OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2013. At his meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck expressed support for the Rail Baltic project, which will create a direct connection between the Baltics and Berlin.

“We cannot talk about a single European market if we lack access to the market,” said Ansip at the meeting. According to President Gauck and Prime Minister Ansip, Rail Baltic is an important political project that will connect the Baltics with the rest of Europe.

Ansip said a high-quality railway will increase foreign trade and reduce businesses’ transport costs. For customers, it will mean lower prices. A modern railway link will also stimulate economic growth throughout the region. “We must establish a true single market in Europe,” said Ansip, who said Estonia plans to make maximum use of the opportunities stemming from the Connecting Europe Facility in order to make the direct train link finally become a reality.

At the meeting, the leaders also discussed European Union financial and economic subjects, with regard to which the positions of Estonia and Germany are very similar. “Germany is doing exactly what we expect Germany to do in Europe, and it does this very well,” said Ansip.

They also discussed bilateral economic ties. Germany is one of Estonia’s most important foreign trade partners, ranking fifth in the years 2011-2012. The German president was accompanied by a delegation of business leaders who familiarized themselves in more detail with the local investment opportunities. “I’m glad that your entrepreneurs like our investment climate, but we know that we can still significantly improve it,” said Ansip. Germany ranks 12th in terms of foreign investment in Estonia.

The prime minister also showed the historical Stenbock House to the visiting president. In the Heads of State Hall, Ansip told the president about Estonian history. “Of course, you are already familiar with our history,” said Ansip, as Gauck grew up in East Germany and has researched the crimes of communism committed there. In the government sitting hall, Ansip introduced the Estonian e-governance system and other popular electronic public services, such as e-voting and the electronic Tax and Customs Board.