Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who has rejected Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis’ candidacy for the European commissioner, said the new candidate Andrius Kubilius is an active and consistent politician.
“Kubilius, I have to admit, has been very active and consistent in saying that we must provide more opportunities for the Eastern Partnership countries and set ambitious goals so that these countries, particularly Ukraine and Moldova, become EU members as soon as possible,” Nausėda told the Žinių Radijas radio station.
“This is absolutely in line with my goals,” he added.
A candidate for Lithuania’s European commissioner is nominated by the government and must be approved by the president and the parliament.
Landsbergis, chairman of the Homeland Union (TS-LKD), was initially seen as the ruling party’s top candidate for the post but failed to receive Nausėda’s backing for his nomination.
Kubilius is cautious in commenting on his potential nomination to the European Commission and says his priority would be a portfolio where Lithuania has “exceptional and unique experience”, such as the bloc’s enlargement.
Nausėda believes that Lithuania should focus on the EC portfolios that offer many opportunities.
“We see such portfolios, especially in the economic field,” he said, adding that Landsbergis’ focus was too narrow.
“I believe that Landsbergis’ candidacy was less attractive in that he is exclusively interested in foreign policy. Although as the party leader, he should have paid much more attention to economic and social issues, unfortunately, he did not show a strong interest in these areas and activities, and that’s why he became, I’d say, a narrowly focused candidate,” Nausėda noted.
The ruling coalition partners of TS-LKD have not yet confirmed their support for Kubilius’ candidacy. The opposition Social Democrats and the Lithuanian Regions Party’s political group in the parliament have said they will vote against him.
Kubilius was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
The former prime minister, who has served as an MEP since 2019, is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
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