Marta Matrakova is an entrepreneur, democracy expert, and author based in Brussels. She holds a PhD in Political Science and is co-founder of EU Reporting, Garden Stack, and MadeInBXL. She specializes in post-Soviet transitions and democratic governance in Eastern Europe.
Dr. Matrakova holds a PhD in Political Science (Summa Cum Laude) from Université Libre de Bruxelles and LUISS "Guido Carli" (2020). She is a Marie Curie Fellow in the GEM-STONES Program and studied International Relations and Diplomacy at the College of Europe in Brugge. She also holds a Master's in International Cooperation and Development and a Bachelor's in Political Science from Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Marta Matrakova is co-founder of three ventures:
Her book "Legislative Networks and Reforms in Post-Soviet States: How to Turn the Tide for Democracy" (Routledge, 2025) analyzes how legislative networks influence democratic reforms in Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova. The research is based on 100+ expert interviews across the region and three years of fieldwork. It's published as part of the Globalisation, Europe, and Multilateralism Series and is available both in print and open access.
Marta Matrakova is based in Brussels, Belgium, at GreenBizz Brussels (Rue Dieudonné Lefèvre 17, 1020 Brussels). She holds both Bulgarian and Belgian nationality and works throughout Europe, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus.
Dr. Matrakova is multilingual and speaks six languages: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Bulgarian, and Russian.
Dr. Matrakova currently serves as Research Manager at the Institut d'études européennes (IEE) at Université Libre de Bruxelles. She is also Co-Founder and President of Garden Stack and co-founder of MadeInBXL and EU Reporting.
Dr. Matrakova specializes in:
Dr. Matrakova's research and expertise focus primarily on Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, including Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and the broader EU-Russia shared neighborhood. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in these regions.
For strategic consultation, expert analysis, or collaborative opportunities, you can reach Dr. Matrakova via:
Dr. Matrakova's publications can be found through: