Vilnius - Lithuania's government confirmed Monday that it will nominate its finance minister to replace president-elect Dalia Grybauskaite as the European Union's Financial Planning and Budgets commissioner. Finance Minister Algirdas Semeta last week accompanied Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius to Brussels, where he was reportedly introduced to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Former commissioner Grybauskaite is set to become Lithuania's first female president on July 12 after winning a landslide election victory in May.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Latvia, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins could also be on his way to Brussels.
Latvia's EU Commissioner is Andris Piebalgs, who hold the energy portfolio. Riektins signalled last Friday that if Piebalgs returns to Latvia when his current term ends at the end of 2009, a place would likely be found for him within the diplomatic service.
Riekstins is among three potential nominees for an EU spot named so far by Latvian political parties.
