Kaja Tael

Kaja Tael
Kaja Tael in 2015
Born	(1960-06-24) 24 June 1960 (age 64) Tallinn, Estonia
Nationality	Estonian
Occupation(s)	Philologist, translator, diplomat
Years active	1983–present

Kaja Tael (born 24 June 1960)^[1] is an Estonian philologist, translator, and diplomat. She is a former Estonian ambassador to the United Kingdom and to Germany, the Estonian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union, and the current Estonian Ambassador at Large for Climate and Energy Policy. In 2023, she became the Estonian ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Early life and career

Kaja Tael was born in Tallinn in 1960. She graduated in 1983 from Tartu State University with a degree in philology. In 1989, she received a PhD in Estonian language and literature.^[1]

From 1991 until 1995, Tael was the head of the Eesti Instituut, the Estonian cultural institute. From 1995 until 1998, she worked as a foreign policy advisor to President of Estonia Lennart Meri. Between 1998 and 2001, she joined the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as Executive Secretary of the Estonian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission and then as Director General of the Policy Planning Department.^[2]

From 2001 until 2006, she was the Estonian ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. From 2006 until 2012, she was the Vice-Chancellor of the Committee on European Union Affairs, and then of European and Trans-Atlantic Relations at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2012 until 2016, she was the Estonian ambassador to Germany, succeeding Mart Laanemäe. Since 2016, she is the Estonian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union.^[2][3]

On 1 January 2020, Tael became the Estonian Ambassador at Large for Climate and Energy Policy.^[4]

In 2023, Tael became the Estonian ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), presenting her credentials to the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Schmid in September of that year.^[5]

Acknowledgements

• Order of the White Star, III Class (2000)^[6]
• Order of the National Coat of Arms, III Class (2018)^[7]

References

1. "Neue estnische Botschafterin in Berlin: Kaja Tael". Europäische Bewegung Deutschland (in German). 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
2. "Ambassador Kaja Tael". Wilson Center. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
3. "Kaja Tael becomes Ambassador at Large for Climate and Energy Policy". Republic of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
4. "Kaja Tael named as Ambassador at Large for Climate and Energy Policy". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). 2 January 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
5. "Estonian Ambassador to the OSCE Kaja Tael presents her credentials". Republic of Estonia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
6. Viivik, Allar (10 February 2000). "President üllatas Iffi ordeniga". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 12 December 2022.
7. "President annab tänavu teenetemärgi 166 inimesele". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) (in Estonian). 5 February 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2022.