The European Commission’s defence portfolio would be “very good” for Lithuania, President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief foreign policy adviser Asta Skaisgiritė said on Tuesday.
“It’s probably too early to say what portfolio we’ll get, but the defence portfolio would be very good,” she told the Žinių Radijas radio station.
“Both EU enlargement and defence are areas that are very close to us,” she said. “Enlargement (is very important) because we are passionate supporters of enlargement, particularly when it comes to Ukraine and Moldova.”
MEP Andrius Kubilius, Lithuania’s likely nominee for the EC, also said after last Friday’s meeting with Nausėda that the country could receive portfolios related to security, defence, or EU enlargement.
“The defence portfolio will be completely new in this European Commission because life dictates the need for a European commissioner who will primarily focus on and promote the development of the European defence industry,” Skaisgirytė said.
The Lithuanian parliament is holding an extraordinary session on Tuesday to vote on Kubilius’ candidacy for the European commissioner. Nausėda has already endorsed his nomination.
If nominated, Kubilius could realistically get the EC’s defence portfolio, according to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landbergis.
“I think it’s realistic. As far as I know, Kubilius himself is actively negotiating for that position,” Landsbergis told journalists at the Seimas on Tuesday.
Kubilius himself said he would not shy away from any responsibilities if nominated for the EC, but his unique experience lies in security issues and EU enlargement.
“Having served as prime minister of Lithuania twice and having earned the title of the crisis prime minister, I am not afraid of any jobs and responsibilities that may arise if I become a European commissioner,” Kubilius told lawmakers on Tuesday.
The former prime minister of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats is being proposed for the post after Nausėda rejected the candidacy of Gabrielius Landsbergis, the conservative party’s leader.
Kubilius was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
Lithuania’s candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
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