2024-07-30 14:09:42
ELTA asked the Head of the Government whether she has already received the official letter from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and when she intends to discuss the issue of Lithuania’s nominated candidate with the country’s leader Gitan Nausėda. I. Šimonytė reminded that last week she discussed the process of appointing the European Commissioner with U. Von der Leyen. According to her, there will be opportunities to discuss it both with the head of the country and with members of the Seimas.
“Last week I had the opportunity to discuss the nomination process and expectations with EC President Ursula von der Leyen, there will undoubtedly be opportunities to discuss these issues with other institutions involved in the decision, although at this stage we do not expect a formal nomination of a candidate according to all national procedures, but only a nomination”, – in response I. Šimonytė stated in a letter to Elta.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to refute the rumors that Lithuania was allegedly offered one or another “portfolio” of responsibility and maybe even someone “refused” it. This is not true, no one has proposed any specific portfolios and would not be authorized to do so at this stage”, emphasized the Prime Minister.
As previously announced, last week there were rumors in the ranks of the opposition that U. von der Leyen offered Lithuania the portfolio of European Commissioner responsible for the transport sector, but it was refused.
Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen also denied such considerations. During the interview with Elta, the politician said that such speeches are “just things that come out of nowhere”.
The President of the EC addressed the member states
After the European Parliament (EP) approved U. von der Leyen as the head of the EC, last week the politician officially appealed to the member states of the Community, asking them to submit candidates for the new commission.
President G. Nausėda already received such a letter from the President of the EC last Thursday. As Ridas Jasiulionis, adviser to the country’s leader, told Eltai, in the letter U. von der Leyen asks to propose two candidacies to the EC, one of which is a woman. On the same day, the prime minister’s office had not yet received the letter from the head of the EC.
European Union (EU) member states must respond to U. von der Leyen’s letter by August 30. Later, the selected candidates for European Commissioners will have to be approved by the European Parliament (EP).
The candidacy of G. Landsbergis is unofficially named: there is no support for it
As discussions continue for some time about who could become the new Lithuanian delegated member of the EC, it is unofficially said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis is applying for the post in Brussels. A large number of members of the Conservative Party openly express their support for this potential candidacy.
However, the minister himself did not publicly express such an intention and speaks reluctantly about the EC.
President G. Nausėda, whose approval is necessary for the delegation of Lithuania’s representative to the EC, has repeatedly made it clear that he would not be inclined to support G. Landsbergis’ candidacy. He has stated that he sees better candidates than G. Landsbergis. In addition, according to the head of the country, Vilnius should pursue portfolios that are related to the economic field. The adviser to the president, Frederikas Janson, has hinted that both the prime minister herself and the finance minister Gintarė Skaistė could apply for such an EC portfolio.
There is no lack of skepticism in the Seimas, either, when assessing G. Landsbergi’s chances of becoming a European Commissioner. Not only the opposition, but also the representatives of the ruling majority have publicly stated that they do not support this candidacy.
The nomination of the Eurocommissioner is submitted by the Government after the position has been agreed with the President and the Seimas.
2024-07-30 14:09:42