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Lithuania’s government on Wednesday proposed Andrius Kubilius as its potential next European commissioner, officially starting a nomination procedure that the country’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė labeled “baroquely complex.”
While the government officially nominates the candidate, both the president and Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, must green-light the decision.
Šimonytė said she had already received informal approval from President Gitanas Nausėda and the country’s ruling coalition.
If approved, Kubilius — a former academic and two-time prime minister who has served as an MEP since 2019 — would have to give up his seat in the European Parliament.
Kubilius, a co-author of the European Plan for Ukraine from 2017, is a vocal supporter of Kyiv and has a tough stance on Russia.
During his tenure in the European Parliament as a point person on Russia, he stressed the need for ongoing military support for Ukraine by advocating a plan that would see Western allies contribute 0.25 percent of GDP to help beat Russian President Vladimir Putin on the battlefield.
He also called to make Moscow foot the bill for Ukraine’s reconstruction by using all frozen Russian assets, not only the profits they generate, for that purpose. In Vilnius, he proposed the creation of a government department or ministry entirely devoted to Ukraine issues.
“I want to believe that the opposition groups, if they look at it objectively, will also be able to set aside their biases and appreciate Kubilius’ experience and abilities,” Šimonytė said.
Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, the speaker of the Seimas and leader of the coalition Liberal Movement, said the parliament could vote on Kubilius’ nomination either during an extraordinary session or at the start of its regular fall session on Sept. 10, despite the Commission wanting EU countries to nominate their picks by Aug. 30.
Kubilius’ name was put forward after Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis halted his widely expected bid to be a commissioner on Saturday, following the president’s refusal to back him.
