Kristalina Georgieva

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's new cabinet, at its first meeting on Wednesday, nominated Mariya Gabriel, an MEP from the centre-right European People's Party, for the post of EU Commissioner.

Borissov's office said he had informed the President of the European Commission about the decision.

After the end of the first sitting of the new government of Bulgaria, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva announced that the Bulgarian nomination for European commissioner is Maria Gabriel, BNR reported.

To become commissioner, Maria Gabriel, who has been EPP MEP since 2007, will undergo a European Parliament hearing.

On the main square "Grand Place" in Brussels a traditional Bulgarian round dance is going to be curved today, according to BNR.

It is expected many compatriots living in the heart of Europe and lovers of the Bulgarian folkore from other countries to participate. The round dance is a part of the festival "Balkan traffic" in Brussels.

The World Bank's newly appointed chief executive gave a spirited defense of globalization during her first official visit to China, saying it had helped richer and poorer countries, and economic integration made it hard for any nation to walk away.

The caretaker government of Bulgaria will not engage in a nomination of a European Commissioner before the election, Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov has said.

At a briefing, he has made it clear he does not rule out a situation in which his cabinet has to remain in office for a longer time after the vote due on March 26.

Since January 01, Bulgaria has not been represented by its own Commissioner in the European Union's executive body, becoming the first member state with offering no successor to a departing commissioner.

Kristalina Georgieva, who was the Commission's Vice President for Budget and Human Resources, left the office as of January 01 to take over a CEO job at the World Bank Group.

BSP has accused the leader of GERB and outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borisov of yet another national betrayal because of decisions related to the UN.

The European Commission has approved EUR 10 M for the repair of the infrastructure of Hitrino after the explosion.

The money will be transferred in a target manner for this municipality alone, announced outgoing Agriculture Minister Desislava Taneva after a conversation with European Budget Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva in Brussels.

The budget of the European Union for 2017 entered into force after the European Parliament approved it with a majority of 438 votes.

This budget carries two messages, stated during the debates the Chairman of the Budget Parliamentary Commission from the French right-wing Jean Arthuis.

Outgoing EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva earlier this year negotiated changes in the way the union funds the World Bank, "her former and future employer," Politico argues.

A new arrangement with the World Bank "is raising alarm bells at the Commission and the European Parliament about a potential conflict of interest," according to a piece published on Wednesday.