Bulgaria Ex Commissioner to Head European Think-Tank Board

Upon expiration of her Commissioner's term, Meglena Kuneva was first tipped to be the next head of the Commission's in-house think-tank, the Bureau of European Policy Advisers, but was later reported to have been denied the appointment. Photo by BGNES

Meglena Kuneva, the former European Commissioner for Consumer Protection has been appointed as Chair of the Governing Board of the European Policy Center, an independent, not-for-profit think tank committed to European integration.

She takes over this key role in EPC governance from Antonio Vitorino, also a former Commissioner.

"I am very pleased to be handing over the leadership of the EPC Board to Meglena. She has vision, tenacity and a strong desire to help the EPC fulfil its mission of making European integration work," said Antonio Vitorino.

Peter Sutherland, Chair of the EPC's General Assembly, also stressed the contribution Kuneva will make to consolidating and strengthening the EPC's position as a leading Brussels think tank.

"Meglena knows how Brussels works. She has been a very distinguished player in the European process as a Commissioner, Bulgaria's Minister for European Affairs, and negotiator of its terms of accession. I am delighted that she has agreed to put this experience at the service of the EPC."

Kuneva, who was EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection during the first "Barroso", became known for her strong critics of the European banks and the fees they impose on customers, but was also praised for her effectiveness, and particularly for her focus on online protection and revising consumer law.

Upon expiration of her Commissioner's term, Meglena Kuneva was first tipped to be the next head of the Commission's in-house think-tank, the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA), but was later reported to have been denied the appointment.

Sources in Berlin, close to the German Chancellery and in the European Parliament in Brussels, said that the request of Kuneva was vetoed by Germany, as an expression of political and personal support to new Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

In April Kuneva, was appointed a political advisor of Vice President of EC, Siim Kalas. At the end of June the European Commission approved her appointment as a member of the Board of Directors of France's banking group BNP Paribas.

Kuneva has also been rumored to be a likely runner for Bulgaria's President in the next elections, but she has said in several interviews that it is too early for her to think about this opportunity.

Borisov refused to nominate her for a second term as EU Commissioner because she is member of the party of former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP), which was part of the previous coalition cabinet.

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