Siim Kallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Siim Kallas
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Kallas in 2014
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| European Commissioner for Transport | |
| In office 9 February 2010 – 1 November 2014 |
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| President | José Manuel Barroso |
| Preceded by | Antonio Tajani |
| Succeeded by | Violeta Bulc |
| European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud | |
| In office 22 November 2004 – 9 February 2010 |
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| President | José Manuel Barroso |
| Preceded by | Neil Kinnock (Administrative Reform) |
| Succeeded by | Maroš Šefčovič (Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration) Algirdas Šemeta (Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud) |
| European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs | |
| In office 1 May 2004 – 22 November 2004 Served with Joaquín Almunia |
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| President | Romano Prodi |
| Preceded by | Pedro Solbes |
| Succeeded by | Joaquín Almunia |
| 14th Prime Minister of Estonia | |
| In office 28 January 2002 – 10 April 2003 |
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| President | Arnold Rüütel |
| Preceded by | Mart Laar |
| Succeeded by | Juhan Parts |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 9 November 1995 – 21 November 1996 |
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| Prime Minister | Tiit Vähi |
| Preceded by | Riivo Sinijärv |
| Succeeded by | Toomas Hendrik Ilves |
| Member of the Riigikogu | |
| In office 3 March 2019 – 7 September 2024 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 October 1948 Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Reform (since 1994) |
| Other political affiliations |
Communist Party of the Soviet Union (until 1991) |
| Spouse | Kristi Kallas |
| Children | 2, including Kaja |
| Relatives | Eduard Alver (grandfather) |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu |
Siim Kallas (born 2 October 1948) is an Estonian politician who has held many important jobs. He was the Prime Minister of Estonia and a European Commissioner.
From 1972 to 1990, Kallas was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). In 1987, he helped create a plan called IME. This plan aimed to make Estonia economically independent from the Soviet Union. It suggested Estonia should have its own market economy, currency, and tax system. Kallas was later elected to the Soviet Union's parliament in 1989. These were the first partly free elections in the Soviet Union.
After Estonia became independent again in 1991, Kallas became the President of the Bank of Estonia. At that time, the bank had only 11 employees. Within a year, he helped set up a proper structure for the bank. On 20 June 1992, Estonia's own money, the Kroon, was back in use. The Soviets had removed it in 1941.
Kallas started his political career in 1994. He helped create the Estonian Reform Party, which is a liberal party. The party did well in the 1995 elections. Kallas served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996. He was also the Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2002. Later, he became the Prime Minister from 2002 to 2003.
He worked as the European Commissioner for Transport from 2010 to 2014. Before that, he was the European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud from 2004 to 2009. In both of these roles, he was also a Vice-President. He temporarily served as the Acting Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro twice in 2014.
After leaving the European Commission, Kallas ran for president of Estonia in 2016 but was not elected. In October 2017, he became the mayor of Viimsi Parish. In 2019, he was elected to the Riigikogu, which is Estonia's parliament. He was re-elected in 2023. He left his role in the Riigikogu and retired from politics in September 2024.
His daughter, Kaja Kallas, was the prime minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024.
Contents
Siim Kallas's Education and Learning Journey
- Kallas studied Budget and Finance at the University of Tartu from 1966 to 1969 and again from 1972 to 1974.
- He also studied Economics of environmental protection at the University of Tartu from 1974 to 1977.
Siim Kallas's Career Path
- From 1975 to 1979, he worked as a specialist at the Finance Ministry Planning Committee of the Estonian SSR.
- He was the Joint Secretary of the Central Authority of the Savings Banks of the Estonian SSR from 1979 to 1986.
- From 1986 to 1989, he was the Deputy chief editor of the Rahva Hääl newspaper.
- Kallas was the Chairman of the Central Union of the Estonian Trade Unions from 1989 to 1991.
- He was a member of the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union from 1989 to 1991.
- From 1991 to 1995, he served as the President of the Bank of Estonia.
- Kallas was a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2019 to 2024.
- He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996.
- In 1996, he was the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
- He served as Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2002.
- From 2002 to 2003, he was the Prime Minister of Estonia.
- In 2004, he was the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs.
- From 2004 to 2010, he was the EU Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud and a Vice-president of the European Commission.
- He was the EU Commissioner for Transport and a Vice-president of the European Commission from 2010 to 2014.
- From 2017 to 2019, he was the municipal mayor of Viimsi.
Siim Kallas's Family and Personal Life
Siim Kallas's grandfather was Eduard Alver. He was one of the people who helped create the Republic of Estonia in 1918. He was also the first chief of the Estonian Police.
Kallas can speak Estonian, English, Russian, Finnish, and German. He is married to Kristi Kallas, who is a doctor. When she was a baby, Kristi Kallas was sent to Siberia with her mother and grandmother. She lived there until she was 10 years old.
Siim Kallas has one son and one daughter. His daughter, Kaja Kallas, was also the prime minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024.
See also
- In Spanish: Siim Kallas para niños
