Writing on social media, Kallas said she was "honored" to be nominated for the bloc's top foreign policy role, adding: "Your trust means a lot."

Kallas said her main aims would be to work on achieving EU unity, protect the EU's interests and values, and build global partnerships.

"Europe should be a place where people are free, safe, and prosperous. My work has been and will continue to be guided by these aims," the prime minister wrote.

Honoured to be nominated as the candidate for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Your trust means a lot.

We must continue working together to ensure Europe is an effective global partner to keep our citizens free, safe and prosperous. pic.twitter.com/pbQEWjGjA2

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 27, 2024

Kallas was proposed as a candidate at Thursday night's EU leaders' meeting after months of speculation.

Germany's Ursula von der Leyen was also nominated to lead the European Commission president and Portugal's António Costa to head the European Council.

The European Parliament is likely to vote on the nominations in July. If von der Leyen gets the necessary votes to become president for a second term, the new European Commission should take office around November 1.

To take up the role, Kallas will need to resign as prime minister of Estonia.

The High Representative's duties include:

• shaping and conducting the EU's common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including its common security and defense policy,
• presiding over the Foreign Affairs Council,
• heading the European Defence Agency, and
• is one of the vice presidents of the European Commission.

"Great recognition for Estonia"

If Kallas is successful, this will be the highest EU role ever awarded to an Estonian.

Politicians said her nomination is a recognition of both Kallas' and Estonia's work.

"Today's EUCO decision to appoint PM Kaja Kallas as the candidate for the EU's chief diplomat is a great recognition for her & Estonia," President Alar Karis wrote on social media, wishing her luck.

Today's #EUCO decision to appoint PM Kaja Kallas as the candidate for the EU's chief diplomat is a great recognition for her & Estonia. Congratulations & best of luck to @KajaKallas on her path to becoming the EU's next High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

— Alar Karis (@AlarKaris) June 27, 2024

The sentiment was echoed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200).

"It's a confirmation for the whole [of] Estonia that our foreign policy has been on the right track, clear, constructive & courageous," he wrote, after congratulating her.

Congratulations to @kajakallas for having been nominated as the candidate for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy.

It's a confirmation for the whole #Estonia that our foreign policy has been on the right track, clear, constructive & courageous. pic.twitter.com/UZr8n9houw

— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) June 27, 2024

Kallas: Each H.R. has done things their own way

Speaking at a press conference for Estonian journalists after the meeting, Kallas said every former high representative has had a different working style.

"Considering that there has never been a high level EU foreign representative from a small Eastern European country, we will certainly bring something new to the table. Maybe we can talk about different topics where we have a neutral position," the prime minister said.

Kallas said her firm stance against Russa will not change. "After all, we stand up for important European values – democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty. These things are also at stake in the war in Ukraine. These are principles to which all member states subscribe, otherwise, I would not have had such broad support in the Council," she told the journalists.

Kallas said Estonia being awarded the role of H.R. is important because Estonian representatives can now participate in the G7 and G20 meetings of the world's largest economies. Estonia cannot become such a big country that it is given a seat at the table, she said: "Yet behind those tables, there are discussions about things that concern us a lot"

Many Estonians will be included in Kallas' team and the chief of staff will come from Estonia, she said, without naming names.

Speaking at another press conference (above in English), Kallas said the next step is to focus on the hearings and speak with MEPs to win their support.

The prime minister said she, von der Leyen, and Costa would make a "great team".

Kallas said her nomination is also "symbolic" as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Estonia's EU accession.

Analyst: Kallas must focus on consensus-building

Commenting on Kallas' potential future role before the announcement was made, Deputy Director of the Tallinn-based International Center for Defense and Security Kristi Raik said the appointment "would be a sign that EU countries acknowledge the need to be tough with Russia."

However, Raik said, Kallas, who has been praised for her tough stance on Russia, may have to find a new approach.

"As EU HR, Kallas (if she gets the job) will have to be somewhat more restrained in her statements on Russia than she has been as PM of Estonia. She will have to represent the EU and its common policy, not Estonia. She will have to focus on consensus-building," she wrote on social media.

"This will be a challenge for her: how to be strong and clear as a leader of EU foreign policy, which many expect, while not being too radical for the taste of some member states, which could become counterproductive."

This article was updated to add comments from President Alar Karis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, ICDS' Kristi Raik, and Kaja Kallas.

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