Lithuanian president: PM to present candidates for EU commissioners within fortnight

VILNIUS – President Gitanas Nauseda says that Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte will present Lithuania's candidates for the European Commission (EC) within two weeks – by August 20.

“I don't really have a candidate. We have agreed with the prime minister that we will take this time and she will present me the candidate by the 20th of the month, because from the 20th of the month the consultations with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will start,” Nauseda told reporters on Monday.

Simonyte has said that Lithuania should name its candidates for the European Commission by August 19, when von der Leyen would return from her vacation.

“I would very much hope that we will have found a common denominator by then, but unfortunately today I have to say that I have not yet found a suitable candidate who is acceptable to both sides. And in this case we are even talking about two candidates, because this was the wish expressed by the President of the European Commission in her letter to me", the president said.

Re-appointed for a second term, European Commission President von der Leyen asked member states in late July to nominate two candidates for EU commissioners, one male and one female.

The ruling Conservatives say the best candidate for the European Commission is Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who is more associated with the foreign policy portfolio. Landsbergis himself has not commented on his chances of serving in the Commission.

The presidential office has said, however, that it sees better candidates.

Nauseda dismissed suggestions that the prime minister had agreed to replace two ministers in exchange for the opportunity to nominate Landsbergis.

“They [speculations] are worth nothing. And I say this very responsibly. Because at the very end of our last meeting with the prime minister we agreed that there will be no political bargains. These issues are separate," Nauseda said.

More than half of the EU countries have already selected their candidates for the EU Commission.