Brussels, 30/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Polish government has officially announced that it has selected Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski as official candidate to replace Catherine Ashton as EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and has already suggested his appointment to his opposite numbers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Sikorski has gained influence since the start of the Ukrainian crisis and appears the natural candidate to succeed Ashton. Polish media say the 51-year-old Sikorski has been criticised for management of the crisis with Moscow. Tusk is reported by Polish media as saying that Poland would otherwise be interested in having the post of energy commissioner or competition commissioner. (SP)