The Lithuanian parliament Seimas in an extraordinary session on Tuesday approved the nomination of MEP Andrius Kubilius for Lithuania’s European commissioner.
In total, 70 MPs voted in favour of Kubilius’ candidacy, 24 were against, and 15 abstained.
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.
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda has already endorsed Kubilius’ nomination for the EC.
Speaking in the Seimas on Tuesday, Kubilius stressed that Europe is currently facing a new and deep geopolitical security crisis and that security and defence will therefore be one of the most important areas of the EC’s activities in the foreseeable future.
He argued that Lithuania’s ambition should be to have portfolios related to defence, security, and the EU enlargement.
Kubilius was nominated to the EC by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė after President Nausėda rejected the candidacy of Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, the leader of the Homeland Union of Lithuania-Lithuanian Christian Democrats.
Kubilius, a former Lithuanian prime minister, was re-elected for a second term in the European Parliament this year. He is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, support for Ukraine and a tougher stance towards the Kremlin.
After being approved in Lithuania, the candidate will now need the endorsement of the European Commission president and the European Parliament.
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