The absence of Kristalina Georgieva in October after she has been nominated by the Bulgarian government for the United Nations top job shall not affect negotiations on the European Union 2017 budget. This position was voiced by EU Spokesman Margaritis Schinas as he took a question from the Bulgarian National Radio. Georgieva’s office at the European Commission for Budget and Human Resources has been entrusted to German Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, because he is one of the most senior and experienced members of the institution, the spokesman added. No vacuum will be felt in the way the Commission takes part in budget talks. After the Budget Committee of the European Parliament rejected the spending option suggested by EU finance ministers the procedure on negotiating the annual budget of the bloc is likely to be extended. So far, Kristalina Georgieva has played an important role as mediator in the process.