Decorations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Cross of Merit was established in 2020 to mark the centenary of the Tartu Peace Treaty and is awarded to a person who has made a notable contribution to promoting Estonia’s interests around the world or to promoting Estonia’s independence.

• The Cross of Merit has three classes: First Class, Second Class and Third Class.
• The Cross of Merit comes with a rosette badge. 
• The holder of a decoration is entitled to apply for a miniature version of the decoration and a ribbon.

The Cross of Merit is bestowed as follows:

• The Cross of Merit, First Class

  is bestowed upon a person for extraordinary services in promoting Estonia’s interests worldwide, for contributing to Estonia’s independence or for promoting significant international cooperation.

• The Cross of Merit, Second Class

  is bestowed upon a person for remarkable services in promoting Estonia’s interests worldwide or promoting significant international cooperation.

• The Cross of Merit, Third Class

  is bestowed upon a person for making a substantial contribution to the promotion of Estonia’s interests worldwide or to significant international cooperation.

Every official of the Ministry can submit a proposal for bestowing a Cross of Merit. The proposal must state the name and position of the candidate and outline the grounds for bestowing the Cross of Merit. It is submitted to the attestation committee of the Ministry, which will then make a proposal to the Minister for the bestowing of a Cross of Merit.

The attestation committee of the Ministry is chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes all diplomats with the rank of an ambassador in active service at the Ministry and the Director General of the State Protocol Department. The committee has a quorum if at least half of the members are present. The committee makes its decisions by a simple majority.

Badge of the Ministry

The procedures related to bestowing a badge of the Ministry are organised by the personnel department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.