Lithuania: Andrius Kubilius eyes EU defence or enlargement portfolio

Lithuania’s likely EU commissioner nominee, MEP Andrius Kubilius, named security, defence, or EU enlargement as his possible portfolios on the European Commission (EC), BNS reports. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, also noted that EU enlargement and defence were focus policy areas for Lithuania. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaisgiryte said that the defence portfolio would be “very good” for Lithuania. Also, she pointed out that Lithuania was a “passionate supporter” of EU enlargement, particularly for Ukraine and Moldova. The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, will vote on Kubilius’s candidacy for EU commissioner on 3 September 2024. Nauseda endorsed his nomination after rejecting the candidacy of Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis for the post.