Natalia Efremova graduated in Law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and St. Methodius”. She has extensive experience in the state administration, having held both expert and senior management positions in the fields of labour and social policy, European Union funds management, and healthcare.

She began her career in the state administration in 2000 at the State Receivables Agency under the Ministry of Finance. Three years later, she continued her professional career at the Ministry of Health, where she held various positions. Between 2005 and 2008, she served as Health Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the European Union in Brussels. She subsequently headed the Programmes and Projects Management Directorate.

Her career later continued at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, where she has held various senior management positions since 2009. Between 2009 and 2022, she occupied leadership roles in the field of European Union funds management as Deputy Director General and Director General of the General Directorate “European Funds, International Programmes and Projects” – Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development”. Her main responsibilities included the programming, contracting and verification of European funding in the areas of the labour market, social inclusion, education and healthcare. She also managed the PHARE Programme.

In 2022, she became Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy responsible for European funds and programmes and international cooperation. She also held this position from April 2024 until May 2026. Her portfolio included the coordination of labour market policies, labour and social security rights, living standards and demographic policy, international cooperation, and the management of European funds and programmes.

As Deputy Minister, she served as Governor of the Working Conditions Fund, Chair of the National Employment Promotion Council, and National Coordinator for the European Child Guarantee. She also held the position of National Coordinator for the European Year of Skills.

She is fluent in English and Russian. She is married and has two children.