The EVP of EC Valdis Dombrovskis Will Be Awarded the Honorary Title of Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, will be awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE at a solemn ceremony at the University of National and World Economy. The ceremony will take place on 23 February 2023 at 10.00 a.m. in Maxima Aula.

On 14 December 2022 the Academic Council of the UNWE unanimously voted the proposal for awarding the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People. The proposal was submitted by the Dean of the Finance and Accounting Faculty Prof. Dr. Rumen Brusarsky. The title is awarded to him for his significant contribution to the building and strengthening of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, to strengthening the international role of the euro, the European Union's trade policy and the economy that works for people.

Valdis Dombrovskis is a Latvian politician who has made a major contribution to the financial stability of the European Union. He started his financial career at the National Bank of Latvia as Chief Economist in the Monetary Policy Directorate in 2001 and in 2002 at the age of only 30 he took up the post of Finance Minister of Latvia which he held until 2004.

He became a member of the European Parliament in 2004 but he returned to his native country in 2009 when he was elected as Prime Minister /2009-2014/. Since 2014, he has been Vice-President of the European Commission, initially with responsibility for the euro and social dialogue, and then as the Commissioner directly responsible for the financial stability. Since 1 December 2019, he has been Executive Vice-President with portfolio Economy That Works for People and since October 2020 portfolio Trade has been added to his responsibilities.

Valdis Dombrovskis is also relevant to the development of our country. "From 2020 Bulgaria is part of the ERM II Currency Mechanism, called the "euro area waiting room" and the next reasonable step is to join the euro area. Bulgaria's currency at this point is pegged to the euro, i.e. Bulgaria is already “importing” monetary policy from the European Central Bank but at the same time it has no use from the benefits of the euro", said Valdis Dombrovskis in an interview for BTV on 5 February 2023.

"It will be an honour for the UNWE to confer this high academic title on Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis. He is one of the leading financiers in the European Commission with outstanding services to the economic and financial strengthening of the European Union. Who else but the largest economic university in Southeast Europe to highlight and honour his services", commented the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov.