Iliana Naidenova Ivanova (Bulgarian: Илиана Найденова Иванова; born 14 September 1975) is a Bulgarian economist who has been serving as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth since 2023. She previously was a member of the European Court of Auditors between 2013 and 2023.

Iliana Ivanova
Илиана Иванова
Ivanova in 2023
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Assumed office
19 September 2023
PresidentUrsula von der Leyen
Preceded byMargaritis Schinas (Acting)
Mariya Gabriel
Member of the European Court of Auditors
In office
1 January 2013 – 19 September 2023
Preceded byNadeida Sandolova
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the European Parliament
for Bulgaria
In office
14 July 2009 – 31 December 2012
Preceded byNickolay Mladenov
Succeeded byPreslav Borissov
Personal details
Born (1975-09-14) 14 September 1975 (age 49)
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Political partyCitizens for European
Development
Other political
affiliations
European People's Party
EducationUniversity of Economics,
Varna
(BA, MA)
Arizona State University,
Phoenix
(MBA)

Early life and education

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Ivanova graduated from foreign language high school Romain Rolland[1][failed verification] in her hometown where she studied French and English. In 1998 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations from the Economic University in Varna.[2][failed verification] In 2004 Ivanova defended her master’s thesis in International Finance at the Thunderbird School of Global Management,[3][failed verification] Arizona.

Early career

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Ivanova worked as a coordinator for relations to international financial institutions at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.[4][failed verification]

Member of the European Parliament

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From 2009 to 2012, Ivanova was a Member of the European Parliament. During that period, she served as Vice-chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control, Vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Economic, Financial and Social crisis, member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and as substitute member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. In addition to her committee assignments, she was one of the vice-chairs of the parliament's delegation to China.[5]

Life after politics

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As of the end of 2012, Ivanova has ceased all her political activities and affiliations. Since 1 January 2013 Ivanova has been serving as a Member of the European Court of Auditors. Ivanova was rapporteur for 27 audit reports, including topics such as regional development, cohesion, the Youth Unemployment Initiative and the Youth Guarantee, the European Digital Agenda and innovations, digital skills, education, as well as the instruments for the initial EU response to the COVID-19 crisis.[6][failed verification] She was elected Dean of Chamber II, responsible for auditing structural policies, transport, for three consecutive mandates.[7][failed verification] Since November 2022, she has been serving as Chair of the Audit quality control committee, with particular responsibility to oversee quality control of all RRF tasks across the ECA.[citation needed]

In June 2023, the government of Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov nominated both Ivanova and Daniel Lorer as potential successors to Mariya Gabriel as European Commissioner from Bulgaria. On 28 June 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to appoint Ivanova to the post of Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "ГПЧЕ - Начало". Archived from the original on 2011-08-29. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  2. ^ "University of Economics – Varna". www.ue-varna.bg.
  3. ^ "Welcome". Thunderbird School of Global Management.
  4. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  5. ^ Iliana Ivanova European Parliament.
  6. ^ "Home | EUROPEAN COURT OF AUDITORS". www.eca.europa.eu.
  7. ^ Dave Keating (April 9, 2014), EU public transport funds not delivering, warn auditors Politico Europe.
  8. ^ Antoaneta Roussi (21 June 2023), Bulgaria offers EU two candidates for vacant commissioner post Politico Europe.
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Political offices
Preceded by Bulgarian European Commissioner
2023–present
Incumbent
Preceded by European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
2023–present