Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, has voiced his support for Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), to become Lithuania’s European commissioner.
“I have no doubt that my Lithuanian colleague Landsbergis has the necessary skills to represent the EU as a Commissioner, employing his wide experience in international affairs and the strong relations he has built as a respected leader in our neighbourhood and beyond," Weber wrote on X on Wednesday.
Media outlets and some TS-LKD representatives have mentioned Landsbergis as a potential candidate for the European Commission, although he himself has refused to comment on such reports.
I have no doubt that my 🇱🇹Lithuanian colleague @GLandsbergis has the necessary skills to represent the EU as a 🇪🇺 Commissioner, employing his wide experience in international affairs and the strong relations he has built as a respected leader in our neighbourhood and beyond. pic.twitter.com/hvocGpJXyR
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 26, 2024
However, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has said he sees better candidates than Landsbergis for the position but has not named them.
Further reading
In Lithuania, the government, the Seimas, and the president have to approve a candidate for the European commissioner, and the EP will ultimately decide on all candidates.
The ruling coalition’s council is gearing up to discuss the nomination of Lithuania’s candidate for the EC on Thursday. According to Seimas Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, the delay in naming the candidate is harmful to Lithuania.
“This is a very dangerous strategy. The risk is that Lithuania – not the government, not the conservatives, not the president, not even the Seimas, but Lithuania as a whole – will lose because we will be left without having gone through the first stage when everyone else will have not only put together the candidates but also agreed on portfolios,” she told the Žinių Radijas radio on Wednesday.
Currently, Lithuania is represented in the EC by Virginijus Sinkevičius who is responsible for the environment, oceans and fisheries.
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