Siim Kallas (77) dies, former European Commissioner and father of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas

Siim Kallas, a prominent Estonian politician who served as Prime Minister and later as a European Commissioner, has died at the age of 77. His passing was announced by his daughter, Kaja Kallas, who currently holds the influential position of the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Kallas, a liberal politician, was instrumental in shaping Estonia after its independence in 1991. Throughout his career, he held various key ministerial roles, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance. He also served as the governor of the central bank, contributing significantly to the nation's economic and political landscape.

Following Estonia's accession to the European Union in 2004, a process he helped negotiate, Kallas embarked on a decade-long tenure as a European Commissioner. His contributions at the European level were substantial during his time in Brussels.

After concluding his European career, Kallas made an attempt to run for the Estonian presidency in 2016, but his bid was unsuccessful. In 2024, he retired from political life due to health issues, marking the end of a long and impactful public service career.