Yuliana Ivanova to Chair Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog

Yuliana Ivanova is the new Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR).

Ivanova's appointment was announced by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Tuesday at the beginning of a government sitting.

She takes over the post from Angel Semerdzhiev, who was forced to resign over the delayed preparation and adoption of secondary legislation related to the Third Energy Liberalization Package.

Bulgaria's failure to fully transpose the EU internal energy market rules caused the European Commission to refer Bulgaria to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The EC warned that Bulgaria had only partially transposed the Electricity and Gas Directives and proposed a daily penalty of EUR 8488 for each partially transposed Directive.

As a result, Angel Semerdzhiev requested an early termination of his term in office as DKEVR Chair in connection with his failure to perform job duties.

The application was approved by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

DKEVR member Andon Rokov was appointed interim Chair of the watchdog.

Ivanova is to complete Semerdzhiev's term in office set to expire on November 9, 2015.

The new Chair of DKEVR holds a degree in engineering and has long experience working with foreign companies, one of them being RWE, according to Evgenia Haritonova, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister.