ABOUT

Kristian Vigenin is a Bulgarian politician with extensive experience in European and national politics. Born on June 12, 1975, in Sofia, Bulgaria, he has played a prominent role in shaping foreign policy and European affairs through various leadership positions.

Vigenin holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Macroeconomics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia (1993-1998). He later pursued legal studies at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” earning his law degree in 2020. His early education was at the 91st German Secondary School "Konstantin Galabov" in Sofia.

Since July 2024, Vigenin has served as a Member of the European Parliament in its 10th parliamentary term, marking his return to European politics. Previously, he was a Member of Parliament in Bulgaria (2014-2024), holding several key positions, including Vice-President of the National Assembly (2019-2024), Chairman of the European Affairs Committee (2017-2019), and Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Parliamentary Group (2014-2021). 

Additionally, he was actively involved in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), serving as Vice-President (2018-2022) and Special Representative on Eastern Europe (2023-2024).

His political career at the European level includes two previous terms as a Member of the European Parliament (2007-2013). During this time, he was Vice-President of the Socialist Group (2007-2009), Coordinator of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the Foreign Affairs Committee (2009-2011), and Co-President of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly (2010-2013). His engagement in democracy promotion extended to his role as a Board Member of the European Endowment for Democracy (2012-2013).

Beyond parliamentary roles, Vigenin was Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from May 2013 to August 2014, during which he also served as Chairman-in-Office of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in the first half of 2014.

His earlier career includes work in public administration and political advisory roles. He served in the National Customs Agency’s European Integration Department at the Ministry of Finance (1999-2001) and later became Head of the Foreign Policy and International Relations Directorate of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (2002-2005).

Within the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Vigenin has been a key figure since 2000, holding leadership roles such as Deputy Chairman for Foreign and European Affairs (since 2020), Member of the Executive Bureau (2002-2015; 2020-), and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Council (2005-2015). 

He has also been active in the Party of European Socialists (PES), serving as a member of its Presidency (2006-2016; 2020-) and Chairman of the Western Balkans Task Force (2006-2018).

Kristian Vigenin remains a key figure in Bulgarian and European politics, committed to European integration, international diplomacy, and social democracy.