Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Professional experience

1. Please list your professional experience in public finance be it in budgetary planning, budget implementation or management or budget control or auditing.

I have over 22 years of professional experience taking up different positions in the public and private sector related to financial management, auditing and reporting. I have served the European Union since 2009, with a focus on budgetary management from legislative, executive and budgetary control perspective. From the very start of my career, I was dedicated to matters of financial management, auditing and reporting.

Initially, at national level, I spent 3 years as the lead expert in charge of international financial institutions at the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food. I was Coordinator for international financial institutions since 1999 and my key responsibilities included managing the relations between the Ministry and the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the EBRD.

After completing with Honors a second master’s degree in international management and finance in Thunderbird School of Global Management (Arizona State University), Phoenix, AZ, USA, I continued my professional career in the private sector as investment and business analyst in various financial and banking institutions in the USA.

My strong involvement in budgetary control matters continued when I became member of the European Parliament (EP) in 2009, full member and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budgetary control (CONT). I worked as rapporteur on a number of dossiers in CONT: 2010 European Investment Bank (EIB) annual report, Regulation on Hercule III Programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the European Union’s financial interests, Regulation on the financing, management and monitoring of the Common Agricultural Policy, Opinion on innovative financial instruments in the context of the next multiannual financial framework, Study on the liability of the European Union budget concerning the EFSM and the ESM and interference on budget control by the European Parliament, Working document on Special Report 11/2009 of the ECA on the sustainability and the Commission’s management of the LIFE-Nature projects, Study on pre-accession financing for Bulgaria and Romania: What lessons can be learned for future enlargements. In addition, I was involved in the annual discharge procedure process as shadow rapporteur. (Commission 2009, European Parliament 2010, ECA reports for 2010 Commission Discharge).

In 2013, I was appointed as Member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA). Upon my arrival, I joined Chamber II, where I served from 2013 to 2022. During this period, I was rapporteur for 13 special reports, 4 reviews and 3 opinions. In addition to these publications, I was also reporting Member for the Chapter on employment and social affairs of the ECA’s annual report for three years (2012-2014), the Chapter on Cohesion and social inclusion for two years (2015-2016), as well as for the follow up of two Chamber II special reports within the follow up exercise of the 2012 Annual Report. All together I was responsible for 27 ECA assignments. From 2016 until 2022 I was elected 3 consecutive terms Dean of Chamber II, responsible for the overall coordination of the audit tasks in the field of regional, social and cohesion policy.

As of 2022 I became Chair of the ECA’s Audit Quality Control Committee and Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

In 2023, I was nominated by the Bulgarian government as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Over this past year I have constantly strived for the policies under my portfolio to deliver value for money, incorporating my significant experience from budgetary control perspective.

2. What have been your most significant achievements in your professional career?

My first most important professional achievement was to put in place prudent and credible practices related to the process of monitoring and reporting on large restructuring loans for the public sector in Bulgaria. Within my responsibilities at the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, I took part in the preparation, negotiations and completion of one of the most significant projects to support the country’s Balance of payments - the 50 million USD agricultural sector adjustment loan ASAL II. The project aimed at supporting major reforms in the Bulgarian agricultural sector. At a time when Bulgarian ministries were still building strong administrative capacity, the importance of such projects went way beyond the financial management of an adjustment loan. The purpose of these instruments was to implement the necessary fundamental reforms that made it possible for Bulgaria to join the EU and be prepared to manage European funds. The project was completed successfully and contributed to improving the competitiveness of the Bulgarian agricultural sector.

As a Member of the European Parliament, I would point out the successful adoption of my report for the EIB activities in 2010. The report stressed on the crucial role of the EIB as the “European” bank expected to be one of the significant instruments to help Europe come out of the financial, economic and social crisis. Recommendations pointed out to important aspects of EIB’s activities aimed at improving transparency and efficiency of funding for SMEs through establishment of clear performance indicators, strengthening the control mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of external lending and the specific and important role of financial instruments that need to be better measured through the establishment of relevant benchmarks and further explained to the European taxpayers.

As a Member of the European Court of Auditors, I was rapporteur for numerous ECA publications, but I would highlight in particular the series of reports that we published under my leadership on youth unemployment and the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, this work has had a significant impact on policy makers in the field and delivered tangible results that improved the design and reporting arrangements for the proposed actions; as well as two special reports on SURE and CRII/CRII+/REACT EU, which examined the EU’s initial reaction following the COVID-19 pandemic break-out in March 2020.

Following my appointment as Chair of the ECA’s Audit Quality Control Committee, I took on the responsibility for the Court’s overall audit methodology and the quality control review of all documents related to the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This is particularly important, as selecting relevant audit topics is prerequisite for producing a good special report, but it is equally important to deliver unambiguous messages and clear recommendations, fully in line with the international auditing standards.

I am proud and grateful for being elected three times Dean of Chamber II where thanks to the great work of many different colleagues and the hard work of our staff, a number of excellent special reports, opinions and reviews have been produced, along with the significant contributions to the relevant chapters for the Annual report.

My most recent achievement is being appointed European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. I embarked on this role for the remaining last year of the Commission term, and I put as my primary objective to be the guardian of efficient investments in all areas, related to my portfolio. During this short period, I undertook several measures related to simplification, streamlining of processes and oversaw the important evaluations of the programs that will help to prepare better for the ones to follow.

3. What has been your professional experience of international multicultural and multilinguistic organisations or institutions based outside your home country?

Throughout my whole professional career, I have had significant exposure to international and multicultural environments.

For example, as Coordinator for the international financial institutions for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Bulgaria from 1999 to 2002, I was the lead expert for the relationship with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the EBRD, as well as for the bilateral relations with several Member States of the EU.

Being Member of the European Parliament from 2009-2013, I was also Vice-chair of the EU-China Delegation. This experience broadened further my multicultural exposure.

As a Member of the European Court of Auditors for the period 2013-2023 I have led many multi-national and multi-cultural teams, especially with my latest assignment as Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, I had the pleasure and honour to represent the ECA at the 24th INTOSAI congress where supreme audit institutions (SAIs) from the whole world meet and discuss how to tackle the common challenges we face, related to improving the control over public finances. We engaged with Presidents of the SAIs worldwide in adopting the Strategic Development Plan for the INTOSAI Framework of Professional Pronouncements.

As European Commissioner 2023-2024, I had the honour to the represent the Commission in many High-level dialogues with partners from the whole world, including G-7 ministerial meetings. I led a significant number of successful discussions and negotiations related to the association for Horizon Europe Program with many international partners such as the UK, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea and others.

4. Have you been granted discharge for the management duties you carried out previously, if such a procedure applies?

Yes, I have been granted discharge as European Commissioner by the European Parliament within the 2022 Discharge procedure.

5. Which of your previous professional positions were a result of a political nomination?

My nomination as European Commissioner was made by the Bulgarian Government in 2023 in accordance with the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

Before this, I have also been nominated by the Bulgarian Government as Member of the ECA in accordance with the TFEU.

I was elected Member of the European Parliament in 2009. (2009-2012)

Since 2013, I am not a member, and I do not hold a function in any political party. I have kept the highest standards of professionalism, independence and integrity while exercising all my duties.

6. What are the three most important decisions to which you have been party in your professional life?

 As European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth I am proud to have expanded the openness of Horizon Europe program to new international partners. The association to one of the most prestigious public funding programs for research and innovation in the world brings a win-win for excellence in research where joint efforts can meet better the common challenges before our societies. This decision to open up for new partners has triggered additional interest from other like-minded countries and today we have 19 associated partners and participants to Horizon Europe such as individual researchers, universities or consortia from almost 180 countries.

 As Member of the ECA, as well as Member of its Administrative Committee, I have taken part in many important decisions related to the leading of special reports, the management and functioning of Chamber II and actively engaged in Court activities. Some of the most important decisions in which I was involved were related to the COVID response legislation and the emergency with which all institutions had to react in order to provide quickly adequate response to the crisis. I led a few audit tasks that were done in extremely tight deadlines but provided useful analysis on the legislation adopted and raised early warnings about potential red flags for the future. These were the ECA Opinion 3/2020 on specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the ESIF in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; ECA Opinion 4/2020 on CRII+/REACT-EU.

 Another important flagship decision during my time in the ECA was the leadership of series of reports on Youth unemployment. This topic is close to my heart as our youth are the future of Europe. We established a holistic plan for a series of audit reports relating to the different EU instruments aimed at helping EU youth employment. Thanks to our recommendations, actions were taken to improve the definition of “good quality” offer for young people that were not in employment, education, or training. To maximise the effects of our audit conclusions and recommendations, I have initiated several high-level events on the topic to raise awareness and discuss with key stakeholders at EU and national level on how to make these instruments a success story (ECA Conference in the European Parliament “Youth employment - Confronting challenges and finding solutions”, Joint ECA-Bulgarian National Audit Office round table on youth employment). I also joined the Members of the CONT Committee during their fact-finding visit to Italy on the topic of youth employment schemes.

Independence

7. The Treaty stipulates that the Members of the Court of Auditors must be ‘completely independent’ in the performance of their duties. How would you act on this obligation in the discharge of your prospective duties?

Being independent from any influence that might compromise the Court’s professional judgement is one of the core values of the ECA. If approved as a Member of the Court, I will continue to serve the European Union in an unbiased and impartial manner.

Throughout my 10 years as a Member of the ECA, and in all my other functions, I believe I have proven not only in words but also in action that I have always been guided in my work by the best interest of the European taxpayers. I also always exercised my work with integrity, professional judgment and independently from any external influences, following the professional auditing standards and the principles set out in the Lima and Mexico declarations.

With regards to my last role as European commissioner, I will make sure that if approved by the EP, I do not engage in any audit activity or Chamber related to the portfolio I was responsible for.

8. Do you or your close relatives (parents, brothers and sisters, legal partner and children) have any business or financial holdings or any other commitments, which might conflict with your prospective duties?

No.

9. Are you prepared to disclose all your financial interests and other commitments to the President of the Court and to make them public?

Yes. My financial interests and commitments have been public since 2009 and I will disclose them also in the future, as required by Article 14 of the Code of Conduct for the Members and former Members of the Court.

10. Are you involved in any current legal proceedings? If so, please provide us with details.

No.

11. Do you have any active or executive role in politics, if so at what level? Have you held any political position during the last 18 months? If so, please provide us with details.

I was appointed as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth in September 2023. This role will be terminated before the end of 2024. I do not hold any political party membership or function.

12. Will you step down from any elected office or give up any active function with responsibilities in a political party if you are appointed as a Member of the Court?

Since 2013 I have not been member of any political party. My role as European Commissioner will end before the end of 2024.

13. How would you deal with a major irregularity or even fraud and/or corruption case involving persons in your Member State of origin?

The Treaty of the functioning of the European Union Article 285 stipulates that the Members of the ECA shall be completely independent in the performance of their duties. I see the impartiality in the decision-making processes as indispensable for the exercise of Members’ duties. I would follow the rules provided for such type of cases in the ECA procedures no matter in which country an irregularity, fraud, or corruption case had occurred.

I would react in accordance with Article 2 of Decision 99-2004 of the ECA by communicating without delay the information to the Member responsible, and to OLAF, or to EPPO, depending on the nature of the case, related to the jurisdictions of OLAF or EPPO.

I see the role of the Court as the guardian and defender of the interests of all EU taxpayers. The Treaty obligations in Article 287 of TFEU clearly state that all revenue and expenditure of all accounts should be examined for legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, and checks should be made whether financial management has been sound.

In all my previous work I have adhered to and applied these principles and if confirmed, I intend to continue to do so. I would treat any Member State the same way when suspected of fraud or any other illegal activity, and any different approach would be unacceptable for me.

Performance of duties

14. What should be the main features of a sound financial management culture in any public service? How could the ECA help to enforce it?

The many crises which the European Union has faced over the past 15 years proved that the sound financial management at national and EU level is of utmost importance for the good functioning of public services. In times when public trust in institutions is weakening, it is even more relevant to ensure transparency and accountability for the European taxpayer.

The Financial Regulation sets three principles for a sound financial management, the 3Es – economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Article 33 from the Regulation stipulates that “economy” means that the resources used for an activity shall be made available “in due time, in appropriate quantity and quality and at the best price”. The principle of “efficiency” establishes the best possible ratio between the resources used for the results achieved. The “effectiveness” ensures the achievement of the set objectives and results.

To adhere to these principles, I believe it is important to consider proper planning and budgeting, followed by transparency in reporting, developing robust auditing processes and accountability, involving adequate management of revenues and costs, and identifying the potential risks that could hamper the outputs and results.

The ECA has invested many resources and ideas into improving the quality, relevance and timeliness of its special reports in the past years. Of course, processes can always be further refined to bring more added value. I believe the ECA can and should contribute to fostering the sound financial management culture by continuing its strive to deliver special reports that address critical areas of EU spending, targeting carefully the scope, keeping the 13 month deadline for publication and providing clear and relevant recommendations, such that can be easily measurable and followed up.