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
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