On Wednesday the composition of the new European Commission was announced and it made quite an impression in Bulgaria. Bulgarian commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who has so far been responsible for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response, will be in charge as of November 1 of the Budget and Human Resources portfolio. This way expectations in Sofia for more substantial Bulgarian positions in the new EC became true and were even surpassed.
After the hopes that Georgieva would be nominated for the position of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy were not justified, she was entrusted with the extremely important portfolio of ”Budget and Human Resources." The Bulgarian will also be the Vice-President of the European Commission. She is to monitor the work of DGs responsible for budget, human resources, as well as the work of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). She will also monitor the work of services responsible for payments and staff appointing, infrastructure and logistics. Georgieva will also be in charge of the European Personnel Selection Office and the European School of Administration. No Bulgarian has had so many important responsibilities in the EC so far. Unlike other EC vice presidents, Georgieva will deal not only with coordination, but will also be responsible for the development of policies relating to the targeting of the European budget. As a European Commissioner responsible for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response so far Georgieva managed a budget of around 1 billion euros a year. Now she and her team will be responsible for some 140 billion euros a year.
Until now, the responsibility for budget and human resources was shared between three commissioners, while in the new European Commission the task is given to just one commissioner. This makes Kristalina Georgieva one of the most important EC Vice Presidents.
Commissioner Georgieva will be naturally working for the interests of the entire European Union, but her work can also bring specific benefit to Bulgaria. Georgieva will monitor areas that are particularly problematic for this country. Better understanding of the problems of Bulgaria will allow Georgieva to effectively help it overcome them.
The term in office of Kristalina Georgieva coincides with a very important period of preparation of Bulgaria for its forthcoming EU presidency in 2018. This fact may actually facilitate preparation for the upcoming presidency.
But one more Bulgarian also rose in the hierarchy of the EC – this is Mina Andreeva. So far she has been a spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental Rights Viviane Reding. Now Andreeva will be one of the three main spokespersons of the new European Commission.
The new positions of Bulgarians in the European Comission give rise to expectations for increasing Bulgaria’s authority in Brussels. We are yet to see how this country will use the opportunities. The new EC starts work on November 1.
English: Alexander Markov
"We need unity and togetherness. For us, Bulgaria is our family, it is our home" - Zdravka Vladova-Momcheva, a Bulgarian living in Britain, told Radio Bulgaria. Ten days ago she was in Sofia to receive another award from the Executive Agency for..
Bulgarians go to the polls today to elect 240 members of the 51st National Assembly. Nineteen parties and nine coalitions are registered to take part in the elections. A total of 4 858 candidates - 3 480 men and 1 378 women - are vying for a seat in..
Today, 26 October, has been declared a day of election silence in Bulgaria ahead of the snap elections for the 51st National Assembly. On this day, voters can reflect and decide how to vote. Since April 2021, this is the seventh early parliamentary..
The support for the nomination of Atanas Atanasov for National Assembly Speaker is linked to support for Boyko Borissov as a candidate for prime..
Mostly Cloudy
Scattered showers
Cloudy
Cloudy