Stockholm  - The Finnish government Thursday nominated current European Union enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn as a candidate for the next European Commission.

Citing the "uncompleted ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty," the government noted it was not clear when the next European Commission would be formed or under which treaty it would operate.

Rehn last month said he was interested to take up a post in the next EU executive in Brussels if asked to do so by his government and if he had the confidence of the European Parliament.

As enlargement commissioner, Rehn is in charge of overseeing talks with candidate countries hoping to join the 27-nation bloc. Countries knocking on the door include Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia.  dpa