Replacement of the Estonian Permanent Representative to the European Union

Source: Council of the European Union (Council) i, published on Friday, September 7 2007.

Replacement of the Estonian Permanent Representative to the European Union

The Council of the European Union has been informed of the appointment by the Estonian Government of Ambassador Raul MÄLK as Permanent Representative of Estonia to the European Union.

Ambassador MÄLK took up his duties on 17 August 2007.

( Curriculum vitae attached).

ANNEX

CURRICULUM VITAE

Born: May 14, 1952 in Pärnu, Estonia

Education:

1975 Graduate, Faculty of Economics, Tartu State University

Career:

1975-77 Research Fellow, Institute of Economics, Academy of Sciences of Estonia

1977-90 Senior Editor, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief, Estonian Radio

1990-92 Counsellor, Office of the Chairman of the Supreme Council

1992-93 Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1993-94 Chef de Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

1994-96 Deputy Under-Secretary (Political Affairs, Press and Information), MFA

1996-2001 Ambassador of Estonia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1996- 2003 Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland

1998-99 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia

2000- 2003 Ambassador of Estonia to the Republic of Portugal

2001 - Director General, Policy Planning Department, MFA

2003- 04 / 2005- 06 acting Deputy Permanent Under-Secretary (EU Affairs), MFA

2007- Permanent Representative of Estonia to the EU

Professional highlights:

1990-92 work in the office of the Chairman of the Supreme Council during the fight for restoration of the independence, creation of foreign relations service (later reorganised into separate foreign relations divisions in Presidents office and Parliaments office), work as a press-spokesman with world media during the period of restoration of the independence.

1992-2005 Head of the Estonian delegation for border negotiations with Russia

1994- Special Representative of Estonian Foreign Minister for negotiations with Russia over withdrawal of the Russian troops and decommissioning of the Paldiski nuclear object

1995-96 Head of the Estonian delegations for negotiations over the maritime boundaries with Latvia and with Finland

2003-2004 Responsibilities in preparation of the EU draft Constitutional Treaty as acting Deputy Permanent Under-Secretary

2002-2004 Head of the working group preparing the draft National Security Concept (2004), later adopted by the Government and Parliament

2002- Responsible for energy security issues in MFA, including over the negotiations on new nuclear power station project in Lithuania (2006)

2002-2004 Prime Minister's Special Representative on the reform of the Baltic co-operation

2005-2006 Responsibilities in preparation of new Financial Perspective as acting Deputy Permanent Under-Secretary (EU Affairs)

Academic activities:

Academic courses on international relations and diplomacy in Estonian School of Diplomacy, Estonian Business School and Audentes University.

Board memberships:

2003- Member of the board of Estonian monthly "Diplomaatiaâ€

2005-07 Chairman of the Board of International Centre for Defence Studies (Estonia) - starting period of a new think tank in Estonia

2004-2007 Member of the Editorial Board, Estonian Encyclopaedia Countries of the World

Awards:

1990 Estonian Journalist Union Award for direct radio programs from major events of the "Singing revolutionâ€

Decorations:

2005 Estonian Order of the White Star III class

Also orders of Portugal, Latvia, Malta and Poland

Civil status

Long time partnership with Ms Ene Randvee.

Free time activities:

Attending concerts and theatrical performances, reading, theory and history of international relations, football (supports London Arsenal FC).