Bulgaria's EU Commissioner designate Meglena Kuneva has pledged to improve communication with European consumers and act as their "advocate", if approved on the new post.

The Bulgarian minister sat on the hot seat of being questioned by MEPs on Monday in a hearing to assess her suitability for the role of European commissioner for consumer protection.

"I want to have a sustained dialogue with consumers and the organisations which represent their interests," she said.

She promised MEPs that if selected she would also strengthen communications with the European parliament and national governments.

"Consumer protection is central to the interests of every European citizen," she added. "It is one of those European policies which make the EU visible to citizens in their daily lives. It is a policy which affects things which happen in real life."

The European commission says consumer policy is about improving the quality of life of all EU citizens.

But in many areas health inequalities between EU member states are widening and Kuneva told MEPs she knew the role would not be an easy one.

"The policy of consumers protection is complementary to all the others and ... this is the charm of the portfolio I will be assigned to," Meglena Kuneva, a environmental law specialist, noted.

"We may have different opinions, but I can promise you that I shall listen. I shall make decisions on the basis of open dialogue with you and with other interested parties," she said.

"I want European consumers to know that they can see in my face a defender of their interests," Kuneva said pledging to consolidate the progress already made in the field of consumer protection within the portfolio of Commissioner Markos Kyrpianou.

Meglena Kuneva, 49, who is Bulgaria's European affairs minister, has been nominated to become the EU's consumer protection commissioner, taking responsibility for an area previously held by Public Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou. She has led Bulgaria's entry talks since 2001.

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