In brief
On 29 and 30 October 2026, EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin visited Sofia to meet with Bulgarian officials, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister Galab Donev, and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, to discuss the next multi‑annual financial framework. He opened a conference on budget priorities, met with municipal leaders, and toured science and satellite facilities that receive EU funding. The visits are part of his broader European tour to refine EU funding procedures and reduce administrative burdens.
Sofia, Bulgaria – European Commissioner for Budget Piotr Serafin arrived on Thursday, October 29, 2026, to meet Bulgarian leaders about the upcoming EU multi‑annual financial framework.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev welcomed the commissioner and noted that the meeting would help align Bulgaria’s national priorities with those set by the European Commission.
Piotr Serafin opened a conference titled The Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Priorities and Principles in the city’s main conference hall; the event was jointly organized by the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the Embassy of Poland in Bulgaria and the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
During the first day, Serafin held a discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev about the allocation of EU funds to national projects.
The Commissioner also met with Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, who is responsible for the management of EU funds, to review current distribution mechanisms.
On Friday, he hosted a session with members of the National Association of the Municipalities, exchanging views on how regional and municipal partnership plans will fit into the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Serafin then visited the National STEM Centre within Sofia Tech Park, a hub for science, technology, engineering and mathematics that is managed by the Ministry of Education and Science and co‑funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Following that, the Commissioner toured the laboratory and mission control room of EnduroSat, a satellite manufacturer and space service provider that benefits from EU funding through the European Innovation Council.
At both visits, Serafin was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, indicating the high level of collaboration between Bulgarian authorities and EU officials.
During the broader tour across Europe, Serafin has met with stakeholders from other member states, collecting insights that shape the direction and priorities of the forthcoming 2028–2034 MFF proposal.
A central theme in his discussions has been the urgent need to simplify complex funding procedures, ease administrative burdens and improve transparency.
Stakeholders have emphasized the importance of reducing overlapping regulations and improving legal consistency, making EU funding easier to navigate.
The European Commission representation highlighted this focus on procedural simplification in a press release issued on the day of the visit.
Serafin’s talks in Bulgaria were part of his larger “Tour d’Europe,” a series of visits aimed at consulting member states on the next long‑term budget.
As the Commissioner wrapped up his stay, he announced that the feedback gathered will help align the upcoming MFF with the specific needs of member states, while encouraging greater cooperation across EU‑funded projects.
The visit underscored the European Commission’s commitment to engaging directly with national governments, municipalities and scientific institutions to improve the delivery of EU funds.
Both Bulgaria and the European Commission are now working together to refine the mechanisms that will guide EU investment over the next decade.
