Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈsiːm ˈkɑlˑɑs]; born 2 October 1948 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician, who most recently served as European Commissioner for Transport between 2010 and 2014. Before that he was European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud between 2004 and 2009. In both Barroso Commissions he was also vice-president.
Kallas has been Prime Minister of Estonia, Estonian Minister of Finance, Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union and member of the Riigikogu. Kallas is a member and former leader of the free-market liberal Estonian Reform Party. Kallas was a vice-president of Liberal International.
He was twice appointed Acting Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro in Olli Rehn's stead, from 19 April 2014 – 25 May 2014 while he was on electoral campaign leave for the 2014 elections to the European Parliament and from 1 July 2014 – 16 July 2014 after he took up his seat.[1][2]
Education
- 1966–1969 Budget and Finance, University of Tartu, B.Sc.
- 1969–1972 Junior Sergeant, Soviet Armed Forces Corps of Signals.
- 1972–1974 Economics of environmental protection, University of Tartu, M.Sc.
- 1974-1977 Economics of environmental protection, University of Tartu, Kandidat Nauk (PhD).
Career
- 1969-1972 : Signals officer in Soviet Army
- 1975–1979: Specialist at the Finance Ministry Planning Committee of the Estonian SSR
- 1979–1986: Joint Secretary of the Central Authority of the Savings Banks of the Estonian SSR.
- 1986–1989: Deputy chief editor of the Communist Party of Estonia newspaper Rahva Hääl
- 1989–1991: Chairman of the Central Union of the Estonian Trade Unions
- 1989–1991: Member of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union
- 1991–1995: President of the Bank of Estonia
- 1995–2004: Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia
- 1995–1996: Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1996: Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
- 1999–2002: Minister of Finance
- 2002–2003: Prime minister
- 2004–2004: EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, serving with Joaquín Almunia
- 2004–2010: EU Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud and Vice-president of the Commission
- 2010–2014: EU Commissioner for Transport and Vice-president of the Commission
Personal life
Language skills: Active: Estonian (mother tongue), English (primary working language), Russian (secondary working language), Finnish, German. Passive: French. Married to doctor Kristi Kallas; one son and one daughter Kaja, who is a member of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu). The ancestors of Siim Kallas were of Estonian and Baltic German origin. Kallas has been an active participant in the restoration of Estonian statehood.
Criticisms and drawbacks
Avoidance of tackling the issues in public caused him to renounce his candidacy to the office of Prime Minister of Estonia in 2014.[3][4]
References
- ↑ "Six commissioners head for EU election campaign trail". euobserver.com.
- ↑ "KUNA : Barroso announces caretaker replacements following resignation of 4 EU Commissioners - Politics - 01/07/2014". kuna.net.kw.
- ↑ UUDISED. Siim Kallas loobus kandideerimast peaministriks.
- ↑ Kallas loobus peaministriks pürgimast
External link and sources
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siim Kallas. |
- Siim Kallas, Official Media Gallery
- Official website
- KALLAS Siim International Who's Who
- European Parliament Answers to Commissioner Designate M. Kallas