Background Discussion with Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Berlin, February 12, 2007

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia, spoke on Estonia's EU policy and his ideas on a European foreign policy. Regarding the European Union he discussed the issue of how the member states could yet rescue the project of a constitutional treaty for Europe. Also, how can the most-needed reforms of European institutions be achieved fastest? In his thoughts on European foreign policy, President Ilves emphasized the EU's relationship with Russia. He discussed both Estonia's specific challenges in its dealings with Moscow and possible guidelines of a common European policy towards the EU's big eastern neighbor.

President Ilves spoke with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of the Foreign Office and Federal Chancellery, as well as selected analysts.

The Political Breakfast with President Ilves set forth the Körber Foundation's abiding commitment to European foreign policy and the EU's relations with its eastern neighbors, which has already resulted in Bergedorf Round Tables on and , as well as Political Breakfasts with Pierre Morel , Gela Bezhuahsvili , Benita Ferrero-Waldner , and Viktor Ivanov .

The Körber Foundation regularly invites a small circle from within Berlin's foreign policy community to its Background Discussions . As in the Bergedorf Round Tables, the discussions take place in confidence.