Lithuanian president, PM could attend EU summits in turns – Simonyte

VILNIUS – The president and the head of government could represent Lithuania in EU summits in turns, depending on what is discussed, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Wednesday. 

"In the past, decisions on who – the president or the prime minister – had to represent Lithuania would be made before a European Council meeting based on what issues had more weigh on the agenda. Perhaps we could return to such discussions," Simonyte told reporters on Wednesday.

"I can't say if the president will want to return to them," she added. 

The prime minister said she had stated her position to President Gitanas Nauseda during their conversation. 

The tradition of the president going to EU summits started under Dalia Grybauskaite. Before that, the country was sometimes represented by the prime minister, too.

Some conservative MPs have said recently that Lithuania should send Simonyte to EU summits instead of Nauseda, because the European Council's meetings have focused on issues falling within the government's remit since the start of the pandemic.