Urmas Paet

Urmas Paet (born 20 April 1974) is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is a member of the Reform Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2014 and Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2005. He was a member of the Estonian Parliament from 2003 to 2014.[1]

Urmas Paet MEP
Member of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 November 2014
Constituency	Estonia
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 April 2005 – 3 November 2014
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip Taavi Rõivas
Preceded by	Rein Lang
Succeeded by	Keit Pentus-Rosimannus
Minister of Culture
In office 9 April 2003 – 12 April 2005
Prime Minister	Juhan Parts
Preceded by	Signe Kivi
Succeeded by	Raivo Palmaru
Member of the Estonian Parliament
In office 2 March 2003 – 4 November 2014
Constituency	Tallinn
Personal details
Born	Urmas Paet (1974-04-20) 20 April 1974 Tallinn, Estonia
Political party	Estonian Reform Party  EU Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Spouse(s)	Tiina Paet (m. 2005)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Tartu
Signature
Website	www.urmaspaet.eu

Education and early career

Paet was born in Tallinn. He graduated from the University of Tartu in 1996 with a BA in political science and continued his graduate studies there, but without obtaining the degree. He was active in journalism during his studies, first at Estonian Radio and later at Postimees, a mainstream daily and one of Estonia’s most popular newspapers.[2]

Political career

Paet continued his career in journalism until 1999, when he entered politics by joining the Reform Party and becoming professional advisor. He served as the Deputy Mayor of Nõmme (a district of Tallinn) from 1999 to 2003.

Role in Estonian politics

In April 2003, when the Juhan Parts government took office, Paet became Estonian Minister of Culture. In this capacity, he helped launch a new theatre, Theatre NO99[3]

Paet remained in that position until April 2005, when the Parts government fell. In April 2005, when the Andrus Ansip cabinet took office, he became Foreign Minister.

During his time in office, the kidnapping of seven Estonian cyclists in the Beqaa Valley near the Syria-Lebanese border required Paet to undertake multiple trips to the Middle East in 2011; the cyclists’ release was secured after 113 days in captivity.[4] By the time he left office, he was the second longest-serving foreign minister in Europe.[5]

Member of the European Parliament, 2014–present

Paet has been a Member of the European Parliament since the 2014 European elections. A member of the ALDE (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) political faction, he first served on the Committee on Budgets from 2014 until 2019. In this capacity, he authored a 2016 parliamentary resolution in favor of plans to increase European spending on military missions, as well as developing and sharing assets like helicopters.[6]

Following the 2019 elections,[7] Paet moved to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and its Subcommittee on Security and Defence. In addition to his committee assignments, he is a member of the parliament's delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the European Parliament Intergroup on the Digital Agenda;[8] the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals;[9] and the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights.[10] Also since 2019, he has been part of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG), which oversees the Parliament’s election observation missions.[11]

In 2015, Paet nominated murdered Russian politician Boris Nemtsov for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.[12]

In the 2015 Estonian elections, Paet received enough votes to take up a seat in the national parliament yet decided to keep his seat in the European Parliament.[13]

Recognition

In March 2019, Paet was the recipient of the Security & Defence Award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards.[14]

Personal life

Paet is married and has three daughters. He speaks Estonian, German, Finnish, English and Russian.

References

1. "Paet tõusis pikimat aega ametis olnud ministriks". Postimees (in Estonian). 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
2. Gary Peach (October 3, 2012), Enduring diplomat European Voice.
3. Gary Peach (October 3, 2012), Enduring diplomat European Voice.
4. Seven Estonian hostages freed in Lebanon BBC News, July 14, 2011.
5. Gary Peach (October 3, 2012), Enduring diplomat European Voice.
6. Robin Emmott (November 22, 2016), EU lawmakers endorse joint European defense plans after Trump victory Reuters.
7. "Eestist valitud Euroopa Parlamendi liikmed on teada". Pärnu Postimees (in Estonian). 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
8. Members European Parliament Intergroup on the Digital Agenda.
9. Members European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
10. Members European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights.
11. Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) European Parliament
12. Vince Chadwick (October 15, 2015), Slain Kremlin critic shortlisted for EU award Politico Europe.
13. Cynthia Kroet (March 2, 2015), Reform Party wins Estonian election European Voice.
14. Hutchinson, Lorna (21 March 2019). "MEP Awards 2019: Heartfelt reactions from our winners". The Parliament Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

External links

• Foreign Minister's Homepage
• Urmas Paet at Estonian Reform Party's website

Media related to Urmas Paet at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by Vilja Savisaar-Toomast	Elder of Nõmme 1999–2003	Succeeded by Hanno Pevkur
Preceded by Margus Allikmaa	Minister of Culture 2003–2005	Succeeded by Raivo Palmaru
Preceded by Rein Lang	Minister of Foreign Affairs 2005–2014	Succeeded by Keit Pentus-Rosimannus