 Between 2000 and 2001 he was the chief negotiator of Lithuania's accession to the European Union.After the 2008 election, Andrius Kubilius presented Vygaudas Ušackas as candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs to President Valdas Adamkus.On 22 March 2010 he was appointed by Catherine Ashton as the European Union's special envoy for Afghanistan.