Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia since 2006, has previously held such offices as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament and Member of the European Parliament.

On 2 September, he meets President of the Storting Olemic Thommessen in Parliament.

"The situation in Ukraine has an impact on both countries and it is likely to be a central topic of discussion during the meeting. I would also like to hear about Estonian experiences in the use of digital technology and the country’s efforts to improve data security. Norway may well have something to learn in that respect" says Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting.

The President of Estonia is the Head of State, which is mainly a ceremonial function. Ilves has a particular interest in information technology and he is known to be a driving force in the use of digital tools in Estonia.

During the Soviet era Ilves lived in the United States. In 1984 he moved to Germany where he worked on foreign policy issues in «Radio Free Europe», a radio station whose purpose was to promote democratic values to the people of Eastern European countries.

The visit to the Storting is part of the Estonian state visit to Norway.