Sandra Kalniete
Encyclopedia
Sandra Kalniete is a Latvian politician
, author, diplomat and independence movement leader. She served as Foreign Minister
of Latvia 2002–2004 and as European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
in 2004. Since 2009, she has served as Member of the European Parliament
for the European People's Party
.
She is currently a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
(AGRI) and Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
(FEMM). Additionally she is on the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Vice-Chair for the Delegation for relations with Japan. Kalniete is also the chairperson of the Reconciliation of European Histories Group
, an informal group in the European Parliament involved in promoting the Prague Process
. The group includes 40 MEPs from across the political spectrum including the European People's Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
, the Greens, and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
.
, Siberia
, Russia where her family was deported from Latvia
during the Soviet Union. She studied art at Latvian Academy of Art from 1977 to 1981 and worked as an art historian, publishing a book, Latvian textile art, in 1989. She joined politics in 1988, during Latvia's independence movement, and was a deputy chairwoman and one of the founders of Latvian Popular Front, the main pro-independence political organization. Ms. Kalniete has graduated the Department of Art History and Art Theory in the Art Academy of Latvia
(1981), the Institute for International Studies in Leeds University (1992), The Graduate Institute of International Studies
at the University of Geneva
(1995), and has a Master of Arts from Art Academy of Latvia(1996). -->
After Latvia declared independence, Kalniete worked in Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Latvia's ambassador to the UN (from 1993 to 1997), France (from 1997 to 2000) and UNESCO
(from 2000 to 2002).
A big part of the Latvian society was shocked after she was not re-nominated as Latvia's EU Commissioner. Afterwards, Kalniete stepped aside from politics and refused the low-rank diplomatic positions she was offered.
At the beginning of 2006, Kalniete joined the New Era Party
. In October 2006, she was elected to the Latvian parliament. She was the candidate of the New Era Party for the post of Latvia's president, before withdrawing in favor of Aivars Endziņš
on 24 May 2007.
In 2008, Kalniete announced she was leaving the New Era Party. She joined the newly founded Civic Union
and became the party's leader. In the European Parliament election, 2009
she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament
.
The last book was also published in French as En escarpins dans les neiges de Sibérie and was nominated for the documentary book of the month by the readers of Elle
magazine. Since its publishing it has been translated into more than ten languages.
Politics of Latvia
The politics of Latvia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The President holds a primarily ceremonial role as Head of State. Executive power is exercised by the government...
, author, diplomat and independence movement leader. She served as Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Latvia 2002–2004 and as European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
European Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development is a member of the European Commission. The post is currently held by Commissioner Dacian Cioloş...
in 2004. Since 2009, she has served as Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
.
She is currently a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development is a committee of the European Parliament.-Responsibilities of the Committee:AGRI is the European Parliament committee responsible for:...
(AGRI) and Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality is a committee of the European Parliament.-Chair:-Members:*BASTOS, Regina *BAUER, Edit *BOZKURT, Emine *ČEŠKOVÁ, Andrea *CORNELISSEN, Marije *COSTA, Silvia *CYMAŃSKI, Tadeusz...
(FEMM). Additionally she is on the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Vice-Chair for the Delegation for relations with Japan. Kalniete is also the chairperson of the Reconciliation of European Histories Group
Reconciliation of European Histories Group
The Reconciliation of European Histories Group is an informal all-party group in the European Parliament involved in promoting the Prague Process in all of Europe, aimed at coming to terms with the totalitarian past in many countries of Europe...
, an informal group in the European Parliament involved in promoting the Prague Process
Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism
The Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism , which was signed on 3 June 2008, was a declaration signed by prominent European politicians, former political prisoners and historians, including past signatories of Charter 77 such as Václav Havel, which called for condemnation of and...
. The group includes 40 MEPs from across the political spectrum including the European People's Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
, the Greens, and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the social-democratic political group in the European Parliament, formed by MEPs of the Party of European Socialists and allied centre-left parties. The group dates its ancestry via various names back to the beginning of the European...
.
Background
Kalniete was born in Togur, Tomsk OblastTomsk Oblast
Tomsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It lies in the southeastern West Siberian Plain, in the southwest of the Siberian Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Tomsk. Population:...
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Russia where her family was deported from Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
during the Soviet Union. She studied art at Latvian Academy of Art from 1977 to 1981 and worked as an art historian, publishing a book, Latvian textile art, in 1989. She joined politics in 1988, during Latvia's independence movement, and was a deputy chairwoman and one of the founders of Latvian Popular Front, the main pro-independence political organization. Ms. Kalniete has graduated the Department of Art History and Art Theory in the Art Academy of Latvia
Art Academy of Latvia
The Art Academy of Latvia is an institution of higher education and scientific research in art....
(1981), the Institute for International Studies in Leeds University (1992), The Graduate Institute of International Studies
Graduate Institute of International Studies
The Graduate Institute of International Studies, best known as HEI , was founded in 1927 as one of the first institutions in the world dedicated to the study of international relations...
at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
(1995), and has a Master of Arts from Art Academy of Latvia(1996). -->
After Latvia declared independence, Kalniete worked in Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Latvia's ambassador to the UN (from 1993 to 1997), France (from 1997 to 2000) and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(from 2000 to 2002).
Political career
She became Foreign Minister of Latvia in November 2002 and served in this position until in 2004 when she was appointed the first Latvian Commissioner of the European Union in charge of Agriculture and Fisheries.A big part of the Latvian society was shocked after she was not re-nominated as Latvia's EU Commissioner. Afterwards, Kalniete stepped aside from politics and refused the low-rank diplomatic positions she was offered.
At the beginning of 2006, Kalniete joined the New Era Party
New Era Party
The New Era Party , abbreviated to JL, was a centre-right political party in Latvia. Founded in 2002, the party merged with Civic Union and Society for Other Politics to form Unity in 2011....
. In October 2006, she was elected to the Latvian parliament. She was the candidate of the New Era Party for the post of Latvia's president, before withdrawing in favor of Aivars Endziņš
Aivars Endzinš
Aivars Endziņš is a Latvian lawyer and politician.He graduated from University of Latvia in 1968, in 1977 he attained candidate of legal sciences degree, but in 1997 he became Doctor of Jurisprudence. He has worked as a lecturer in University of Latvia and, later, in higher school of business...
on 24 May 2007.
In 2008, Kalniete announced she was leaving the New Era Party. She joined the newly founded Civic Union
Civic Union (Latvia)
The Civic Union was a Latvian political party. It was founded in 2008 and most of its members came from the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and New Era Party. It has been described as centre-right or right-wing....
and became the party's leader. In the European Parliament election, 2009
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
.
Publications
She is an author of three books:- Latviešu tekstilmāksla (Latvian Textile Art), 1989.
- Es lauzu, tu lauzi, mēs lauzām. Viņi lūza (I broke, you broke, we broke. They fell apart), a book about Latvia's independence movement, published in 2000.
- Ar balles kurpēm Sibīrijas sniegos (With dancing shoes in Siberian snows), a book about the deportation of her family to SiberiaSiberiaSiberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
during the Joseph StalinJoseph StalinJoseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
era and her family’s efforts to return to their home country, first published in 2001.
The last book was also published in French as En escarpins dans les neiges de Sibérie and was nominated for the documentary book of the month by the readers of Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
magazine. Since its publishing it has been translated into more than ten languages.
Translations
The book Ar balles kurpēm Sibīrijas sniegos, Riga, Latvia: Atēna, 2001 (ISBN 9984-635-78-3) has been translated into several languages:- Albanian: "Këpucë balerine mbi dëborën siberiane". Transl.: Durim Taçe. Skopje, Macedonia: Shkupi (2010). ISBN 978-608-216-022-1
- French: En escarpins dans les neiges de Sibérie. Transl.: Velta Skujina. Paris, France: Editions des Syrtes, 2003. ISBN 2-84545-079-6
- German: Mit Ballschuhen im sibirischen Schnee. Transl.: Matthias Knoll. München, Germany: Herbig Verlag, 2005. ISBN 3-7766-2424-8
- Italian: Scarpette da ballo nelle nevi di Siberia. Transl.: G. Weiss. Milano, Italy: Libri Scheiwiller, 2005. ISBN 88-7644-445-9
- Czech: V plesových střevíčkách sibiřským sněhem. Transl.: Michal Škrabal. Praha, Czech Republic: Lubor Kasal, 2005. ISBN 80-903465-5-3
- Swedish: Med högklackade skor i Sibiriens snö. Transl.: Juris KronbergsJuris KronbergsJuris Kronbergs is a Latvian-Swedish poet and translator, living in Stockholm.In Latvia, he is best known for his poetry, written in Latvian. His most acknowledged book is Vilks vienacis , which has been published in Swedish, English and Estonian translations. In Sweden, Kronbergs is the most...
. Stockholm, Sweden: Atlantis, 2005. ISBN 91-7353-066-2 - English: With Dance Shoes in Siberian Snows. Transl.: Margita Gailītis. Riga, Latvia: The Latvian Occupation Museum Association, 2006. ISBN 9984-9613-7-0
- Russian: В бальных туфельках по сибирским снегам. Riga, Latvia: Atēna, 2006. ISBN 9984-3418-3-6
- Finnish: Tanssikengissä Siperiaan. Transl.: Hilkka Koskela. Helsinki, Finland: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 2007. ISBN 978-951-0-32096-9
- Dutch: Op dansschoenen in de Siberische sneeuw. Transl.: Marijke Koekoek. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Uitgeverij van Gennep, 2006. ISBN 978-905-5-15702-0
- Arabic: Cairo, Egypt: Sphinx Agency for Arts and Literature, 2009.
- A Spanish translation is in progress.
Career experience and political activities
- June 2009 – Member of the European Parliament (Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee, Agricultural un Rural Development committee, Women’s Rights and Gender Equality committee)
- April 2008 – Leader of the “Civic Union” party
- January 2008 – Left party “New Era”
- October 2006 – Member of Parliament of Republic of Latvia (Foreign Affairs commission and European Affairs commission)
- January 2006 – Member of right conservative party “New Era”
- March 2005 – Ambassador, Special Adviser to EU Commissioner for Energy
- March 2005 – Member of the Board of Trustees of the independent think tank Friends of Europe, Member of Editorial Board of Europe’s World
- December 2004 – Member of the Administrative Board of Robert Schuman Fondation (France)
- 1 May – 20 November 2004 – the European Commissioner
- 7 November 2002 – 9 March 2004 – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 2000 – 2002 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to UNESCO
- 1997 – 2002 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to France
- 1993 – 1997 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva
- 1990 – 1993 Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Chief of Protocol, Deputy Foreign Minister
- 1988 – 1990 Latvian Popular Front (LPF): General Secretary of the LPF Coordinating Council, Deputy Chairman
- 1987 – 1988 Latvian Artists' Union: General Secretary
Awards
- 2005. The Grand Cross of Commander of the Cross of Merit (Latvia)
- 2004.The Grand Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gedeminas (Lithuania)
- 2002, Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Palmes académiques (France)
- 2001, Commandeur de la Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(France) - 2000, Cabinet of Ministers Award (Latvia)
- 1995, Commander of the Three Stars OrderOrder of the Three StarsOrder of the Three Stars is order awarded for merits in service for Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra"...
(Latvia)
Board-member/affiliations
- La Fondation pour l’innovation politique
- Rural Investment Support for Europe (RISE) Foundation
- Friends of EuropeFriends of EuropeFriends of Europe is a Brussels-based, not-for-profit think tank for European Union policy analysis and debate.-History:The organisation, established in 1999, has no political or national allegiance and is independent of the EU institutions...
- Fondation Robert-Schuman
- Kokneses Fonds
- Notre EuropeNotre EuropeNotre Europe is an independent think tank based in Paris. Founded in 1996 by Jacques Delors, it aims to "think a united Europe."-Research:Notre Europe's research is focused around four axes:...
- Eiropas Kustība Latvijā
- Baltijas-Melnās jūras alianse