I was born in Bulgaria, and am currently dividing my time between Sofia and Brussels.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Business Administration from John Cabot University in Rome, as well as postgraduate specializations in leadership from Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Oxford.
I began my career at the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and later spent five years at the European Parliament as a coordinator for the GERB/European People’s Party (EPP) delegation. I have served as a Member of the European Parliament since July 2014, representing GERB and the EPP.
Over the years, I have been honored to receive the European Parliament’s “MEP of the Year” award, as well as have my work recognised by the Financial Times’ “New Europe 100” for emerging leaders in Central and Eastern Europe, Forbes Europe’s “30 Under 30”, POLITICO’s list of 40 most influential MEPs, “POLITICO 28” ranking of people shaping Europe, and the “Women Shaping Brussels” list for 2018.
Parliamentary work
In my current mandate, I serve as Deputy Spokesperson of the EPP Group in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the US. I am also a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Delegation for relations with Japan.
My extensive experience in these committees has laid the foundations for my work on key legislative initiatives and strategic priorities. In this regard, I have served as the lead rapporteur for the Report on Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone and was among the chief negotiators of the EU’s Chips Act, as well as the world’s first Artificial Intelligence Act. My work is focused around promoting innovation and supporting the deployment of new technologies to boost European competitiveness, as well as strengthening cooperation with global partners who share our values in the areas of technology and democracy.
My parliamentary work is centered around three main areas: economy and finance, digital transformation, and technological innovation. As the main rapporteur on the Report on Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone, I worked to ensure a stable and transparent process for the country’s entry into the single European currency. In addition, I was also the rapporteur and lead negotiator for the European Parliament on the regulation enabling Bulgarians to save over BGN 60 million annually through a tenfold reduction in fees for transfers in Euro.
I was among the lead negotiators of the European Chips Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act – cornerstone legislations with direct impact on the EU’s future competitiveness and technological sovereignty. I have also supported the legislative framework of the Digital Single Market Strategy, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), and the EU Recovery Plan following the COVID-19 crisis.
Additionally, I am actively engaged in strengthening twenty‑first‑century skills and promoting technological innovation in both industry and financial services. I served as rapporteur for the EPP Group on several strategic files, including the Crowdfunding Regulation, the Regulation on the new EU Single Market Programme, the revision of the Cybersecurity Directive (NIS Directive), and the European Parliament’s strategic resolution on the European Data Strategy.
Projects
To ensure my work has an impact on both European and global processes, beyond my parliamentary responsibilities I am actively involved in projects with various like-minded partners.
At the national level, I have co-founded the ‘Education Bulgaria 2030’ association, which brings together actors from the public, private, and civil sectors in an effort to improve the quality of education in Bulgaria and address workforce shortages. At the international level, I am a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and serve on the boards of WEF’s Digital Europe program and the Global Future Council on Europe. I have also co-founded the Council for the Future in partnership with the Munich Security Conference, creating a platform for dialogue on technology, democracy, and global security.
Addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Europe, requires the engagement and support of its citizens. I am a deep believer in the potential of 7 million Bulgarians and nearly 450 million Europeans.
I am also grateful to my team, like-minded colleagues, and partners across various initiatives. Your commitment and inspiring ideas remain an essential driving force behind this work.
Sincerely,
Eva Maydell