Estonian Ambassador in Montenegro: The EU Does Not Take Away Sovereignty, It Gives Small States a Stronger Voice and Greater Security

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

71% : From Estonia's perspective, what have been the most tangible economic benefits of EU membership -- particularly in terms of citizens' living standards, investment, the labor market, and the development of the private sector? Tomas: From Estonia's perspective, EU membership has brought very tangible long-term gains in prosperity, resilience and economic modernization.
69% : On the other hand, EU's own initiatives on digital governance and regulation of digital services reinforce Estonia's long‑standing vision for secure digital identity and its continued development.
66% : To what extent has EU membership contributed to this digital transformation, and has the EU framework helped or hindered innovation? Tomas:
64% : In the labour market, EU membership has expanded both mobility and opportunity.
63% : European Union membership has brought Estonia a stronger international position, accelerated economic development, greater security, and digital transformation, Estonian Ambassador to Montenegro Raul Tomas.
63% : Now, after becoming a member state, we can say with confidence that in the EU, we are amongst like-minded friends.
63% : The EU membership has significantly helped to accelerate Estonia's digital transformation.
63% : Based on Estonia's experience, what would you highlight as the most important message for Montenegro, as the most advanced candidate for EU accession -- especially when it comes to the long-term benefits for citizens? Tomas:
62% : The EU's recent security and defense initiatives, along with increased investment in Europe's broader security architecture and deterrence capabilities, also bring concrete benefits to us.
61% : Are smaller economies on an equal footing with larger ones within this framework? Tomas: The EU opens a variety of doors for all Estonian citizens.
61% : Our membership, and our consistent cooperation with other EU countries, ensures that Estonia is never left to face security challenges alone.
60% : This principle of multilingualism aims to enable the EU to communicate with its citizens in their own language.
60% : At the same time, access to the single market and alignment with EU rules made Estonia much more attractive to investors.
60% : EU membership helped transform Estonia from a small post-transition economy into a more mature, export-driven market economy that is deeply integrated into European value chains.
60% : For example, Estonia's flagship e-Residency programme allows Estonia to offer a secure, government-issued digital identity, enabling entrepreneurs worldwide to establish and manage EU-based companies entirely online.
59% : Also, belonging to the EU is an opportunity to gain supporters to our initiatives that might eventually shape broader European - or even global - agendas.
59% : EU values diversity and protects national identities.
59% : The lack of restrictions on movement make it easier for Estonians to pursue their passions across the European Union.
58% : EU funding has also had a visible impact across the country.
58% : Estonians have been able to work, study and build careers abroad more easily, while Estonia itself has become more integrated into the wider European labour market and better able to attract skills from elsewhere in the EU.
58% : Given Estonia's geopolitical position, to what extent has EU membership contributed to strengthening national and regional security? Tomas: EU membership gives Estonia a direct role in shaping the Union's foreign and security policy.
57% : He stressed that small states within the EU have the opportunity to make their voices heard more clearly, while citizens benefit from the single market and common policies through greater opportunities, stability, and prosperity.
57% : Tomas: The European Union's (EU) institutional design ensures that Estonia's and other small states' positions are taken into account.
57% : Estonian companies, especially in tech and digital services, often operate across the EU from day one.
57% : Estonian firms can also draw on EU funding programmes and cross-border investment networks, including venture capital.
56% : Of course, size can sometimes limit a country's influence, but being an EU member state make our voice better heard, both in Europe and across the world, compared to not being part of the EU.
56% : Estonia is often cited as a leader in digital governance within the EU.
55% : For example, the EU has 24 official languages and Estonian is one of these.
55% : By the figures you shared, Estonia's GDP per capita has roughly quadrupled since joining the EU in 2004.
55% : Roughly 10% of Estonians currently work or study in another EU member state.
55% : Russia's aggression against Ukraine remains our central security challenge as it poses a long-term security threat to all of Europe, and acting through the EU has strengthened our ability to respond effectively.
54% : The sense of European identity is already high, but my personal feeling is that it is growing within the population, especially among these young people that grew up during the times when Estonia was already part of the EU and who cannot imagine their lives without the four freedoms.
53% : How is the "voice of a small state" experienced in practice within the institutions of the European Union?
53% : Does size limit a country's influence, or can it sometimes even make it easier to operate within the EU system?
53% : Joining the EU will bring Montenegro and its citizens tangible economic gains, but the most important benefit is not something one can measure in numbers - it is being part of a union based on values and identity, working together for peace, security and prosperity.
52% : The same competition rules apply across the EU, regardless of the size of the member state.
51% : They make it easier for goods and services from a small country like Estonia to be accepted across the EU without having to prove themselves from scratch in every market.
50% : How does Estonia view the relationship between national sovereignty and the sovereignty transferred to the EU?
49% : Tomas: This topic has always been under debate in all candidate countries before joining the EU, including in Estonia.
47% : The EU membership also ensures that Estonia will never stand alone again.
46% : Traditional sectors such as timber, electronics and food exports also benefit from tariff-free trade and simpler logistics within the EU.
45% : In candidate countries, concerns are often raised about the potential loss of sovereignty through EU membership.
42% : Estonia is one of the smallest EU member states by population.

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