Internet Voting in Estonia

At the Estonian School of Diplomacy we had a presentation on the Estonian experience in the Field of e-voting or electronic voting. For several reasons national experience of Estonia in the field of internet voting is one unique. One of this aspects is that Estonia is a small country but which has a widespread internet, there is Wi-Fi conection even in the forests. Internet technology sure was one of the premises for the further development of the inernet voting at a large scale in Estonia. 

      The estonian citizens are already used to the fact that they receive almost all their government services over the internet, but also to use the electronic identification system, to obtain more and more public services only by their ID card. 

        The national identity card with a digital signature truly makes Estonia unique in that all citizens can utilize Internet voting. Even if an individual does not have her own computer with a
reader, there are public computers with these readers that any Estonian can use.

        One of the other important safeguards are built into the Estonian electoral system that likely enhances the confidence of all key stakeholders in the integrity of ballots cast over the Internet.
The Internet mode of voting is optional, and is in fact one of three ways eligible for Estonian citizens.
         Data from the Estonian National Electoral Committee show there is a trend that demonstrates substantial increase of voters casting their ballots via internet. For instance, while in 2005 only 1,9% of voters voted online, this number escalated to 24,3% in 2011. 

Estonia: Life in a Networked Society

Meeting with H.E. Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos, Greece Foreign Minister

Last week, together with my colleagues from Estonian School of Diplomacy I've participated in a official meeting and lecture delivered by H.E. Mr.Dimitris Avramopolos, Greece Foreign Minister, at the headquarter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

      The subject of the lecture was on : ,,Greece's geostrategic role in South Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean"

    In his presentation the Greek Foreign Minister emphasized the role of European Union today, its achievements during time of ensuring peace and cooperation among member states. Also he underlined the importance of unity among european citizens and called for a common solutions for todays issues of EU. He mentioned the fact that last years economical crisis should not be as much as an issue but an opportunity to unite and solve it together as one whole big European Country. During his discourse he mentioned the situation in Balkans reagions and the perspectives of future asscentsion of countries from this region into the European Family.

I had the opportunity to ask His Excellency, two questions:

I started my greeting in greek language as I learned it three years ago in a international educational and cultural project. His Excellency apreciated my knowledge of greek language. I switched to english and asked my questions:

1. As he mentioned Greece towards Balkans countries asscesion to EU, how he sees this opportunity for the Eastern Partnership Countries, today when there are internal issues inside the EU.  

- In his answer he mentioned a part of Eastern Parnership as a Western Balkans and with a special regard towards Republic of Moldova.

- He also mentioned that he will have an official visit to Republic of Moldova as he was invited by his moldavian colleague H.E.Mr.Iurie Leancă - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova.

2. My second questions was a personal one for His Excellency. So my question was: ,, As regarding your profesional experience, how would you decribe the situation now in Europe, is there a need for more career diplomats or political ones. 

- he liked my question, and he made a clarification with regard to the fact that my question is a triky one, really I want to find out why he resembled from a career diplomat and became a political one. So he argued that diplomacy is one of the best carieer choices, and with time I will understand his decision, as there are different aspects of this job.

At the end, His Excellency apparoached our students group I introduced my colleagues from Moldova, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia and we discussed for a while and later on we made some pictures together nearby the estoniang and greek flags. He wished us a great success and told us he will be soon visiting Moldova.