Tsvetelina Penkova

Bulgarian MEPs have made significant gains in the leadership of several European Parliament committees. Tsvetelina Penkova, representing the Socialists, has been elected as the first vice-chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy. This marks Penkova's return to the role, having previously served on the same committee before the elections on June 9.

Following the 2-in-1 elections in Bulgaria, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has finalized the mandates for the European Parliament. Notably, Rosen Zhelyazkov from GERB and Jevdet Chakarov and Iskra Mihailova from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) declined their positions as MEPs.

The Bulgarian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) adopted a decision distributing the mandates from the European Parliament vote among the participating parties. GERB will be represented by five MEPs, while the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), and "Revival" each send three deputies to the European Parliament.

Today, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. Against this background, the Romanian MEP from the European People's Party, Eugene Tomac, requested that the European Parliament file a case against the European Council before the Court of Justice of the EU for not allowing Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen.

MEP from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Tsvetelina Penkova stated that if the EU wants to ensure a balanced and safe electricity system, it needs nuclear energy.

"It is clear that renewable energy is the cheapest, but it is also the most uncertain and difficult and expensive to store," she told the Strasbourg plenary during a debate on energy storage.

Late last night, the names of all 17 new MEPs became clear. The CEC officially announced the results of Sunday's European elections. Thus, 5 Bulgarian parties and coalitions will have their representatives in the new European Parliament. These are GERB, BSP, DPS (MRF), VMRO (IMRO) and Democratic Bulgaria.