Out of the darkness, into the light...

It has been a rather more cheering day here in the pearl of the Baltics, Tallinn. The buzz of political debate has given me a sense of urgency, so I've been getting on with the sort of tasks that fall upon me to perform.

And yes, I've spoken to my Regional Candidates Chair and the Chair of the Brussels and Europe Local Party, exchanged e-mails with the Chair of Federal International Relations Committee, the ALDE Party Council delegation - we're due to be in Ljubljana the weekend before polling day, and I'm expecting some withdrawals, not unreasonably.

I've also offered some support where it might be useful over the next seven weeks, so we'll see how that goes.

Meanwhile, I'm in the Baltics, on holiday, and it's a perfect place from which to contemplate the notion of being European. From Estonia, the concept of being part of Europe is so much more obvious than it appears at home. For a country with a population of just 1.3 million people, on the edge of the Union and facing the Russian bear at close range, the notion of pooling some sovereignty in exchange for a range of benefits is more than simply transactional. Freedom was hard fought for in these parts, and you don't just blithely give it away.

But you are willing to consider the benefits of a larger roof, and better protection against the elements, the opportunities that come from being part of a vast market when you have confidence in your ability to compete and thrive, the freedoms that come from travelling to your neighbours and friends, of education and trade.

It seems that our Government on one hand believes that we can strike out as a global trading nation, yet lacks the confidence to believe that it can build a better Europe from within. And as for those who not only want to leave the Union but are desperate for it to fail, one can only condemn them for their pettiness and spite. Fine, leave if you want to, but don't interfere with something that those who remain want to succeed.

The history of the Baltics has often been of the tragic kind, with the urge for freedom suppressed by more powerful neighbours time and again. For more than a quarter of a century now, they have been making their presence felt on the world stage, and perhaps we should listen to their voices and find ways of benefiting from their experiences before we close the door on our way out of the European Union.

Eston Kohver is free at last

Free at last...

Radio Free Europe has announced that, according to Russia's Federal Security Service, a deal has been cut between the Estonian and Russian governments to exchange the kidnapped and imprisoned Estonian security officer, Eston Kohver, for convicted Russian spy Aleksei Dressen.

If this is true, and it seems credible, then this is very good news for Eston Kohver and his family, and, whilst one assumes that a Russian spy gets away with his crimes as a result, it does offer an opportunity to slightly ratchet down tensions in the Baltics.

Of course, that does rather depend on whether or not the Russian government is sincere in any way. I wonder what Cicero thinks?...

UPDATE: According to the Estonian Embassy in London, Eston is back in Estonia.

Tallinn it as it is, on the geopolitical frontline...

It has been remiss of me not to report on our visit to Estonia, and now that I have a bit of time at my disposal, I really feel obliged to remedy that oversight...

With Sweden, Åland and Finland behind us, it was time for the last leg of our journey, starting with an admittedly slightly tedious ferry crossing, courtesy of Viking Line. For Ros, it was a trip into the unknown, although I had been before, some years earlier. However, this time, we were not alone, as an old friend was already planning for our arrival.

Regular visitors to Lib Dem Blogs will be familiar with Cicero's Songs, a blog which, in my humble opinion, offers a uniquely liberal perspective on life in what the Russians see as their 'sphere of influence', i.e. an independent country which they think they can bully and get away with it. James, its author, is extremely well-connected, erudite and rather a lot of fun, and having heard that we were coming to town, had generously offered to show us around. 

The entrance to the Hotel Telegraaf

Having taken the precaution of booking into a rather nice hotel, the Hotel Telegraaf - the headquarters of the Estonian telegraph service when the First Republic was formed - we were ready to go.

A stroll around the Old Town was the first order of business, with its cobbled streets, medieval architecture and general loveliness, as we talked politics, Europe and of how Estonia 'works'. Given the debate about the viability of an independent Scotland, the fact that Estonia, with a population of about 1.3 million, punches well above its weight on the international stage is a reminder that, if you are willing to work collaboratively and take pride in your achievements, size is less important than will.

It was a valuable reminder that a belief in a national identity need not be insular, that sovereignty can be pooled without necessarily giving away what makes you a people, and that politics can engage rather than repel.

The Old Town itself, and especially Toompea, or Castle Hill, is insanely wonderful, in a not quite gingerbread, rather human way. The walls have survived mostly untouched, money is being spent on refurbishment - much of it now done - and the shops filled with interesting things. It is also, for the more financially savvy, much cheaper than Scandinavia, with restaurant prices for some really excellent food very approachable.

It looked like we were going to rather enjoy Tallinn...