Dutch MEP: Bulgaria’s New EU Commissioner Knows Her Stuff

Bulgaria’s new EU Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, has a very good knowledge of her portfolio on humanitarian aid, Greens MP Judith Sargentini told Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency).

“Mrs. Jeleva did not know much about humanitarian affairs. In contrast, Mrs. Georgieva knows her subject very well. And she has an open heart and mind,” Sargentini stated when asked to compare Wednesday’s performance of Kristalina Georgieva to that that of ex Bulgarian EU Commissioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva who withdrew after her troubled EP hearing on January 12, 2010.

Sargentini was one of the MEPs who asked Georgieva to define her portfolio – which is formally termed “Commissioner of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Response.”

The Dutch MEP said she was satisfied with Georgieva’s answer but pointed out that her exact responsibilities would have to be worked out with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Baroness Ashton and EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

“I never saw it as a Bulgarian issue, it was an issue of Mrs. Jeleva,” Sargentini commented when asked if Georgieva’s performance has managed to repair Bulgaria’s image damaged during the problematic Jeleva affair.

“There were some issues on which Mrs. Georgieva said she did not know and would come back to, but that is only fair,” Dutch MEP Sargentini said.

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