Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov

Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov
Bulgarian Permanent Representation to the European Union

Ambassador Rumen ALEXANDROV is the Permanent Representative to the EU. He has overall responsibility for the work of the Representation and participates in the weekly meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representative (COREPER II). COREPER II discusses mainly political issues related to budget and finance, cohesion policy, justice and home affairs, external relations and institutional affairs of the EU.

The Permanent Representation is the biggest diplomatic mission of the Republic of Bulgaria. Its structure differs from the one of a traditional diplomatic mission as experts from all Bulgarian ministries are part of the Permanent Representation’s team. The diplomats in the Permanent Representation ensure that the Bulgarian positions are presented and defended in the EU institutions.

The specific structure of the Permanent Representation is determined by the unique supranational character of the European Union and its decision making process. EU policies and legislation are prepared in three distinct formats:

Counsellor Ivanka TASHEVA is the Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU and participates in the weekly meetings of the Committee of Deputy Permanent Representatives (COREPER I). COREPER I discusses issues related to social policy, economics, energy, environment, agriculture and fisheries, health, education and culture.

Counsellor Asya TSVETANOVA represents Bulgaria in the weekly meetings of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) that deals with issues related to common foreign and security policy of the EU.

Permanent Representation

All diplomats at the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria are responsible for participating in the negations on the EU policies and legislation in the country’s best interests. They ensure that Bulgaria voice is heard when EU laws and decisions are adopted. The diplomats participate on a daily basis in working groups at the Council of the European Union, together with their colleagues from the other Member States.

Bulgaria is represented at all levels of the decision-making process – the European Council, Council of Ministers, COREPER II and I, PSC and various working groups and parties.

At the highest level of the decision making process is the European Council, where Bulgaria is represented by the Prime Minister.

Depending on the topic, Bulgarian ministers participate in the different formats of the Council of the EU. The Council is one of the main legislative bodies that participate in the EU decision making process. All EU issues, from foreign policy to agriculture and fisheries, are discussed and agreed in the Council. The other legislative body is the European Parliament where Bulgaria is represented by 17 elected members.

EU works in “the spirit of compromise”. As a rule, the President of the Council meetings aims for everyone’s agreement in the negation processes on a certain piece of legislation and rarely calls a vote. Depending on the issue under discussion, the Council of the EU could take a decision by simple majority, qualified majority or unanimous vote.  On particularly sensitive issues the decisions are taken by unanimous vote, while more and more issues tend to be decided by a qualified majority. The collegial spirit of the decision-making process in the Council of the EU requires that Member States show an understanding for each other’s concerns.

Biography

• Born on 18th February 1975
• Professional experience
• September 2021 – Permanent representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU, Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium
• May 2021 – September 2021 -Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
• January 2021 – May 2021 – Director-General for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• December 2016 –December 2020 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• August 2014 – November 2016 – Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs
• August 2012 – August 2014 – Director of the European Union Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• September 2008 – July 2012 – 1st Secretary and Counselor Antici at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union.
• January 2006 – September 2008 – Chief of Division at the European Union Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In charge of political and institutional affairs, enlargement policy and CVM.
• December 2002 – January 2006 – 3rd secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Rome.
• December 1999 – December 2002 – Attaché, expert at the European Integration Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In charge of coordination of the negotiations of the Bulgaria’s accession to the EU under Chapter 2 – Free movement of persons, and Chapter 24 – Co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs.

Educational background

Sofia University “St.Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Law, Master`s degree in International Relations.