Estonia and United Kingdom

29.11.2007

The State Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh to Estonia, 19-20 October 2006

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established on 5 September 1991, following which the Embassies were re-opened in Tallinn and London.

The current Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Estonia is Peter Carter (since November 2007). Estonian Ambassador to London Margus Laidre presented his credentials to the Queen on 28 March 2006. Estonian interests are represented in the United Kingdom also by Honorary Consul in Cheltenham John Beevor who started his activities in September 1998, Honorary Consul in Scotland Iain Lawson as of November 2003 and Honorary Consul in Wales Sir Roger Jones as of October 2005.

Former British Ambassadors to Estonia:

Nigel Robert Haywood (2003-2007)
Sarah Squire (2000-2003)
Timothy James Craddock (1997-2000)
Charle Richard Lucien de Chassiron (1994-1997)
Brian Buik Low (1991-1994).

Estonia's diplomatic representatives to the United Kingdom:

Kaja Tael, Ambassador (2001-2006)
Raul Mälk, Ambassador (1996-2001)
Riivo Sinijärv, Ambassador (1993-1995)
Allan Sepp, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. (1992-1993)
Eerik Niiles Kross, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. (1991-1992).

Historical overview

The United Kingdom has always been a strong supporter of Estonia. This relationship had its beginning during Estonia's War of Independence, when the UK sent a Royal Navy detachment to block Bolshevik attempts to land troops behind Estonian lines. British seamen were among those who gave their lives defending Estonia's freedom during the conflict; some of them were laid to rest in Tallinn. British naval and material support was essential in securing the battlefront and gave Estonia time to organise a decisive counter-offensive to regain Estonian territory. British seamen who fell for the independence of the Republic of Estonia are buried in the Tallinn Military Cemetery.

In the 1920s and 1930s, political and trade relations between Estonia and the United Kingdom flourished. More than 30% of Estonia's exports went to the UK. The United Kingdom never recognized Estonia's annexation in 1940.

The UK reaffirmed its recognition of Estonia's independence on 27 August 1991 after de facto independence had been restored. Since then, relations between Estonia and the UK have been exemplified by their consistency and vigour. In July 1992, the UK was the first EU member state to restore visa-free travel with Estonia.

Visits

The lively contacts between Estonia and the United Kingdom create an intense visits schedule. Estonia has been visited by several members of the British royal family and state officials.

Bilateral relations

The relations between Great Britain and Estonia are active and good, in recent years the co-operation has become even closer. Formerly, an important place in co-operation was occupied by Estonia's preparation for the European Union and NATO membership. In connection with Estonia's involvement in the work of those organizations and becoming a full member state in the spring of 2004, the character of co-operation has step-by-step been modified. In recent years, in co-operation in the field of the European Union a central topic has been energy and climate change. In the Estonian-British relationship, the communication between the ministries and other offices is becoming more and more important in connection with the EU topical issues.

Great Britain is a major contributor to the 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 solid assistance to Estonia in the implementation of defence reforms (see separately co-operation in the field of security). The two countries also have an experience in joint solving of tasks in the international arena. Estonia and Great Britain are both members of the international coalition of stabilization in Iraq; both countries are together in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Estonia and the United Kingdom have successfully co-operated in supporting third countries for years. In the course of this co-operation, Estonia has passed on its experience of implementing transition reforms to countries where such reforms are underway or are still in the planning stage. Jointly, the two countries have helped Ukrainian, Georgian and Moldovan state institutions, in, among others, the field of know-how and reforms of the legal and judicial system and defence structures.

An integral part of the relations between the two countries is co-operation between the parliaments. An Estonian parliament group is active in the British parliament, the Chairman of which is the member of the House of Commons Gordon Marsden. The Chairman of the British parliament group in the Estonian Riigikogu is Sven Mikser. Many Estonian and British political parties also have close ties.

In the autumn of 2002, the British-Estonian Association (BEST) was established. BEST unites members of the British community who take an interest in Estonia and who want to contribute to enhancing Estonia's reputation in the United Kingdom. BEST has organised events to present various sides of Estonian public life, where guests from Estonia have as a rule participated. The magazine Lennuk is published twice a year for members and other interested parties.

It is customary for visiting politicians or high-ranking officials to give lectures in the course of their visits. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet took the floor at Chatham House in November 2005, former Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland lectured twice - in February 2004 in Oxford and in 2002 at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. In recent years, other lecturers have included former President Arnold Rüütel, former Prime Minister Juhan Parts, former Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Minister of Economy and Communications Meelis Atonen, Ambassador Jüri Luik, Director of the European Union Information Secretariat of the State Chancellery Henrik Hololei (together with Peter Hain, member of the British cabinet), Vice-President of the Bank of Estonia Andres Sutt, Ambassador Matti Maasikas.

In January 2006, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip delivered a discourse in London School of Economics on the following topic. The European Union: a positive view. In February, President Toomas-Hendrik Ilves made a report at Oxford Union.

Agreements

• Agreement Concerning Air Services (came into force 3 Mar 93);
  
  
• International Traffic Insurance Agreement between the Estonian Traffic Insurance Fund and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (came into force 1 July 1993);
  
  
• Memorandum of Understanding of Defence Contacts and Cooperation (came into force 3 Oct 1994);
  
  
• Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 16 Dec 1994);
  
  
• Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gain (came into force 19 Dec 1994);
  
  
• Agreement on Cooperation in Education, Science and Culture (came into force 18 July 1996);
  
  
• Agreement on International Road Transport (came into force 21 Aug 1998);
  
  
• Memorandum on Mutual Understanding on the Assignment of a Military Counsellor (came into force 4 Feb 2004);
  
  
• Memorandum on Mutual Understanding Regarding the Accreditation of a Military Attaché (came into force 4 Feb 2004).

Economic Relations

* Pre and post 1 May 2004 data are incomparable. After accession to the EU, the import is calculated on the basis of the sending country, earlier this was based on the country of origin.

While in 1997 Estonia's trade balance with Great Britain was negative with 25.6 million EUR and a slight deficit was retained also in 1998. Since 1999 the trade balance has been positive for Estonia. In 2005, the trade turnover surged by 23.5% up to 404 million EUR, of which exports accounted for 217,5 million EUR (up 22% y-on-y) and imports up to 186,5 million EUR (up 25% y-on-y). The trade balance was accordingly in surplus by 31 million EUR. According to the trade turnover, in 2005 Great Britain was Estonia's 8th largest trade partner (2.8% of Estonia's trade total).The year 2006 ended with a small trade deficit - 2.6 million EUR, although the trade increased by 2.2%. The total turnover amounted to 396.3 million EUR, placing Great Britain 12th among the trade partners in 2006.

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia

Main export articles in 2006:

• Wood and wood products - 40%
• Other manufactured goods (mainly furniture) - 16.2%
• Metals and metal products - 8.8%
• Machinery and equipment - 8.7%
• Textiles and textile products - 7.7%
• Mineral products - 3.9%

Main import articles in 2006:

Machinery and equipment - 48.3%
• Metals and metal products - 10.9%
• Chemical products - 6.2%
• Textiles and textile products - 6.2%
• Mineral products - 5.4%
• Food products - 4.4%

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

INVESTMENTS

According to the Bank of Estonia, in 2006, firms of the United Kingdom made direct investments into Estonia amounting to 386.2 million EUR, which accounted for 3.1% of total direct investments, with which 3rd place was held.

The fields where UK firms have invested the most are whosale and retail comerce, processing and refining, financial services, real estate and rental and commercial service.

Many British enterprises have participated in Estonian privatisation bids. In November 2000, the Estonian Privatisation Agency Board sold 100% of the shares in the Edelaraudtee railway to the British GB Railways.The purchase price was 10 million kroons (639116 EUR). By entering into the agreement, GB Railways took on the obligation to invest 16,6 million EUR into the firm over the next five years.

A 50.4% stake in the Estonian utility company AS Tallinna Vesi was also acquired by UK interests: the privatization commission awarded the holding on 5 Dec 2000 to International Water UU. The price of the share purchase and privatization transacton was a total of 83,1 million EUR. The winning firm is a joint venture between two Brtish water companies: International Water Group and United Utilities Group.

A privatisation agreement was concluded on 24 Jan 2001. In the course of restructuring, the International Water Group in July 2004 sold its holdings to the United Utilities Group, who at present is in possession of 35.3 % of the shares of AS Tallinna Vesi; the other shareholders are United Utilities, with 35%, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with 25% of the shares.

British investments were also connected with Estonian Railways. Baltic Rail Service, which in April 2001 won 66% of the shares in Eesti Raudtee, was composed of four companies, one of which was Jarvis International of the Brits (the biggest railway maintenance firm of the Brits). On 06.12.2006, the Riigikogu approved the decision made by the Government to end the privatization agreement of Eesti Raudtee by consent of the parties and to acquire majority shares in Eesti Raudtee.

As of 2 April 2007, according to the Enterprises Register, there are 444 enterprises partly or entirely owned by United Kingdom capital registered in Estonia (five of which are however currently under bankruptcy proceedings, 12 companies are in liquidation).

Companies with the largest British ownership (mln EUR):

TOURISM

Tourism contacts between Estonia and the United Kingdom have significantly increased. In 1999, 35,417 Britons visited Estonia. In 2003, British visitors numbered 71,097, which means that within a five year span the number of tourists doubled. British subjects place 8th in terms of the number of visitors to Estonia. The number of Estonians visiting the United Kingdom is also on the rise. Estonian Air increased its number of flights to London (Gatwick) per week to nine in May 2004. In October 2004, the discount airline EasyJet added seven flights a week to the existing connection between Tallinn and London (Stansted). As of May 2005, Estonian Air flies to Manchester three times a week. The reputation of Tallinn and Estonia as a tourist destination has in recent years significantly improved.

Defence co-operation

Co-operation with the United Kingdom is one of the most substantial of Estonia's international relationships. British aid is directed to the areas where it can help Estonia the most, considering the priorities of the development of our defence forces.

Under the Copenhagen Memorandum, the United Kingdom participated in initiating the training of the Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion (BaltBat). BaltBat has ended its activities, but the co-operation between the two countries in building up the land force is continuing. The United Kingdom supports several other Baltic regional projects, such as BaltRon (Baltic Naval Squadron), BaltNet (Baltic Air Surveillance Network) and BaltDefCol (Baltic Defence College). The BaltDefCol has been supported by teachers from the UK as well as previously in the form of British exchange students.

Great Britain has advised Estonia in the field of defence policy, from 1995-1998 the Johnson group (IDAB) worked in Estonia. In 2000, Sir Garry Johnson initiated trilateral defence related co-operation with Georgia.

On 15 January 2001, British adviser Tim Park started work in the Ministry of Defence and in the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces. Park was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Lucas in October 2003.

One of the most important recent projects in the field of defence co-operation has been the participation of the Estonian contingent in the British-led PRT in Afghanistan. In April 2006, the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the Estonian-British Defence Ministries on the logistical support provided to the Estonian contingent participating in the UK-led PRT in Afghanistan.

On 14 September 2006 at Portsmouth Naval Base, Minister of Defence Jürgen Ligi signed an agreement with Great Britain on the procurement of three Sandown-class mine hunters. The cost of the transaction is nearly 800 million kroons, which for Estonia is one of the most voluminous procurements in the field of state defence. The first ship was handed over to Estonia on 26 April 2007 in the Port of Rosyth, Scotland. The ship is called Admiral Cowan - after admiral Cowan, who during the Estonian War of Independence commanded the British naval squadron.

Cultural Relations

The agreement on co-operation in education, science, and culture between Estonia and the UK has facilitated and promoted co-operative efforts in many different areas.

The Tallinn-based British Council has supported British art, music, literature, theatre and film in Estonia. Culture festivals devoted to different regions of Great Britain have taken place. The British Council has also dealt with offering English teachers supplementary training.

Several British organisations have supported Estonian culture and the arts. For example, the British Headly Trust has supported the restoration of Tallinn's Holy Spirit Church (Pühavaimu Kirik), which now also holds services in English. Similarly, the Art Museum of Estonia has received assistance. The Welcome Trust, specialising in medical research, has financed Estonian scientific work in the field of molecular biology and gene technology, enabling outstanding scholars to work in their native country. In 2003, a subsidiary to the British Children's Fire and Burn Trust was founded in Estonia with the objective of preventing fire and burn accidents suffered by children, and to promote the treatment of burns.

LITERATURE

Since only a few outstanding contemporary Estonian writers have been translated into English, the release of Jaan Kross's Treading Air, published in 2003, was a major literary event.

ART

In October 2003, the Rotermann Salt Storage Exhibition Hall of the Art Museum of Estonia exhibited a retrospective of British pop art, “As Is When. British Pop Art. Graphics from 1961-1972”. In April 2004, Rotermann presented the British op-art classic Bridget Riley's graphic art from the years 1962-2003.

Estonian artists Peeter Laurits and Jaan Toomik have in recent years had personal exhibitions in London. Many other Estonian artists have been represented at various group exhibitions with photographic and video art.

Marking the tenth anniversary of the activities of the British Council in the Baltics, an exhibition named “POSH” was opened in the Tallinn Art Gallery in April 2003.

On 17 October 2006, to mark the visit of Britain's Queen Elisabeth II to Estonia, two exhibitions were opened in Tallinn. A joint exhibition by Estonian artist Jüri Arrak and British artist P.J.Crook was unveiled at Draakoni Gallery, arranged by the Estonian Embassy in London; the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2005 exhibition was opened in KUMU Art Museum organized by the British Embassy and the British Council, compiled from entries to the world's largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition.

MUSIC

Estonian-British ties in the fields of music are also noteworthy. The Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür have premiered many of their works in the UK, and the works of both composers consistently place on the British classical music charts. Conductors Neeme Järvi, his son Paavo Järvi, and Arvo Volmer have worked with a number of prominent British symphony orchestras.

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with its British conductor Paul Hillier visits the United Kingdom every year. At the same time, British artists regularly perform in Estonia and participate in Estonian music festivals. In May 2004, Heiki Mätlik's trio concerts were performed in the Purcell Room of London and in Oxford.

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performed concerts in England and Scotland in May 2005. The concerts were dedicated to Arvo Pärt's 70th birthday.

Several UK bands and artists have played in Tallinn, including Blur, Big Country, Prodigy, the Rolling Stones and Elton John. In March 2004, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra concerts performed in Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu.

THEATRE, CINEMA, DANCE

In recent years opportunities have opened up to participate in British film festivals. Estonian films have been represented by Highway Crossing, shown in London in the Barbican centre in the autumn of 2002 and Good Hands, which toured Great Britain in 2003. Estonian short films were shown at the Bristol Film Festival. In September 2003, the first Northern Lights Film Festival took place in Newcastle with a contest between British and Estonian filmmakers as the main event. In the course of this project, the British were shooting in Tallinn and the Estonians in Newcastle.

In 2004, the Estonian film Names in Marble participated in the prestigious Bradford film festival. The same film participated along with a couple of documentaries and puppet films at a film festival dedicated to Estonia, “Made in Europe 2: Made in Estonia” in one of the most famous cinemas in London, the Curzon Soho.

At the same time, films from Great Britain have been screened at almost all the Black Nights Film festivals. In the most recent, 10th estival, more than 15 films from Great Britain participated. The unofficial kick-off for the festival was a concert and film in the atrium of the Viru Centre shopping mall: Diplomatic notes - The British Islands, in which Scottish folk music was performed by musicians in the background of the silent movies of the 1920s and 1930s, depicting life on the Scottish islands.

The Estonian ballet dancers Thomas Edur and Agnes Oks have performed as principal soloists with the English National Ballet for several years. Also, the Estonian ballet dancer Tiit Helimets performs in the Birmingham Royal Ballet Theatre as principal dancer. As of 2003, Estonian ballet dancer Eve Mutso can be seen performing on the stages of Scotland.

OTHER

In September 2003, Wales Day was celebrated in Tartu. The Secretary of State for Wales Rhodri Morgan together with the writer Jaan Kaplinski held a public discussion on the theme “Wales and Estonia: to be yourself in Europe”. The moderator of the debate was professor Jaak Aaviksoo, rector of the University of Tartu. A series of events presenting Welsh culture took place in Tartu.

A good example of collaboration between British and Estonian scholars is the Gene Forum that took place in September 2003, the third of a series.

Co-operation with the University of Tartu has resulted in the British Studies Conference becoming a regular event. The latest conference - “Great Britain between Europe and America” - was held in Tartu in April 2004.

Welcoming Estonia's accession to the European Union, the British Council and the British Embassy in Estonia organized various events under the name of “Crossroads for Ideas” from March to July 2004. These events included the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra concerts in different Estonian towns, a club weekend, young goalkeepers day etc.

In July 2004, Scottish week took place in Tallinn including a wide variety of business events (more than 50 businessmen participated with over 60 stands at the business seminar) and culture events (the Perth Youth Orchestra, Dumbarton and District Pipe Band, North Sea Gas et al).

From 1-9 November 2005, the Estonian Days of Culture in Scotland took place, which was the biggest undertaking of all time in Great Britain. The concerts of the Estonian National Male Choir, traditional music workshops and concerts at different places over Scotland, jewellery art symposia and different exhibitions were arranged. Three business seminars with the participation of nearly 40 Estonian businessmen, the visit of the Foreign Minister and of the Cultural Minister took place.

In the University of London's School for Slavonic and Eastern European Studies (SSEES), Estonian language courses are offered on a facultative basis. The British Foreign Office and the SSEES, in conjunction with the Estonian Ministry of Education, will supply resources required by this programme until 2005.

Both Great Britain and Estonia have striven to record and to publicise historical events important to both countries. The Laidoner Museum has conducted research on the operations of the British Navy in the Gulf of Finland after the end of World War I, where the Navy blocked the further advance of the Bolsheviks. On the isles of Naissaar and Vaindloo, the tombs of British soldiers have been marked. On 28 May 1998, a plaque in memory of the British seaman who served and gave their lives during the estonian War of Independence 1918-1920 was unveiled on the wall of the Maritime Museum by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. In the summer of 2003, a memorial tablet for all the British soldiers who perished in 1918-1920 during the Estonian War of Independence was unveiled in Tallinn's Holy Spirit Church. In Great Britain, an equivalent memorial plaque was opened on 16 December 2005 in Portsmouth Cathedral by Prince Andrew and Chief of Estonian Defence Forces Admiral Kõuts.

The main goalkeeper of the Estonian national team Mart Poom has played in English football clubs FC Portsmouth, FC Derby County, FC Sunderland and as of 2005, he is guarding the gate of London Arsenal.