Dr. Roy Chun Lee
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
August 8, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good afternoon!
It is a great pleasure to introduce the Honorable Andrus Ansip, member of the European Parliament and former prime minister of Estonia. Representative Ansip was prime minister for nine years, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the European Union. His unwavering dedication to public service and the clarity of his strategic vision have left an indelible mark on Estonia, transforming it into a thriving, digital society and positioning it as a global leader in innovation and e-governance.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Ansip has spearheaded reforms and policies that have benefited Estonia in numerous domains.
As prime minister, he led Estonia to embrace technological innovation with groundbreaking initiatives such as digital signatures, e-residency, and online voting. This allowed Estonian citizens to access public services conveniently and securely from anywhere in the world, setting the standard for e-governance and digital inclusion.
His commitment to innovation also fostered an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and technological advancement. His government’s investment in research and development, coupled with startup-friendly policies, propelled Estonia to become a global leader in digital innovation. Today, Estonia stands as a shining example of how a small nation can harness the power of technology to drive economic growth and social progress.
In addition to his focus on digital transformation, Mr. Ansip has long been committed to European integration. As prime minister, he actively promoted Estonia’s participation in the European Union and advocated for closer economic and political cooperation among member states. Under his leadership, Estonia adopted the euro in 2011, solidifying the nation’s place within the European Union and affirming its commitment to European unity.
Following his tenure as prime minister, Mr. Ansip was appointed vice president of the European Commission and European commissioner for the Digital Single Market. In these roles, he continued to champion digital innovation, working to harmonize regulations across Europe and create a more interconnected digital marketplace.
As a current member of the European Parliament, Mr. Ansip serves as vice chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and contributes to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He actively engages in various intergroups and delegations, addressing important issues such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and relations with the Pan-African Parliament.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a warm round of applause to welcome the Honorable Andrus Ansip.