Designated Commissioner for Consumer Protection

Publication date: 26 October 2006

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, today presented the designated member of the European Commission proposed by the Bulgarian Government, in agreement with him. The nomination is Ms Meglena Kuneva, the current Bulgarian Minister for European Affairs. Ms Kuneva will be responsible for consumer protection.

"I am delighted to welcome among us" said President Barroso, "the Bulgarian Commissioner designate. From next January, the European Union of 27 will become a reality and that reality will be reflected in the composition of the Commission. I am convinced that Ms Kuneva has the professional and political qualities, as well as the personal commitment and necessary experience to accomplish all the tasks which I am proposing to make her responsible for."

The Bulgarian Commissioner designate along with the Romanian Commissioner – yet to be designated - will attend hearings at the end of November in the European Parliament, which will give its opinion on the nomination in the following weeks. The hearings before the Parliament will take place according to the procedure adopted in 2004 during the formation of the Barroso Commission.

The consultations for the designation of the Romanian Commissioner are still ongoing.