Virginijus Sinkevičius (born 4 November 1990) is a Lithuanian politician who was serving as European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen from 2019 to 2024. In the 2024 European elections he was elected and became a member of the European Parliament. He previously was a Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Minister of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania.
Virginijus Sinkevičius | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sinkevičius in 2022 | |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2024 | |
| Constituency | Lithuania |
| European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries | |
| In office 1 December 2019 – 16 July 2024 | |
| President | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Karmenu Vella |
| Succeeded by | Maroš Šefčovič (ad interim) |
| Minister of Economy and Innovation | |
| In office 27 November 2017 – 30 November 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Saulius Skvernelis |
| Preceded by | Mindaugas Sinkevičius |
| Succeeded by | Žygimantas Vaičiūnas (acting) Rimantas Sinkevičius |
| Member of the Seimas | |
| In office 14 November 2016 – 28 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Audronius Ažubalis |
| Succeeded by | Mindaugas Lingė (2020) |
| Constituency | Šeškinė |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 November 1990 Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Political party | Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" |
| Education | Aberystwyth University Maastricht University |
Early life and education
editIn 2009, Sinkevičius graduated from Salomėja Nėris Gymnasium of Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was born. He then pursued his undergraduate studies in Aberystwyth University from where he received a Bachelor of Economic and Social Studies degree in 2012.
In 2012, Sinkevičius was a trainee in the Unit of Regional and Ethnic Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania. In 2013, he received a Master of Arts in European Studies from Maastricht University.
In 2017, Sinkevičius completed Digital Policy course in University of Oxford.
Sinkevičius speaks Lithuanian as mother tongue, as well as English, Russian and Polish.[1]
Early career
editIn 2012–2015, Sinkevičius was an author and editor of the news portal Lithuania Tribune. In 2013–2014, he served as an assistant project manager at the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) in Washington, D.C.
In 2014, Sinkevičius worked as an international group project manager in Lietuvos paštas; in 2014–2015, he participated in the ‘Create Lithuania’ program. In 2015–2016, he was the project coordinator in the concession project of the Lithuanian Airports (LTOU). In 2016, he was a team leader of the Group for Improving the Investment Environment in Public Enterprise Invest Lithuania.
Political career
editCareer in national politics
editIn the 2016 parliamentary elections, Sinkevičius was elected to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania in the single-member as an independent candidate Šeškinė constituency in Vilnius; he was then appointed Chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs.
On 27 November 2017, Sinkevičius was appointed Minister of Economy in the cabinet of Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and, following the reorganization of the Ministry of Economy, he became Minister of the Economy and Innovation.[2]
Member of the European Commission, 2019–2024
editOn 22 August 2019, the Lithuanian parliament approved Sinkevičius’ nomination for European commissioner;[3] the nomination was agreed upon by Prime Minister Skvernelis and Ramūnas Karbauskis, the leader of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS).[4]
Upon taking office, Sinkevičius became the youngest-ever European Commissioner, at the age of 28.[5]
In 2022, Sinkevičius proposed legally binding targets to halve the use of chemical pesticides and restore nature across the EU to at least 20% of EU land by 2030, in an attempt to better protect health and recover plunging wildlife populations.[6]
Member of the European Parliament, 2024–present
editIn the 2024 European Parliament election, Sinkevičius was elected to the European Parliament. In order to fulfill his mandate, he resigned from his position as EU Commissioner on 16 July 2024. His duties as Commissioner was temporarily taken over by Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič[7]
In the European Parliament Sinkevičius is serving as deputy chair of the Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) group, under the leadership of co-chairs Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout.[8]
Sinkevičius ran in the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election as a member of Saulius Skvernelis's party Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" (DSVL), winning a Seimas seat in the multi-member constituency through his position in the party list.[9] However, before the first meeting of the Fourteenth Seimas, Sinkevičius resigned his seat, opting to remain in Brussels.[10] He attributed his decision to "differing visions" of the ruling coalition, referring to the decision of the Social Democrats and DSVL to ally with the controversial Dawn of Nemunas party, whose leader had been investigated for antisemitism. By contrast, Skvernelis claimed that Sinkevičius gave up his seat because the Foreign Minister position had not been assigned to DSVL.[10] Rūta Miliūtė, the next candidate in the party list, took over his seat.[11]
Recognition
editIn 2018, Sinkevičius was awarded for The Best Solution for Better Business Environment of the Year by the association Investors’ Forum, and Blockchain Leadership at #SWITCH! Tech Awards. In 2019, he received the Partnership Leader 2018 award for innovation reform and development of startup ecosystem from the organisation Lithuanian Business Confederation. In 2018, Sinkevičius was included in the list of 100 World’s Most Influential Young People in Government by the website Apolitical.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Virginijus Sinkevičius". Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas (in Lithuanian).
- ^ a b "Virginijus Sinkevičius". Lietuvos Respublikos ekonomikos ir inovacijų ministerija (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 16 September 2019.
- ^ Saulius Jakučionis (22 August 2019). "Lithuanian parliament approves nomination of Economy Minister Sinkevičius to European Commission". Lithuanian National Radio and Television.
- ^ David M. Herszenhorn (7 August 2019), Lithuania puts forward economy minister for European Commission Politico Europe.
- ^ Eline Schaart and Louise Guillot (1 December 2020), Honeymoon’s almost over for EU’s green guardian Politico Europe.
- ^ Kate Abnett and Francesco Guarascio (22 June 2022), EU seeks to halve use of pesticides, heal nature with landmark laws Reuters.
- ^ "Statement on the resignation of Commissioner Vălean and Commissioner Sinkevičius from the Commission". European Commission. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Greens/EFA Group elects bureau Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), press release of 25 June 2024.
- ^ "2024 m. spalio 13 d. Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo rinkimai (I turas)" (in Lithuanian). Central Election Commission. 2024.
- ^ a b Vaišvilaitė-Braziulienė, Justina. "MP-elect Sinkevičius chooses job in EU Parliament due to coalition deal". Delfi.lt.
- ^ "4 išrinkti parlamentarai atsisako Seimo nario mandato - Verslo žinios". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian).
External links
edit- Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commission