Charlina Vitcheva

Academic qualifications: 

• 09/1993 – 12/1994: Master of European Integration (EU Politics, Economics and Law) – Limerick University, the Republic of Ireland.
• 09/1981 – 07/1986: Master of International Economic Relations – University of National and World Economy – Bulgaria.

Professional experience in the European Institutions:

• Since 1 June 2020: Director-General – Directorate-General “Maritime Affairs and Fisheries” (MARE)
• 09/2016 – 05/2020: Deputy Director-General – Joint Research Centre (JRC)
• 01/2014 – 08/2016: Director – Smart and sustainable Growth and Southern Europe – Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) Policy development and consistency of implementation across 28 MSs of the Smart and Sustainable aspects of Cohesion Policy covering the following Thematic Objectives of the investment support: Research & Innovation, ICT, Competitiveness of SMEs, Low Carbon Economy, Climate Change & Risk prevention, Environment, Energy & Transport and Key Infrastructure. Implementation of the 2007-2013 programmes and negotiations on/implementation of the 2014-2020 programming documents for Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
• 01/2014 – 10/2014: Acting Director for Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development and Northern Europe (REGIO) thus, responsible for two directorates and leading the 2014-2020 programming negotiations with 13MSs on 115 of the total of 205 mainstreams programmes; AOSD/Implementation of EU budget of about EUR 21 billion.
• 04/2009 – 12/2013: Director for Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development and Northern Europe (REGIO) –Policy development and implementation across all the MSs of the territorial approach and the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy; design, development and implementation of the new role of REGIO in coordinating and synergizing the urban initiatives across the Commissions’ services and initiating the Urban Agenda for the EU; consistent implementation across all the MSs of the Inclusive growth aspect of the ERDF (education, health, social inclusion).
• Implementation of the 2007-2013 programmes and negotiations on the 2014-2020 programming period for Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Sweden.

Professional experience before joining the European Institutions:

• 08/1999 – 03/2009: Mission/Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU in Brussels
• Minister Plenipotentiary (since 07/2003)
• Head of “Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries” Division (since 04/2005)
• Spokesperson of Bulgaria in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) of the Council (since 04/ 2005)
• Counsellor (08/1999 – 06/2003)
• 02/1998 – 03/2009: Director of the European Integration and International Cooperation Directorate – Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply in Bulgaria. Leading the accession negotiations of Bulgaria at service level and preparation for accession in the areas of agriculture, rural development, food safety and fisheries.
• 10/1994 – 01/1998: Expert in the Policy Advisory unit under PHARE(10/94 – 09/97); Integration Policy department (10/97 – 01/98) – Ministry of Agriculture in Bulgaria.