Meglena Kuneva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meglena Kuneva
Меглена Кунева
Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office 7 November 2014 – 27 January 2017 Serving with Tomislav Donchev and Ivailo Kalfin
Prime Minister	Boyko Borisov
Preceded by	Ekaterina Zakharieva Hristo Ivanov
Succeeded by	Stefan Yanev
Minister of Education and Science
In office 3 February 2016 – 27 January 2017
Prime Minister	Boyko Borisov
Preceded by	Todor Tanev
Succeeded by	Nikolay Denkov
Minister of the European Union Affairs
In office 7 November 2014 – 27 January 2017
Prime Minister	Boyko Borisov
Preceded by	Iliana Tsanova
Succeeded by	Malina Krumova
In office 29 May 2002 – 21 December 2006
Prime Minister	Simeon Sakskoburggotski Sergey Stanishev
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Gergana Passy
European Commissioner for Consumer Protection
In office 1 January 2007 – 9 February 2010
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Markos Kyprianou (Health and Consumer Protection)
Succeeded by	John Dalli (Health and Consumer Policy)
Leader of the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement
In office 1 July 2012 – 4 April 2017
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Dimitar Delchev
Personal details
Born	(1957-06-22) 22 June 1957 (age 68) Sofia, PR Bulgaria
Political party	Bulgaria for Citizens Movement
Other political affiliations	NDSV (2001-2012)
Spouse	Andrey Pramov
Alma mater	Sofia University Oxford University

Meglena Shtilianova Kuneva (born on June 22, 1957) is a politician from Bulgaria who has also worked for the European Union (EU).

Early Life and Schooling

Meglena Kuneva was born in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. She graduated with a degree in law from Sofia University in 1981. Three years later, she earned a Doctor of Law degree, which is an advanced degree for legal experts.

While working as an assistant professor at Sofia University, she was also a journalist for the Bulgarian National Radio. As a radio host, she supported important human rights issues, like ending the death penalty in Bulgaria.

In 1990, Kuneva became a top legal advisor for the Bulgarian government. She also studied foreign affairs and environmental law at famous universities like Georgetown University in the United States and the University of Oxford in England.

Political Journey

Working in Bulgarian Politics

In 2001, Kuneva was elected to the Bulgarian Parliament as a member of the Simeon II National Movement party. Soon after, she became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her main job was to lead the talks for Bulgaria to join the European Union.

In 2002, she was named Bulgaria's first Minister of European Affairs. She kept this important role even after the 2005 elections when her party joined a new government.

European Commissioner Role

On October 26, 2006, Kuneva was chosen to be Bulgaria's first member of the European Commission. This is the group that helps run the European Union. Her special job was to be the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, which means she worked to protect the rights of people who buy goods and services.

The European Parliament approved her for the job with a large majority of votes. She officially started on January 1, 2007, the same day Bulgaria joined the EU. During her time as commissioner, she focused on how companies collect personal information online and how to keep people's data safe.

Return to Bulgaria

In 2012, Kuneva ran for president of Bulgaria as an independent candidate and received 14% of the vote.

Later that year, she started a new political party called the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement. In 2014, her party won seats in parliament. Kuneva became a Deputy Prime Minister, where she was in charge of European policies and other important areas. In 2016, she became the Minister of Education and Science.

Working with the Council of Europe

In 2018, Kuneva was appointed to lead the EU's office at the Council of Europe. This organization works to protect human rights and democracy in Europe. Her job was to help the EU and the Council of Europe work together smoothly.

In 2024, she was a candidate to become the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights but was not elected.

Other Work and Interests

• She is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a group that studies international issues.
• She was on the panel of judges for the 2008 Bulgarian Novel of the Year award.

Personal Life

Meglena Kuneva is married to Andrey Pramov, and they have one son named Aleksandar.

Besides her native Bulgarian, she speaks English, French, and Russian fluently. In her free time, she enjoys listening to classical music.

See also

In Spanish: Meglena Kuneva para niños

• Barroso Commission
• Bulgarian membership of the European Union