2001-04, Minister of Finance; 2004, appointed EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget; 2009, elected President of the Republic of Lithuania. 2014, first President to be re-elected for a second term. Elected Commissioner of the Year for efforts to reform the EU budget (November 2005). International Charlemagne Prize for Lithuania's contribution to uniting the European Union and building the economic stability of the whole Europe (2013). Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, Georgetown University, USA.