Speaker

Dr Eng Rositsa Karamfilova-Blagova is an expert with over 20 years of professional experience in environmental management and protection. She is Minister of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria since 8 May 2026. Her career has been linked to the Ministry of Environment and Water, where she has held a number of expert and managerial positions, including responsibilities related to strategic planning and the management of national and international environmental programmes and projects. In the period 2022–2023, she was Minister of Environment and Water in two consecutive caretaker governments. From 2023 to 2025, she was Adviser to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria on environmental affairs. She has also been Executive Director of the Executive Environment Agency and a member of the Management Board of the European Environment Agency (EEA). Minister Karamfilova-Blagova holds a Master's degree in Ecology and Environmental Protection and a PhD in the same field. She also holds a Master's degree in Industrial Management. As Minister of Environment and Water, she emphasizes a predictable, effective and transparent environmental policy, based on expertise, good governance, effective implementation of legislation and strengthening public trust in institutions. Her key objectives include the modernisation and digitalisation of environmental administration, as well as strengthening monitoring and control systems. In her work, Minister Karamfilova-Blagova prioritises maintaining a balance between environmental protection, sustainable economic development and the interests of citizens.