Siim Kallas, the former Prime Minister of Estonia and a foundational figure in the country's modern history, has died at the age of 77. His daughter, Kaja Kallas, who currently serves as the European Union's foreign affairs chief, announced his passing on Saturday.
“It is with sadness that I must announce that my dear father, Siim Kallas, passed away last night,” Kaja Kallas posted on Instagram.
Following the announcement, high-ranking European officials paid tribute to Kallas's extensive legacy. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed her deep condolences, emphasizing the pivotal role he played in shaping both Estonian and European politics. "I was saddened to learn of the passing of former Prime Minister and EU Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas," Metsola wrote on X. "I am thinking of the courage it took to build the state and introduce our own currency in the early 1990s, and the quiet conviction he brought with him to Brussels years later. Estonia and Europe are better off because of his life's work."
Metsola also extended her sympathies directly to his family. "Kaja Kallas and the whole family: I am deeply sorry for your loss. I wish you strength and warmth during this difficult time," Metsola said. She also expressed deep sympathy to his family, including his daughter Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative.
The European Commision on X also expressed its condolences and paid tribute to the Kallas family.
Born in 1948, Siim Kallas was a prominent economist before stepping into high-level political roles. He served as the President of the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank) from 1991 to 1995, a critical period during which he helped guide the creation of the nation's currency, the kroon. He went on to serve as Prime Minister of Estonia and later became the country's first-ever European Commissioner starting in 2004. Kallas subsequently served as the European Commissioner for Transport and Vice-President of the European Commission from 2010 to 2014.
