In Memory of Siim Kallas – Speech by Governor Olli Rehn, former Vice-President of the European Commission, at the State Memorial Service, Estonia Concert Hall, 29 August 2026

Dear Kristi, Kaja, Ülo and the entire family,

Dear friends of Siim, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have come together today to remember a remarkable Estonian, a great European — and, for many of us, a dear friend.

I had the privilege of sitting beside Siim around the same Commission table in Brussels for ten years. Today I am representing the Barroso Commission, where Siim served as Vice-President – but I am here, above all, as someone who has lost a great friend and trusted colleague.

But beyond our personal loss, Estonia has lost one of the founding fathers of its restored independence. Europe has lost a statesman who helped change the course of his country and shape the EU as a whole.

Siim was both a visionary and a doer.

Siim belonged to the generation of Estonians who dared to imagine independence long before the world believed it possible.

The IME programme for Estonian economic self-governance was a milestone on that road in 1987. We often talked about his visit to Turku a year later, where he presented that bold initiative to a roomful of Finns who listened politely — but did not quite believe him.

Today we know where that road led. But in 1988, nothing was certain.

That tells us something essential about Siim: he could see the destination before the road was visible — and then he started building the road.

The great destination was Europe.

For Siim, Estonia’s membership in the EU and NATO was never “only” about security or the economy. It was about Estonia’s historical place: returning to Europe — to the community of free and democratic nations.

He knew the restored independence had to be made permanent. A small nation needed strong institutions, a sound economy and reliable allies. It should never again be left in a grey zone between East and West.

As Prime Minister, Siim saw Estonia successfully complete its EU negotiations. In 2004, Estonia joined both the EU and NATO.

Estonia was home in Europe again.

But for Siim, that was not the end of the journey. When Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, Siim became its first European Commissioner and soon Vice-President — and he belonged there naturally.

Siim’s Europeanism grew from Estonia’s history. He knew what it meant to lose freedom, so he understood the value of European unity. He knew what it meant to be left all alone, so he recognised the value of solidarity.

Siim also proved that a country’s voice in Europe depends not on its size, but on the calibre and contribution of the people who represent it.

I valued these qualities deeply over our ten years together — especially during the euro crisis, when his support meant a great deal to me. In difficult moments, I trusted Siim’s judgement, and his word.

We had one small advantage over our colleagues around the table. When tough issues had to be resolved, we could resort to our own encrypted code: Finnish. It was no conspiracy – but it proved remarkably effective.

For Siim, Finland was never just a neighbour. He spoke our language beautifully, followed our news, shared our sense of humour — and had probably more Finnish friends than most Finns do!

As Governor of Eesti Pank, he was rebuilding Estonia’s central bank, working closely with Suomen Pankki.

Years later, I stood with Siim by an ATM in Tallinn at midnight of New Year 2011 to witness Estonia join the euro. It was 20 degrees below zero. Siim was holding freshly printed Estonian euro banknotes in his hands.

I have always loved that image: the young economist pursuing a bold idea of Estonian economic self-governance, now standing in a firmly independent Estonia and holding the common currency of Europe.

That was quite a journey – a European journey.

And now Kaja carries the torch forward. Siim was very proud to see his daughter standing up so firmly for Europe, carrying forward the European project to which he devoted so much of his own life. Respect!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, when Europe is again confronted with war, geopolitics and polarisation, Siim’s life’s work speaks to us with particular force.

Europe is never finished. It is always a work in progress.

Every generation must continue to build it – to defend freedom and democracy, to make sure that no European nation is ever left alone.

Dear Siim,

Thank you for your friendship, and for the years we worked together.

Thank you for your tireless efforts for the success of Estonia and Europe — and for the bridges you built between Estonia and Finland.

Dear Kristi, dear Kaja, Ülo and the entire Kallas family, please accept our deepest condolences.

Puhka rahus, kallis Siim. – Rest in peace, dear Siim.