Bulgaria could win regional policy post in new Commission, sources say

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Bulgaria is seeking a regional policy position in the next European Commission and has a chance of achieving this goal, according to multiple sources in Sofia, including the state-run BNT TV station.

Political sources in the Bulgarian parliament confirmed that regional policy will likely go to the next Bulgarian commissioner after Bulgaria initially made requests in energy or transport.

Among the candidates nominated by caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev for the post of commissioner, Ekaterina Zaharieva, the pick of GERB led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, is currently the favorite for the position.

She was nominated by Boyko Borisov’s GERB party, of which she is currently a member, and served as foreign minister in Borisov’s third government (2017-2021).

Over the past 11 years, Zaharieva has held several important political positions, some of which involved regional policy.

Zaharieva served as deputy minister of regional development in Borisov’s first government, then briefly as minister of regional policy, before becoming justice minister in Borisov’s second cabinet from 2015 to 2017 and foreign minister in his third.

“On Wednesday, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev held talks with three candidates for EU commissioner – Ekaterina Zaharieva (GERB), Iskra Mihaylova (MRF) and Velislava Petrova (there is such a person),” the government bulletin said.

Meanwhile, the pro-European center-right alliance “We Continue to Change – Democratic Bulgaria” has nominated Julian Popov as EU Commissioner. He previously served as Minister of Environment and Water Resources in the cabinet of Nikolay Dankov (2023-2024).

The ruling coalition chose Popov because he is recognized in Europe as an expert on climate and energy, with “numerous articles on climate and energy policy published in the Financial Times, Project Syndicate, Euractiv, NS Energy Monitor, The Independent, Al Jazeera, The Huffington Post, among others” – a nomination that may have been in vain, with sources saying Bulgaria is now targeting regional policy posts.

The pro-Russian left-wing BSP has not yet decided whether to nominate former prime minister and former leader of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Sergei Stanishev as its candidate for commissioner.

Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavtchev is expected to formally announce his candidate for European Commission on Friday (August 30).

(Editing by Daniel Eck/Martina Monti)