About: Ivailo Kalfin
Bulgaria says to block EU accession talks with North Macedonia
Bulgaria plans to voice its opposition on Tuesday (17 November) to starting European Union accession talks with neighbouring Republic of North Macedonia as the two countries have yet to settle disputes over history and language, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
Oettinger wants ‘pact’ between net payers and net recipients
European Commissioner for the Budget Günther Oettinger arrives in Sofia on Friday (27 October), as part of a tour opening the debate on future EU finances.
Commission appoints seven new Special Advisers
The Commission published today (4 April) an updated list of its Special Advisers, which have been appointed from 1 April 2017 until 31 March 2018, featuring seven new names.
Kalfin: Brexit is an opportunity for the future EU budget
The EU budget should become more transparent or other countries will follow the UK’s example. But Brexit also provides an opportunity to get rid of all rebates, which nobody can actually explain, Ivailo Kalfin, member of the Monti group on...
Ansip: No guarantee Bulgaria will get the digital economy portfolio
Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip said today (10 January) he has only temporarily taken the digital economy portfolio from Günther Oettinger, but that there was no guarantee that this portfolio would go to the future Bulgarian commissioner, who is yet to be nominated.
Socialists’ Radev leads Bulgaria presidential race
Bulgaria's Socialist-backed candidate, Rumen Radev, led the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election, partial official results showed early today (7 November), ahead of his main rival from the ruling centre-right GERB party.
Bulgarian presidential elections explained… by one of the candidates
Former MEP Ivailo Kalfin, a familiar face in Brussels where he comes regularly as member of the Monti group of the future EU budget, told EURACTIV about the upcoming presidential elections in Bulgaria on 6 November, where he is one of the 21 candidates.
Bulgarian ruling party nominates woman for president
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov nominated yesterday (2 October) Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, an uncharismatic but faithful ally, as candidate in the 6 November presidential elections.
Borissov loses majority in Parliament after key ally resigns
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov lost his majority in parliament yesterday (10 May) after the resignation of his deputy Ivailo Kalfin, a member of the ABV party which withdrew its backing for the centre-right coalition.
Kalfin: Expect long discussions over revision of Posted Workers directive
Long and lively discussions in between the member states, and between the member states and the European Parliament, are expected in light of the anticipated revision of the Posted Workers Directive, Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, told a small group of journalists in Brussels.
The refugee crisis: Four steps to be taken
Sharing the burden of the refugee crisis is not just about relocating refugees, says Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
As Bulgaria empties, government struggles to dole out pension pot
The poorest country in the European Union enables some public sector workers to retire in their forties. Elena Yaneva hopes she won't be caught up in Bulgaria's pending pensions overhaul.
Political concerns mar Turkish Stream project
Turkish concern about over-dependence on Russian energy, and an upcoming election, mean Russia's plans for a new gas pipeline to Southeastern Europe are unlikely to advance as quickly as Moscow might like, Turkish energy officials said today (11 March).
Kalfin: EU budget should be debated at national level
The so-called Monti group, named after its chairman, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, is trying to put together proposals how to make the EU budget more transparent and more effective, without increasing its size.
Monti group to focus on added-value for future EU budget
The so-called Monti group, named after its chairman, the former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, is trying to identify what exactly creates European added value, so that more resources for the EU budget would come from there in the future, to the relief of taxpayers, member Ivailo Kalfin told EURACTIV.
Bulgarian parties approve coalition agreement, cabinet
The two centre-right political forces in Bulgaria have agreed a coalition agreement yesterday (6 November) and will form a minority government, supported by a small centre-left party, and a nationalist force.![Kristalina Georgieva [European Commission]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/kristalina_georgieva_0.jpeg)
Source: Georgieva to be Budget Commissioner
Kristalina Georgieva, the current Bulgarian commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid who was a strong candidate to replace Catherine Ashton as EU chief, is likely to become budget commissioner in the next EU executive, a well-informed Bulgarian politician said.
High-profile ‘casualties’ in European Parliament elections
Many high-profile MEPs have been re-elected, but a significant number of them have been less lucky and have failed in their attempt to enter the new European Parliament. The EURACTIV network reports about the most prominent election casualties.
ALDE-affiliated Bulgarian rogue candidate withdraws
Much to the relief of the European liberal family, Delyan Peevski, a controversial candidate from the ALDE-affiliated “Movement of Rights and Freedoms” (DPS) announced during the election night that in spite of being elected, he would not take up his seat as MEP. VideoPromoted content
EU Budget 2014 – 2020: From Priorities to Financing
With the 2014 – 2020 EU budget agreed, the EU will pass a number of legal documents, including an inter- institutional agreement over how the budget will be spent. This will also include more in-depth analysis on EU’s own resources. Will the main EU 2020 strategic goals be properly funded? What about energy, infrastructure and social challenges?Open letter to David Cameron
The UK prime minister is amplifying nationalist speculation that the country's labour market is going to be under threat after labour restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens are lifted on 1 January, writes Ivailo Kafin MEP. VideoPromoted content