Von der Leyen chooses ‘woman from EPP’ as Bulgarian commissioner

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has chosen a woman from her own political force, the EPP, to replace Mariya Gabriel until the end of the college term in late 2024.

Iliana Ivanova, a member of the European Court of Auditors who belongs to Boyko Borissov’s political force, EPP-affiliated GERB, is von der Leyen’s choice. The Commission chief had asked two candidates from whom to choose to replace Gabriel, who left Brussels to help form a government in Bulgaria after a protracted political crisis. Gabriel now has the post of foreign minister.

The unlucky candidate is Daniel Laurer, who is one of the leaders of the reformist party ‘We Continue the Change’, a political force still without European political affiliation, although contacts with ALDE-Renew have been established.

Ivanova will inherit the portfolio of Gabriel, namely Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. In theory, von der Leyen could have assigned another portfolio to the newcomer to the college. Assigning the same portfolio, seen as important and prestigious, is seen as a “prize’ for the nomination of such a suitable candidate.

Ivanova is a former MEP, vice-chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control and vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Economic, Financial and Social Crisis. She holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Relations from the University of Economics in Varna and an MBA from Thunderbird University in Arizona.

The experience of EU institutions, which Laurer doesn’t have, has also probably weighed for Von der Leyen’s decision.

“Ms Ivanova has significant experience on EU matters, having been a member of the European Court of Auditors since 2013. Prior to that, she was a member of the European Parliament between 2009 and 2012 and a vice chair of the Committee on budgetary control”, von der Leyen stated.

According to the Commission chief, Ivanova’s experience is “crucial in carrying forward the implementation of the EU’s flagship research programme, Horizon Europe, to enhance the performance of EU’s research spending and achieve a better impact on the ground”.

Reportedly, von der Leyen interviewed both candidates before making her decision.

The next step before Ivanova takes office is her hearing in Parliament. The Committees responsible for the hearing are ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) and CULT (Culture and Education). After the hearing the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote based on this evaluation.

The timing of this process is in the hands of the European Parliament.