Lithuania's interests would be protected too, if Kubilius gets EC defense portfolio

VILNIUS - Lithuania's interests would also be protected, if the country's ex-Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius gets the defense portfolio in the European Commission, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

"I have been consistent since being asked this question the first time and I can say that positions related to foreign policy or defense are valuable for Lithuania as we can also defend the state's interest without directly representing the state's interests, which is not allowed in the Commission," Landsbergis told journalists at the Seimas on Tuesday.

"By strengthening the instruments for financing defense, we will also strengthen Lithuania's security, so that Lithuania's interest is there and I would strongly support that," he added.

Politico reported on Monday that Kubilius will get the portfolio of the European commissioner for defense industry and space.

However, Lithuania's top diplomat could not confirm that Kubilius would definitely get this position.

"I believe (the EC's composition - BNS) was supposed to be confirmed today, but for some unknown reason it was postponed until next week, so maybe there are some last-minute changes. (...) I have only heard hints but I could not confirm anything concrete," Landsbergis said.

Lithuania officially nominated Kubilius as its candidate for a European commissioner last week. 

Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government and needs the approval of the president and the parliament, and subsequently of the EC president and the EP.

The new EC is due to start work on November 1.