily in a free, democratic society. That's where the wish to join the European Union comes from.
I suppose you agree with me that during the rapid changes of transition too many of our compatriots have lost their footing. Not only them but also the rest of us need more stability. Then we could more rapidly improve our people's life, narrow the wealth gap and continue as a people striving for education and having our own peculiar culture. We will have the best possibilities to reach these goals in the European Union where politics always have had a social, human-centred dimension.
The fear, as if we in the community would lose our national idiosyncrasies, language and culture, is groundless. The European Union protects and fosters the preservation of national idiosyncrasies and development of different cultures in their diversity. Finnish President Tarja Halonen few days ago visiting Estonia confirmed that cultural policy concerns and doubts linked with the accession had proven groundless in Finland. Finnish cultural life is now diversified, living and standing on a firm professional ground. We, too, can draw on the favourable environment of the European Union. We can also be proud seeing the Estonian language rise to the status of an official language of the EU.
All aforementioned benefits will not be granted to us without work and exerting ourselves. No other people will take care of our mother tongue and cultural traditions. Anton Hansen Tammsaare has put it most aptly: "It is easier and more convenient to be like others for that can be bought with money. Originality, like all golden things, takes a lot of hard work. However, if we want to be worth something in anybody's eyes, we must have our national idiosyncrasies." That's what our popular writer thought in 1934 but I believe that's just what we wish today as well.
Dear People,
In decisive times, we have always held discussions among ourselves. We have done it in the present case too. Now, the supreme power being vested in you, you have the right to decide. I have no doubt that you will choose the way of stable development and safe future.
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