Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone:

Rossen Jeliazkov

Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Rossen Jeliazkov was elected Prime Minister of Bulgaria by the 51st National Assembly in January 2025.

A long-standing Member of Parliament and former Speaker of the National Assembly, he has held several senior roles in government, including Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, and Chairman of the Communications Regulation Commission.

Earlier in his career, he served as Secretary General of the Council of Ministers and Secretary of Sofia Municipality. Mr. Jeliazkov holds a Master’s degree in Law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”

Kristalina Georgieva

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

Kristalina Georgieva has been Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since 2019, beginning her second term in 2024. Under her leadership, the IMF has mobilized unprecedented financial support during global crises, strengthening resilience across member countries and advancing reforms to support sustainable growth and debt management. Previously, she served as CEO and Interim President of the World Bank, and as European Commissioner and Vice-President of the European Commission, overseeing the EU’s budget and humanitarian response. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Ms. Georgieva holds a Ph.D. in Economic Science and an M.A. in Political Economy and Sociology from the University of National and World Economy.

Christine Lagarde

President of the European Central Bank

Christine Lagarde has served as President of the European Central Bank since November 2019. A lawyer by training, she spent two decades with the international law firm Baker McKenzie, becoming its Global Chairman in 1999. She later joined the French government, serving as Minister of Trade and, subsequently, Minister of Finance and Economy—the first woman to hold this post in a G7 country. From 2011 to 2019, she was Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund before assuming her current role.

Paschal Donohoe

President of the Eurogroup, Minister for Finance of Ireland

Paschal Donohoe has served as President of the Eurogroup since 2020, currently in his third term, and as Ireland’s Minister for Finance. Over his career, he has also held ministerial roles in public expenditure, transport, tourism, and European affairs. A member of the Irish Parliament since 2011, Mr. Donohoe has been instrumental in shaping Ireland’s fiscal policy and advancing Eurogroup coordination on economic governance. He holds a degree in Politics and Economics from Trinity College Dublin.

Temenuzhka Petkova

Minister of Finance, Republic of Bulgaria

Temenuzhka Petkova has extensive experience in public finance and auditing, having served as Minister of Finance since 2024. She previously held ministerial posts in energy (2014–2021) and served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament in several National Assemblies. Before entering politics, she worked in the Public Financial Inspection Agency, where she advanced from financial auditor to director. Ms. Petkova holds a Master’s degree in Accountancy and Control from the University of National and World Economy.

Dimitar Radev

Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank

Dimitar Radev has been Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank since 2015 and is currently serving his second term. Before his appointment, he worked at the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs Department and served as Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Finance from 1992 to 2001, contributing to key fiscal and structural reforms. Mr. Radev holds a Master’s degree in Economics with a specialization in Finance and Credit from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and completed a fellowship at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Lilyana Pavlova

Former Vice-President of the European Investment Bank | Former Minister of Regional Development and Public Works

Dr. Lilyana Pavlova is an economist and senior policy leader with over two decades of experience in EU economic policy, infrastructure investment, innovation, and sustainable regional development. She served as Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (2019–2023), where she was responsible for cohesion financing, transport and road safety, digital transformation, innovation-driven investment, and EIB operations in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Turkey, and the Western Balkans. She previously held ministerial roles in Bulgaria, including Minister for Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018 and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works (2011–2013; 2014–2017). A four-term Member of Parliament and former senior official at the Ministry of Finance, she has extensive expertise in the governance of EU funds and public investment. Dr. Pavlova holds a PhD in Economics, a Master’s in Public Administration and European Integration, Bachelor degree in International Economic Relations.

Valdis Dombrovskis

Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, European Commission

Valdis Dombrovskis has served as European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity since 2024. A former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and long-serving Prime Minister of Latvia (2009–2014), he has been a leading advocate for sound fiscal policy, sustainable growth, and better regulation across the EU. Mr. Dombrovskis holds degrees in Physics and Economics from the University of Latvia and Riga University of Technology.

Pierre Gramegna

Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism

Pierre Gramegna has led the European Stability Mechanism since 2022 and also serves as CEO of the European Financial Stability Facility. Previously, he was Minister of Finance of Luxembourg (2013–2022), where he oversaw fiscal consolidation, financial reform, and climate finance initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as Director General of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and held various diplomatic posts, including Ambassador to Japan. Mr. Gramegna holds degrees in Law and Economics from the University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas).