Education
Estonian Diplomatic College, international relations and diplomacy (1993)
, journalism (1981)
Additional courses in Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the United States of America.
Estonian Diplomatic College, international relations and diplomacy (1993)
, journalism (1981)
Additional courses in Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the United States of America.
From 1999 to 2002, she was Minister of Population Affairs in the cabinet of Mart Laar. She lost her seat in the 2009 European election, but shortly regained it, when on 7 April 2014 she replaced Ivari Padar who became Estonian Minister for Agriculture, until in July she was succeeded by Marju Lauristin following the 2014 European election. Concordia International University, lecturer (1998–2000) Open Estonia Fund, project manager (1998–1999) Estonian Television, journalist (1977–1997) Member, European Union Affairs Committee.
Vice-chairman, Cultural Affairs Committee Member, Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, rapporteur on Finno-Ugric peoples in the Russian Federation (2003–2006) Government of the Republic of Estonia, minister (1999–2002) Mõõdukad Party (predecessor of the SDE) (1988), Vice-Chairman, SDE Party (2005).
Member, Broadcasting Council Board of Trustees of Tartu University Board of Trustees of the Estonian Music Academy President, Union for Child Welfare.
12th Riigikogu; 10th Riigikogu]
In October 2006 she became Member of the European Parliament, replacing Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who had been elected President of Estonia. Estonian Television, programme director, member of the Board of Governors (1993–1997)
Member of the European Parliament, Socialist Group (2006–2009. April–June 2014)
Member of the Estonian Parliament (2003–2006).