General information
Life has taught me that there are strong as well as weak people among us. I see my mission as a politician to protect the latter. Everyone must have equal opportunities – it is something that has been enshrined in our Constitution. Just like half of us are women and half are men, the same fundamental balance should also apply to governance. The same goes for the fact that equal pay should be received for equal work. I have dedicated myself to mending the gender gap. We can achieve it if we work together.
Electoral district:
Seniority in days:
2907
Date of birth:
26.09.1961
Place of birth:
in Võru
Family:
Married
Education:
Pärnu Coeducational Gymnasium (former Secondary School No. 1) 1979;
University of Tartu, journalism 1984 (equivalent to Master’s degree)
University of Tartu, journalism 1984 (equivalent to Master’s degree)
Career:
Estonian Radio, editor 1984–1991;
newspaper Eesti Ekspress, editor 1991–1992, 1993–1994;
freelance journalist in Republic of South Africa 1992–1993;
newspaper Päevaleht/Eesti Päevaleht, special correspondent in EU and NATO 1994–1996;
Estonian Television, diplomatic correspondent in Brussels 1996–2000, special correspondent 2000–2002;
newspaper Maaleht, special correspondent 2002–2003;
Radio Kuku foreign affairs programme Välismääraja, presenter 2002–2004;
foreign policy journal Diplomaatia, Editor-in-Chief 2003–2004
newspaper Eesti Ekspress, editor 1991–1992, 1993–1994;
freelance journalist in Republic of South Africa 1992–1993;
newspaper Päevaleht/Eesti Päevaleht, special correspondent in EU and NATO 1994–1996;
Estonian Television, diplomatic correspondent in Brussels 1996–2000, special correspondent 2000–2002;
newspaper Maaleht, special correspondent 2002–2003;
Radio Kuku foreign affairs programme Välismääraja, presenter 2002–2004;
foreign policy journal Diplomaatia, Editor-in-Chief 2003–2004
Party affiliation:
People’s Party Moderates/Social Democratic Party 2002–
Membership in representative bodies:
European Parliament 2004–2009;
12th Riigikogu (Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee), 13th Riigikogu
12th Riigikogu (Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee), 13th Riigikogu
Other activities:
Head of Moldovan Delegation of the European Parliament 2004–2009;
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Head of Estonian Delegation 2014–2015;
Head of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) 2015–, member of Bureau of the PACE 2016– and Vice-President of the PACE 2017–;
Party of European Socialists, women’s association (PES Women), Member of the Board;
Women in International Security – Estonia (WIIS-EST);
Gender Equality Council, Member of the Supervisory Board;
Estonian Defence Industry Council;
foreign policy journal Diplomaatia, Member of the College;
NGO Estonian Animal Shelters, matron;
SDP Women’s Association Kadri, Tallinn District, Chairwoman;
books: “Конец последней империи. Встречи с Ю. Афанасьевым” (“The End of the Last Empire. Interviews with Yuri Afanasiev”) 1991, “Suured silmad ja teisi tekste” 2007, “Moldova. Lääne ja ida vahel” (“Moldova. Between West and East”) 2009;
autobiography in anthology “Kuidas vaatad, nõnda näed” 2009;
articles in specialist collections and the Estonian press
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Head of Estonian Delegation 2014–2015;
Head of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) 2015–, member of Bureau of the PACE 2016– and Vice-President of the PACE 2017–;
Party of European Socialists, women’s association (PES Women), Member of the Board;
Women in International Security – Estonia (WIIS-EST);
Gender Equality Council, Member of the Supervisory Board;
Estonian Defence Industry Council;
foreign policy journal Diplomaatia, Member of the College;
NGO Estonian Animal Shelters, matron;
SDP Women’s Association Kadri, Tallinn District, Chairwoman;
books: “Конец последней империи. Встречи с Ю. Афанасьевым” (“The End of the Last Empire. Interviews with Yuri Afanasiev”) 1991, “Suured silmad ja teisi tekste” 2007, “Moldova. Lääne ja ida vahel” (“Moldova. Between West and East”) 2009;
autobiography in anthology “Kuidas vaatad, nõnda näed” 2009;
articles in specialist collections and the Estonian press
Hobbies:
theatre, music, cinema, reading