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Mariya GabrielBulgarian politician, European Commissioner
Date of Birth: 20.05.1979
Country:  Bulgaria |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Academic Career
- Political Journey
- European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017-2019)
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Maria Gabriel, a prominent Bulgarian politician, was born in 1979. Her educational journey started at the University of Plovdiv, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Bulgarian and French languages. She then pursued her master's degree in comparative politics and international relations at the Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux, France.
Academic Career
Gabriel's academic pursuits led her to become a scientific assistant at her alma mater in Bordeaux from 2004 to 2008. She taught courses on decision-making in the European Union, political sociology, and international relations.
Political Journey
MEP (2009-2017)Gabriel embarked on her political career in 2009 when she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the European People's Party (EPP) group. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Vice-President of the EPP Women's Group in 2012 and Deputy Leader of the EPP Group and Head of the Bulgarian Delegation in 2014-2017.
European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017-2019)
In 2017, Gabriel was nominated as the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society by the third government of Boyko Borisov. She assumed office on July 7, 2017, and actively worked on promoting digital transformation and innovation within the European Union.
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth (2019-Present)
In 2019, Gabriel was elected to the 9th Parliament as the top candidate of the GERB party. However, she declined the parliamentary mandate to continue her work in the Juncker Commission. She was reappointed as the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth.
Personal Life
Maria Gabriel married Francois Gabriel in 2012, and the couple has no children.
