COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS COMITÉ DES M INISTRES

CONSEIL DE l'.EUROPE

MINISTERS’ DEPUTIES CM Documents CM(2019)11 11 January 20191

1334th meeting, 16 January 2019 1 General questions

1.6 Election of the Secretary General – Procedure

The Secretariat recalls that, on 12 and 17 October 2018 (1327th meeting, item 1.6), the Deputies adopted the timetable for the election procedure of the Secretary General. The closing date for the submission of candidates is fixed at 10 January 2019.

By letter dated 8 January 2019, the Lithuanian authorities informed the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General that they propose the candidature of Mr for the post of Secretary General (Appendix 1). The curriculum vitae of Mr Kubilius appears in Appendix 2.

1 This document has been classified restricted until examination by the Committee of Ministers.

Website: www.coe.int/cm CM(2019)11 2

FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF

Vilnius, 8 January 2019

Your Excellencies,

Allow me to refer to the letter of 18 October 2018 from Marija Pejcinović Burić, Foreign Minister of Croatia and then Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers, regarding the nomination of candidates for the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, due to take place in June, 2019.

I am delighted to inform the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, that the Republic of Lithuania proposes Mr. Andrius Kubilius, current member of Parliament, as a candidate for the position of Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Andrius Kubilius, as a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, has substantial experience, strategic political vision and cross-dimensional insight on international affairs. In the course of his political career Mr. Kubilius has shown an unwavering commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity and democracy, and respect to the high ideals and common values of the Council of Europe. Owing to his highest political and government management experience Mr. Kubilius is the most qualified candidate for the position of the Secretary General who will substantially contribute in overcoming political and financial challenges of the Council of Europe.

I am certain, if elected, Mr. Kubilius will successfully convey his political experience in advocating for the common values of the Organisation and continue the ambitious work in

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transforming the Council of Europe into a modern and effective Organisation, capable to respond to new challenges and provide support to every citizen of its Member States.

Please accept, Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Linas Linkevičius

His Excellency His Excellency Mr Timo Soini Mr Thorbjrn Jagland Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Secretary General of the CounciI of Europe HELSINKI STRASBOURG

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MR. ANDRIUS KUBILIUS

Former Prime Minister Member of the of the Republic of Lithuania

Mr. Andrius Kubilius was born on 8 December 1956 in , Lithuania. He is married and has two children. Mr. Kubilius speaks Lithuanian (native), English and Russian.

CABINET POSITIONS  Prime Minister (1999-2000; 2008-2012)

PARLIAMENTARY POSITIONS  Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania since 1992  First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (1996-2000; 2004-2008)  Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (2006-2008)  Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of Seimas (1996-2000; 2006-2008)  Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition (2005-2006; 2012-2016)  Currently - Deputy Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas

POLITICAL POSITIONS  Chairman of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian party (TS – LKD) (2003-2015)  Secretary-in-Charge of the Lithuanian Pro-Independence Reform Movement (Sajūdis) (1990-1992)

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ACTIVITIES Member of Groups for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with:  Georgia, Ukraine, Germany, Holy See, Estonia, Latvia, United States of America, Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), Japan, Israel, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea  Head of Provisional Group "3rd of May”  Head of Provisional Group "Pro-Ukraine"  Deputy Head of Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Poland

From 2016 member of Seimas’ Delegations to:  The Baltic Assembly; Trilateral Assembly of Members of the Parliaments of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine; Bilateral Assembly of the Parliaments of Lithuania and Poland  Deputy Head of Seimas Delegation to the bilateral Assembly of the Parliaments of Lithuania and Ukraine

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Other:  Member of the International Advisory Council of Reforms to the President of Ukraine since 2015  Member of the International Advisory Council, International Republican Institute (IRI), USA since 2016  Member of the Advisory Board, EuroGrowth Initiative, Atlantic Council, USA since 2016  Member of International Advisory Board, Baltic Development Forum (2001-2008)  Deputy Chair, International Advisory Board, Centrum Balticum Foundation, Finland (2016)  Member of the Honorary Board, Wilfried for European Studies  Author of international Initiatives “Marshall Plan for Ukraine” (European Plan for Ukraine) and “Ukraine-2027”

EDUCATION  Degree in Physics, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University) (1979)  Scientific researcher at the Vilnius University Physics Department (1979-1990)

AWARDS  Independence Medal of Lithuania (2000)  Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (2004)  Third Class Order of Merit of the Cross of Terra Mariana of the Republic of Estonia (2007)  Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic of the Kingdom of Spain (2009)  Order of the Polar Star of the Kingdom of Sweden (2015)  Grand Cross of Commander of the Order of Vytautas the Great (2015)  Second Grade Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Ukraine (2017)

PUBLICATIONS  “Kodėl krepšinis Lietuvoje yra gražesnis už politiką“ (Why Basketball Appeals More Than Politics in Lithuania), 2004  “Konservatyvioji bendruomenė” (The Conservative Community), 2006  “Dešinioji alternatyva: sėkmės Lietuva” (The Right Alternative: Lithuanian Success Story), 2003  “Mūsų geopolitika: sėkmės Lietuva” (Our Geopolitics: Lithuanian Success Story), 2014

INTERESTS Reading, classical music, cycling and other outdoor activities. Political science, history and innovative economy.  Chairman of the Policy Committee of the Knowledge Economy Forum (2001-2008)  Chairman of the Knowledge Society Council under the President of the Republic of Lithuania (2001-2003)