Lithuania should focus on an economic portfolio in the European Commissioner, rather than on a foreign policy one, President Gitanas Nausėda says, commenting on Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis’ prospects for the job in Brussels.
“There are practically no remaining foreign affairs portfolios or they are very remotely linked to foreign policy,” the president told reporters in Kalvarija on Monday.
EU leaders have already agreed that Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will become the bloc’s foreign policy chief.
“I think Lithuania could focus on economic portfolios, which are equally important. [...] These portfolios will allow Lithuania’s representative to partake in important European projects,” the president said.
Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis has been mentioned by his fellow party members and media reports as the main contender to become Lithuania’s European commissioner. However, neither he himself nor the government has confirmed that he is being considered for the position.
“We’ve been having a strange discussion lately – Commissioner Landsbergis or no more discussion. It is such an unconstructive approach,” President Nausėda said. “I find that economy has hardly anything in common with Mr Landsbergis’ sphere of interests.”
Landsbergis is yet to comment on his candidacy. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has said Landsbergis would make an excellent commissioner, while the president has said he sees better candidates.
Following last week’s confirmation of Ursula von der Leyen for her second term as president of the European Commission, the official procedure for nominating Lithuania’s candidate for a European commissioner should begin.
Parliament Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen has said that Lithuania’s candidate will probably be approved in August when a special parliament session is convened.
In Lithuania, the candidate for a European commissioner must be approved by the government, the parliament and the president, and all the candidates will have to be eventually approved by the European Parliament.
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