European Commissioner for Budget, Anti‑Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin arrived in Sofia on Thursday, 29 October 2026, for a two‑day itinerary aimed at consulting with Bulgarian officials about the bloc’s next multi‑annual financial framework (MFF). The visit was part of a wider tour of the European Union’s member states where Serafin has been gathering insight for the 2028‑2034 MFF proposal.
According to the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the first day of Serafin’s visit was opened with a conference titled The Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Priorities and Principles. The event was jointly organised by the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the Embassy of Poland in Bulgaria, and the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Serafin’s conference drew key Bulgarian leaders, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev, and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, the official responsible for the management of European Union funds within the country.
During the conference, Serafin’s discussion centred on simplifying complex funding procedures, easing administrative burdens, and improving transparency for all stakeholders. He emphasised the need to reduce overlapping regulations and to improve legal consistency, a priority that he said is increasingly urgent for all EU member states to navigate the expanding array of EU funding mechanisms.
On Friday, 30 October, Serafin shifted focus to the municipal dimension of the next MFF. He met with members of the National Association of the Municipalities to exchange views on the regional aspects of the National and Regional Partnership plans within the new framework. This meeting underscored the wide-reaching impact of EU budgetary decisions on city governments and local public services across Bulgaria.
Following the conference and municipal discussion, Serafin visited the National STEM Centre in Sofia Tech Park. The centre, managed by the Ministry of Education and Science, is co‑funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan that supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics projects across the union. Serafin highlighted the importance of EU investment in STEM infrastructure for long‑term economic resilience.
Serafin’s final stop was the laboratory and mission control room of EnduroSat, a satellite manufacturer and space service provider that receives EU funding through the European Innovation Council. The visit to the EU‑funded space laboratory illustrates how the MFF will continue to support cutting‑edge research with a direct impact on national technological independence and innovation capacity.
Throughout his stay, Serafin was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, ensuring continuity between Bulgaria’s national priorities and the European Commission’s funding strategies. This partnership reflects a broader push for greater alignment between EU policy objectives and the specific administrative structures of member states.
The visit was also reported by Euronews, which noted that the European Commissioner met with Bulgarian Finance Minister Galab Donev. This meeting coincided with the official statements from the Bulgarian government about the ongoing negotiations on the upcoming budget and the expectations that the 2028‑2034 MFF will further streamline funding processes.
Serafin’s discourse in Sofia echoes a thematic focus that has emerged throughout his tour. He repeatedly stressed that the next MFF must be designed to reduce complexity while maintaining robust oversight. By travelling across the EU, Serafin aims to collect a broad spectrum of experiences so the Commission can craft a budget that is responsive to the needs of both large institutions and local communities.
For citizens and local officials alike, the implications of this visit are substantial. Bulgaria’s municipalities, key recipients of MFF funds, now have the opportunity to express concerns and preferences that could influence how regional partnership plans are structured. The conversations also bring EU oversight closer to the ground, enabling greater accountability for how public money is allocated to science, technology, and core governance functions.
Overall, Serafin’s two‑day stint in Sofia serves as a microcosm of the European Commission’s approach to budgetary governance: collaborative, open, and intent on making the EU package more transparent and efficient for everyone within the union.
