Lithuanian president appoints Pranckevicius as ambassador to EU

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has appointed Arnoldas Pranckevicius as the country's ambassador to the European Union.

The president signed a respective decree on Monday.

Pranckevicius will assume the ambassadorial position on March 1.

He has served as a vice minister of foreign affairs since the incumbent government came into power in December, 2020, having led the European Commission Representation in Lithuania for four years before that.

Earlier, he served as an adviser to ex-Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, as well as a diplomatic adviser to former EP President Jerzy Buzek and Martin Schulz.

The position of Lithuania's EU ambassador has been vacant since August, 2020 when Jovita Neliupsiene's term expired.

With the president and the government long-locked in a dispute on a candidature, the embassy has thus far been led by acting permanent representative Simonas Satunas but he has recently announced his plans to start heading European Commisioner Virginijus Sinkevicius' office in March.

In December, the president's chief foreign policy adviser Asta Skaisgiryte said the president was awaiting the government's decision on the appointment of ex-National Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis to lead Lithuania's embassy in Brussels.

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed by the president upon the government's nomination and approval of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.