DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.24028.2 ISSN: 2732-5121

EUPopLink Country report - Estonia

Pavlína Kutnarová
Show PDF Cite
This report examines the relationship between populism and Euroscepticism in Estonia, a country characterised by strong and long-standing support for European integration. Estonia’s pro-European orientation has been shaped by the historical narrative of a “return to Europe,” security concerns, and the close connection between EU membership and national identity. Despite this broad consensus, several political parties express Eurosceptic and populist tendencies. The analysis focuses on EKRE, Fatherland, the Estonian Centre Party, Together, and Right-wingers. Among them, EKRE emerges as the most prominent Eurosceptic-populist actor, combining nationalist and anti-establishment rhetoric with criticism of EU integration, particularly on sovereignty, migration, and climate policy. The findings show that Estonia remains relatively resilient to stronger Eurosceptic mobilisation, while EKRE maintains stable political support. Estonia thus represents a distinctive case of enduring pro-European consensus coexisting with a limited but persistent Eurosceptic opposition.

More from our Archive