"Looking at the past 20 years [since accession on 1 May 2004], it almost seems like a short period, but we have gone through quite difficult reforms since we regained our independence [with the dissolution of the Soviet bloc] in 1991", said Kaja Kallas, in an interview with Lusa.

The Estonian Prime Minister revealed that since joining the EU in 2004 "the average salary has increased 45 times, the average pension has increased 60 times and prices during this period have increased just over five times".

"Prosperity has increased for our population, as well as our Gross Domestic Product [GDP]. So we are indeed a success story in enlargement. Being European is in our essence", added Kaja Kallas.

"We were already [European] before the occupation, but we were somewhat forgotten behind the Iron Curtain", she argued, rejecting, for that reason, the discourse used by the nationalist political parties that describe what happens "in Europe", such as the Conservative People's Party of Martim Helme.

The Prime Minister maintained that Estonia "is as much a part of Europe as Spain, Portugal, France or, for example, Germany".

Kaja Kallas added that two decades after the last major enlargement, the Baltic countries, particularly Estonia, have a voice that was silenced for half a century, due to Moscow's claims.

But the different contexts, in her opinion, make a more complete and cohesive European Union.

"All European countries add something valuable. There are different historical and geographical experiences and also different strengths. But let's use all of this for the benefit of Europe. For us, being heard and treated as equals is invaluable. We had no voice for 50 years, so we value what we have today very much", she explained, acknowledging that the country tries "not to abuse" the demands it makes.

The proximity to Russia has made the country gain another relevance after the invasion of Ukraine, on 24 February 2022, and Estonia wants to present itself as a "constructive partner to find compromises and solutions".

Kaja Kallas, 46, has been Prime Minister of Estonia since January 2021 and is the first woman to hold this position. In 2011, she began her political career as a deputy in the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) and was a Member of the European Parliament in the previous legislature.

The Prime Minister also leads the Estonian Reform Party and is one of the voices within the EU that has most insisted on the need to do everything possible for Ukraine to defeat Russia.

The appeals that Zelensky has made since the beginning of the Russian invasion have always received a quick 'green light' from Kaja Kallas, who also has a tougher position than most countries in the community bloc.

Pointed out in 2023 as a possible successor to Jens Stoltenberg in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the idea faded, however, with the formalization of the candidacy of the Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, which Tallinn endorsed.

But the criticism of Moscow and the 'iron fist' of Kaja Kallas did not go unnoticed and in February this year the Kremlin placed her on the 'wanted list' for the "destruction and damage caused to monuments to Soviet soldiers".

Read Also: EU. The class of 2004 - from the good student Estonia to the problematic Hungary (Portuguese version)