Quick Facts
Biography
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.
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.
External link and sources
- Siim Kallas, Official Media Gallery
- Official website
- KALLAS Siim International Who's Who
- European Parliament Answers to Commissioner Designate M. Kallas
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rein Otsason | Chairperson of the Bank of Estonia 1991–1995 | Succeeded by Vahur Kraft |
| Preceded by Riivo Sinijärv | Minister of Foreign Affairs 1995–1996 | Succeeded by Toomas Hendrik Ilves |
| Preceded by Niels Helveg Petersen | Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe 1996 | Succeeded by Tarja Halonen |
| Preceded by Mart Opmann | Minister of Finance 1999–2002 | Succeeded by Harri Õunapuu |
| Preceded by Mart Laar | Prime Minister of Estonia 2002–2003 | Succeeded by Juhan Parts |
| New office | Estonian European Commissioner 2004–2014 | Succeeded by Andrus Ansip |
| Preceded by Pedro Solbes | European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs 2004 Served alongside: Joaquín Almunia | Succeeded by Joaquín Almunia |
| Preceded by Neil Kinnock as European Commissioner for Administrative Reform | European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud 2004–2010 | Succeeded by Maroš Šefčovič as European Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration |
| Succeeded by Algirdas Šemeta as European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud | ||
| Preceded by Antonio Tajani | European Commissioner for Transport 2010–2014 | Succeeded by Violeta Bulc |