Monika Panayotova
Monika Panayotova () is a Doctor of Political Science, with interests in the field of the EU security and defence policy. Bulgarian politician – Monika Panayotova has been appointed as Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018, responsible for the relations with the European Parliament during the Bulgaria's presidency (the so-called - Ministre Délégué) since June 28, 2017. In the period 2009–2012, Monika Panayotova was member of 41st National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, chairwoman of Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds and member of the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee. During the period 2012 – 2014, she was a member of the European Parliament and participated in the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Culture and Education and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. Public figure – from 2014 to June 2017, she was General Manager of Inno Advisers Ltd, a consultancy company, owned by Comac Medical Ltd., with main purpose – the development of innovative projects and concepts in the field of education, health and science. In that period Monika Panayotova was as well member of the advisory council of Bulgarian Memory Foundation, Board member of Sofia Security Forum and co-initiator and board member of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for Bulgaria. In 2016, she was independent expert, Member of Horizon 2020 Advisory Group on "Spreading Excellence and Widening participation", European Commission. In the period 2006 – 2008, she was director of “Projects and Public Communications” and research fellow at Economic Policy Institute in Bulgaria. Monika Panayotova has publications on security and defence, NATO, European affairs and Common European security and Defence Policy. Education Monika Panayotova is a Doctor of Political Science with defended PhD dissertation on the topic: EU Security and Defence after the Lisbon Treaty and NATO's New Concept. She has master's degree in International Economic Relations with specialisation on “Management of International Projects” as well as bachelor's degree in International Relations, from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria. She has also Executive education experience in the field of foreign and international affairs – Public Leaders in Southeast Europe program, Harvard University, JFK School of Government; Tailored Seminar on National Security Policy for Representatives from the Republic of Bulgaria, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies; Visitor Leadership Programs in US, France and NATO HQ Brussels; Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitry Panitza”. Political career Since June 28, 2017, Monika Panayotova has been appointed as Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018, responsible for the relations with the European Parliament during the Bulgaria's presidency (the so-called – Ministre Délégué). Monika Panayotova was member of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, a NGO that in 2016 was transformed to the Political party GERB. In 2008, she was elected for two consecutive mandates as a Chairwoman of the Youth organization of GERB until her resignation in 2014. During the Bulgarian parliamentary elections in 2009, she was elected for