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Urve Tiidus

XV Riigikogu

General information

People often talk of an ageing Estonia. Yet mature citizens play an important balancing role in the society. It is up to the young people to accelerate the development, but we must not underestimate the wisdom that comes with experience. I want to help make the third decade of the 21st century a time of intergenerational cooperation, creativity, and self-belief in Estonia. The robots will inevitably come, or rather, are already here. Creating a harmony between different generations and artificial intelligence must be one of the most exciting challenges of this century. But the key lies in the will and the skill of the people to make life in Estonia better together.
As a native of the Island of Saaremaa, I am a champion for the Estonian islands.

Parliamentary group:
Estonian Reform Party Parliamentary Group
Committee:
Economic Affairs Committee European Union Affairs Committee
Electoral district:
Hiiumaa, Läänemaa and Saaremaa
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
+372 631 6607
Social media:
Links:
Website
Seniority in days:
5140
Date of birth:
06.06.1954
Place of birth:
Rapla County
Family:
Two children
Education:
Tallinn School No. 21 in 1972;
University of Tartu, English (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1977
Career:
Estonian Television: director’s assistant, presenter, author and editor 1977–1991;
freelance translator (TV series and films), author of health programmes 1992–1994, editor of regional programmes, presenter and editor of news programme “Aktuaalne Kaamera” 1995–1999;
Kuressaare City Government, Education and Culture Department, Head 1999–2001;
TV channel Kanal 2, editor, news presenter 2001–2005;
Mayor of Kuressaare 2005–2011;
Minister of Culture 2013–2015
Party affiliation:
Estonian Reform Party 1999– (membership suspended 2001−2005), Member of Board
Membership in representative bodies:
12th Riigikogu, 13th Riigikogu (Chair of Parliamentary Group 2015–2016), 14th and 15th Riigikogu;
Saaremaa Rural Municipality Council 2017–2025, elected to Kuressaare City Council 1999–2013
Awards:
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Netherlands 2008;
Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit 2014;
Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland 2014;
Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland 2014;
Medal of the Baltic Assembly 2023
Other activities:
Offence Prevention Council 2015–2021;
Board of the National Opera 2017–2023;
world organisation United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Member of Council 2007–2010;
Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC), Second Vice-President 2008–2010;
Member of Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) on Europol 2021–2026;
Lions Club Kuressaare Piret, founder, President 2008, member 2009–2021;

Estonian National Defence Course 2012, higher courses on cyber defence and digital governance 2019;

published articles, author and presenter of numerous language, children’s and health programmes
Hobbies:
scientific literature, sport, nature, music, theatre