EFTA Surveillance Authority
Militsa Kostova is a Senior Legal Officer at the EFTA Surveillance Authority since March 2018, following a role as an Advisor at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries from January 2016 to December 2017, where expertise was provided in state aid matters across various sectors. Kostova has also acted as a Legal Advisor in a working group focused on introducing personal assistance rights in Bulgaria and has contributed to an EEA grants project aimed at creating new employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Earlier experience includes a Legal and Executive Trainee position at the EFTA Surveillance Authority and internships at Advokatfirmaet Selmer DA and Delchev & Partners. Kostova holds an LLM in Competition Law and Economics from the Brussels School of Competition and a law degree from the University of Oslo, supplemented by exchange studies at The University of Auckland and a legal English institute at the American University.
EFTA Surveillance Authority
Mission The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union. ESA is an international organisation, independent of the States, which safeguards the rights of individuals and undertakings under the EEA Agreement, ensuring free movement, fair competition and control of state aid. ESA's work helps remove barriers to trade and open up new opportunities to over 450 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States. ESA is based in Brussels. It currently employs staff members of 19 nationalities. ESA is led by a College consisting of three members, each appointed for a period of four years by the three participating EFTA States. Values Integrity: The Authority operates in a fair, objective and independent manner. The Authority's staff take ownership of their tasks and carry out these tasks in an environment of open discussion and high ethical standards. Openness: The Authority and its staff carry out their functions in a manner which is visible, approachable and transparent. The Authority is open to continuous improvement at an organisational and individual level. Competence: The Authority employs highly qualified staff, who have the skills and knowledge required for the Authority to fulfil its role and to deal with tasks in an effective and efficient manner. We develop our competence and continuously improve our skills and knowledge and aim for excellence.