Kallas, Siim (1948 - )

: Kallas, Siim (Photo: www.europarl.europa.eu/.../commissioners_en.htm)

Estonian commissioner for Transport and a vice-president in the Barroso II Commission. In the first Barroso commission (2004-2009) Siim Kallas was Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud.

Siim Kallas is an economist. He graduated at Tartu State University in 1972 and made a really diversified career which was connected mainly with financial affairs. He was chairman of Association of Estonian Trade Unions as well.

Between 1991-95 he was president of the Bank of Estonia, later became Minister of Foreign Affairs, and finally in 2002-2003 Prime Minister. Kallas is also known as the "father of the kroon" managing Estonia's switch from the Russian rouble to its own currency.

After being a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for almost two decades, he founded and chaired the right-wing Estonian Liberal Party. He shadowed the Pedro Solbes' Economic and Monetary Affairs portfolio just after Estonian membership.

Links

Barroso Commission http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/index_en.htm

Kallas' website http://ec.europa.eu/commission......_2010-2014/kallas/index_en.htm

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