Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev looks forward to submission of nominations for European Commissioner by parliamentary groups within two days

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev looks forward to submission of nominations for European Commissioner by parliamentary groups within two days

27.08.2024

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev sent a letter to the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups in the 50^th National Assembly regarding nominations for a member of the European Commission from the Republic of Bulgaria. My first act after I was approved to serve a second term in office, as head of a caretaker government, is to appeal to you to pronounce on the two Bulgarian nominations for a member of the next European Commission. I believe that the decision should be taken after consultations with the supreme authority in the State, Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev pointed out in his letter. As the closing date for the putting of the nominations approaches, the Prime Minister expects that the parliamentary groups will put them by 29 August 2024. I am confident that with joint efforts we will be able to nominate the most honorable individuals for the position of European Commissioner from the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Glavchev noted further.

In his letter, Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev recalls the process that started last July to constitute the new European Commission. President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen makes the selection and proposes to the EU Council the members of the Commission on the basis of the nominations of the EU member states and after an appropriate interview with the nominees. Thereby, Bulgaria was asked to put two nominations for a member of the European Commission (preferably of a man and a woman) while if Bulgaria decides to nominate the present Commissioner, there will be no need for two nominations. The deadline for the placement of nominations is 30 August 2024.

The Bulgarian member of the European Commission is a projection of the long-term national priorities and policies at the European level, Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev notes further in his letter. It is up to a regular government as elected by the National Assembly to set the strategic goals of the State and their achievement. However, at this moment Bulgaria finds itself in an unprecedented situation where the Executive is in the hands of a caretaker government that is appointed by a presidential decree, with short-term goals and tasks that are operationally intended to ensure the continuity of the exercise of power and to hold elections. In line with the established procedure, the nomination of a member of the European Commission is to be approved by an act of the Council of Ministers, regardless of whether it is a regular or a caretaker government.