Estonia and France

31.01.2012

France recognised Estonia on 26 January 1921. The cornerstone of Estonia-France relations is France’s recognition of the Republic of Estonia’s legal standing—they never recognised the Soviet Union’s occupation of Estonia. France re-stated its recognition on 25 August 1991 on the occasion of Estonia’s re-independence. Diplomatic relations were re-established on 30 August, 1991.

Bilateral political relations between Estonia and France are good and traditionally active. Regular and effective dialogue takes place between the two countries.

French Ambassadors to Estonia
1991-1994 Jacques Hunzinger
1994-1998 Jacques Faure
1998-2002 Jean-Jacques Subrenat
2002-2006 Chantal de Ghaisne de Bourmont
2006-2009 Daniel Labrosse

Since October 2009 Frédéric Billet is the French ambassador to Estonia.

The first Estonian ambassador (initially bearer) in France was Karl Robert Pusta from 1918/1921 – 1932.

Estonian Ambassadors to France after re-independence
1993-1997 Andres Tomasberg
1998-2001 Ruth Lausma-Luik
2002-2006 Andres Talvik
2006-2010 Margus Rava

Estonian Ambassador Sven Jürgenson represented his credentials to President of the Republic of France Nicolas Sarkozy on 3 December 2010.

On 13 February 2007, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet with the participation of Mrs Catherine Colonna, French Minister for European Affairs, opened the new Estonian Embassy building at 17 rue de la Baume, Paris 75008.

Estonia has six honorary consuls in France: Serge Arnould in Lyon, Hélène Berdoy-Mayer in Toulouse, Laurence Charbonnier in Nancy, Nathalie Vidal in Lille, Christian de Barillon in Bordeaux, and Christian Guellerin in Nantes.

The chairman of the Estonia-France parliamentary group in the Riigikogu is Tõnis Lukas. The Estonia-France friendship group in the French National Assembly is led by Claude Bodin.

Visits

Agreements

Trade between the two countries is regulated by agreements with the European Union. The more important agreements signed by the two countries are as follows:

• Agreement on Mutual Understanding, Friendship and Co-operation (came into force 27.04.95);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 25.09.95);
• Agreement on Abolishment of Visa Requirements (came into force 01.03.99);
• Agreement on Readmission of Persons (came into force 15.04.99);
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital (came into force 01.05.01);
• Agreement on the Status and Activities of Cultural Institutes (came into force 01.04.05).
• Agreement on the Exchange of Young Specialists (signed 31.03.2006)
• Agreement on visa representation between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of France (came into force 01.09.2009)
• Co-operation agreement between the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA) and the French Network and Information Security Agency (ANSSI) (came into force 9 November 2010)
• Bilateral defence co-operation agreement (came into force 1 January 2012)
  

Economic Relations

The economic relations between France and Estonia are developing stably. Estonia is known in France as an IT oriented country with a liberal system of economy.

The introduction of Estonia as a tourist destination has become a tradition in France. Estonia has been represented on a regular basis at both the professional travel fair Top Resa in Deauville in the fall, as well as a tourism fair aimed at the general public in Paris in the spring. Estonian businesses also participate in French trade and industry fairs. Press visits have also become regular events, and as a result many articles introducing Estonia and especially Tallinn as beautiful places to visit have been published.

French entrepreneurs are primarily interested in Estonia’s investment climate and the process of starting a new enterprise in the sectors of fragrances, building, and IT co-operation. The main obstacle to smooth co-operation is usually a language problem—French entrepreneurs generally do not speak English.

The close co-operation of the Estonian Embassy in Paris with the MEDEF of Paris (entrepreneurs’ union of France) is worth special mentioning. Thanks to the support of the head of the MEDEF of Paris, Remy Robinet Duffo a great many meetings, visits and seminars have become a reality.
As of May 2000, the French-Estonian Business Club (CAFE) functions, gathering French entrepreneurs active in Estonia.

TRADE

Estonia-France trade from 2004-2010 (in million euros):

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

Rapid developments took place in trade relations with France during the first half of 2011. France rose to the position of Estonia’s 9th trade partner with 2.7% of trade (the volume of trade turnover was 331 million euros, of which 71% was Estonia’s exports). In exports France was also 9th among Estonia’s partners (4% of exports) and among countries sending imports France ranked 13th (1.5% of imports). Among exports, the three main product groups were mineral products (61%), machinery and equipment (7%), and paper pulp and paper products (6%). The rapid growth in export was due first and foremost to the brisk sale of fuels and equipment. Among imports transportation vehicles made up 24%, prepared foods and beverages 18%, and machinery and equipment 16%.

INVESTMENTS

Over the past few years, French investments in Estonia have grown. The year 2010 was especially productive, as during the year many French companies won important procurements. For example: the agreement between Alstom and Eesti Energia regarding the construction of two new combustible shale plants in Narva; the agreement between Eesti Energia and the French company Constructions Industrielles De La Mediterranee (CNIM) to construct the new WTE CHP plant in Iru; and Nexans Norway AS won the procurement to build the Estlink2 cable. The companies in Estonia with the greatest French participation are Tallinna Küte AS (steam and hot water supplier), Eraküte AS (steam and hot water supplier), Levira AS (radio and television broadcast services), Saint-Gobain Ehitustooted AS, Dalkia Eesti AS (steam and hot water supplier, heat energy), and Veolia (waste management).

According to Bank of Estonia data, as of 30 June 2011 France was 11th among Estonia’s foreign investors (with 229 million euros or 1.8% of investments). A quarter of investments went to real estate; nearly a fifth went to administrative and assistance activities; 14% went to the manufacturing industry; and about 5% each went to professional and research activities and into information and communications.

French companies have also participated actively in state procurements for the electric car charging station network.

Defence Co-operation

In addition to framework agreements and intensive co-operation in NATO and in the area of European Union security and defence policy, there is also an intergovernmental defence co-operation agreement between Estonia and France (prior to this agreement there was a co-operation agreement between the ministries of defence), which was signed by Minister of Defence Mart Laar during his visit in September 2011.

France has participated many times in the NATO-organised air policing of the Baltic nations, being one of the most important supporters of the mission. France’s last rotation guarding Baltic airspace was from May-August 2011.

France participates in all the important defence assistance projects such as BALTRON and BALTSEA and also supports language training in the Estonian Defence Forces. France is also one of Estonia’s most important procurement partners.

Within the framework of the naval operation ATALANTA, an Estonian vessel protection detachment has served on a number of different French ships. The co-operation has been very successful and will continue until May 2012.

Estonia regularly holds various consultations with France on security policy issues.

Co-operation between ministries of internal affairs

The first contacts between the French and the Estonian Ministries of Internal Affairs were made in 1997. Within a framework of co-operation the police, the Border Guard, the Citizenship and Migration Board and the Rescue Board have had many joint training projects with their French counterparts. Every year Estonian police officers have had the opportunity to study at the French police academy. The Border Guard has good contacts with the maritime gendarmerie and with the frontier police. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has received French technology products from the Group SAGEM, such as a finger print digital search system for the central criminal police and monitors (motion transducers) from Thomson-CSF to be used on Estonia's eastern frontier. Co-operation is also conducted in working out personal identification documents as well as in ascertaining false documents.

Good co-operation takes place in solving applications for legal assistance, as well as in arranging training, for instance training for special units.

Agriculture

The interest of the Estonian agricultural sector towards the French market is growing constantly. More and more Estonian entrepreneurs have been present at the major agricultural fairs. Representatives of the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture are regularly present at the SIAL fair (Salon international de l’agroalimentaire, an international agricultural foodstuffs fair) and the SIA agricultural fair meant for the wider public.

Co-operation in the field of research and technology

In March 2011 Estonian Minister of Research and Education Tõnis Lukas and French Ambassador to Estonia Frédéric Billet signed an administrative agreement. The French-Estonian Hubert Curien (G.F. Parrot) partnership created with the agreement will provide funding for two years for the research projects of French and Estonian researchers, support co-operation between the research teams of both countries, and allow researchers to join the other country’s research team, all through systematic bilateral funding. This kind of co-operation has been taking place for short-term cycles since 2002.

Language instruction

Through the French Institute, France supports the teaching of the French language in Estonia. In 1998 the French Embassy and the French Cultural and Language Co-operation Centre began a French-language training programme for state officials. In 1999 this programme was the basis for an agreement signed by the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the French-speaking community of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Thanks to the aforementioned agreement close to 4 000 Estonian state officials have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn the French language and culture. As of 2010 language study is being supported only by the state of France, until a new co-operation agreement with the OIF can be signed (this is scheduled to happen in the first half of 2012).

There is also close co-operation with many Estonian schools in the area of teaching French.

Cultural Relations

Cultural co-operation between the two countries is very active. Estonia culture in France is represented by a cultural counsellor that has worked at the embassy since the beginning of 2007; from 2001-2008 a branch of the Estonian Institute also operated in Paris. Active co-operation partners in carrying out Estonian cultural events are the Finnish and Hungarian cultural institutes in Paris. At the local level, there are numerous friendship societies who participate in the regular arrangement of events introducing Estonia. Good partners in presenting Estonian culture are twin towns: Võru’s twin town Chambrey-les Tours and Saue’s twin town Quincy-Sous-Sénart, as well as the Estonian honorary consuls in France.

The major event of 2011 was the biggest Estonian cultural festival ever to be held in Paris and the surrounding areas, Estonie Tonique. The festival was opened by the ministers of culture of Estonia and France on 7 October and lasted for two months. During that time over 200 performers went to France and over 50 events took place: concerts, exhibitions, performances, screenings of films, literary evenings, and conferences. The festival was organised by the Estonian and French cultural and foreign ministries and events were carried out by the French Institute in Paris and the Estonian Embassy in Paris.

Within the framework of the festival French audiences were able to see Estonian theatre for the first time; especially popular were the performances by Theatre NO99 at the Odeon Theatre. It was also the first time a large amount of Estonian films, contemporary art (the exhibit “Liberté/Vabadus 2011” in Asniéres Castle), and pop and alternative music were seen by French audiences. The publisher Babel/Actes Sud published a collection of prose by contemporary Estonian authors entitled “Les Labyrinthes du réel” (The Labyrinths of Reality). A very warm welcome was given to the Viking ship Turm, which docked on the Saint-Martin canal and served as the venue for a cultural programme.
Performances by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Estonian National Men’s Choir performing the works of Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis earned quite a lot of attention. Within the framework of the festival French Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand presented Arvo Pärt with France's highest order, the Legion of Honour.

In January 2012 French Ambassador to Estonia Frédéric Billet recognised the people who have promoted Estonia-France cultural relations. The French Order of Arts and Literature (l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres) was given to composer Helena Tulve, artistic director of the singing group Vox Clamantis Jaan-Eik Tulve, and the Estonian co-ordinator of the Estonie Tonique festival, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Ragnar Siil. The order was also given to film director Ilmar Raag and stage director (and French language teacher) Lembit Peterson.

Estonian musicians are very highly appreciated in France for years (primarily Pärt, Tüür, Tulve) and their works have been included in the repertoire of numerous French orchestras and choirs. The ensemble of modern music Aleph has over several seasons introduced works by Estonian young composers (Helena Tulve, Age Hirv and others).

The Parisian renowned orchestras are regularly conducted by Neeme and Paavo Järvi. The latter was named the music director of the Orchestre de Paris starting in the 2010/2011 season. The ballets of Opéra Garnier are several times a season conducted by Vello Pähn.

Over the years, Estonian literature and poetry have been translated into French thanks to the not very numerous devoted translators such as Antoine Chalvin, Jean-Luc Moreau, Jean-Pascal Ollivry and others. In 2004, the Estonian national epic “Kalevipoeg” was published in Antoine Chalvin’s translation. Among others, works by Tõnu Õnnepalu, Jaan Krossi, Jaan Kaplinski, Viivi Luige, Arvo Valtoni and Karl Ristikivi have been translated into French. The translations of Estonian literature have merited classy awards. In 1989, "The Czar's Madman" by Jaan Kross was awarded the prize for the best foreign book (Prix du meilleur livre étranger) and in 2003 a collection of poetry by Jaan Kaplinski "Le désir de la poussière" ("The Desire of Dust") was awarded the Prix Max Jacob. In the summer of 2010 the fifth and final volume of Tammsaare’s “Truth and Justice” was published. The French translation of Sofi Oksanen’s “Purge”, which was published by Stock at the end of August 2010, has proved very popular in France and won the renowned French literature award Prix Femina étranger. The book has inspired serious interest in Estonia and its history. Interest has also been stirred up by “Roman estonien” (“Estonian novel”), a novel written in French by young Estonian writer Katrina Kalda.

In recent years about a hundred works by French authors and philosophers (B. Pascal, J.-J. Rousseau, S. de Beauvoir, J. Giono, J. Genet, G. Bachlard, A. Makïne, M. Yourcenar, etc.) have been translated into Estonia.

Estonian cinematography is represented at the annual Rouen Nordic Film Festival and at the Clermond-Ferrand short film festival, as well as at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Estonian art, photo and design have been represented at numerous festivals in France. Estonian designers regularly participate at design fairs in France.

Many Estonian artists have studied or made their home in France (Maire Männik, who studied at both the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the École des Beaux-Arts; Rein Tammik, Urmo Raus, Kaia Kiik). Thanks to the intermediation of the cultural counsellor in Paris as well as direct contacts, exhibits of photos and of modern or even early 20th century art have been organised in France at galleries and festivals (Paris, Renne, Lille, Nice, Lyon, Reims, etc.).

During the last few years many important exhibits of French art and architecture have taken place in Estonia, and along with them meetings of artists, critics and curators. Tallinn and the Lyon Light Festival enjoy years-long co-operation. In the architectural field, the closest co-operation takes place with the French within the framework of organising the European architectural competition for young architects Europan.