New Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

Bulgaria`s new Commissioner-designate.

 On 19 January 2010, Rumiana Jeleva, the Bulgarian Commissioner-designate, officially resigned from all political responsibilities. This came after allegations of wrongdoing and a conflict of interest during her parliamentary hearing.

In a press release, the European Commission announced that Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian World Bank official, had been nominated as the new Bulgarian Commissioner-designate.  European Commission President José Manuel Barroso met with Jeleva`s replacement in Brussels on 21 January. Mr. Barroso commended Ms. Georgieva for her significant international experience which would be beneficial to her work as Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

Kristalina Georgieva, is currently a vice-president at the World Bank. Georgieva commented on her new position saying: "I was very lucky, because my portfolio relates to a field where I feel the best prepared. In the World Bank we deal a lot with humanitarian assistance, and we work closely with organisations which provide such assistance, like the UN, the International Red Cross. I have worked in conflict zones, and, frankly speaking, I feel best prepared for this field of activity, rather than any another Commission portfolio." 

One of the goals of meeting with President Barroso was to settle on the terms of her becoming Comissioner, as she is still an employee of the World Bank. "I am sure that a solution can be found so that both obligations under the World Bank [for phasing-out] and the Commission [for phasing-in] will be respected," Georgieva said. 

The European Parliament’s development committee is expected to question Georgieva on 3 February. If confirmed, the entire Commission would be voted upon on 9 February in Strasbourg. 

For Further Information

For Ms. Georgieva`s biography please click here.

Statement of President Barroso on the resignation of Ms. Jeleva

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