In a nutshell
- The European Parliament invites Commissioners-designate to committee hearings to assess their suitability for the assigned posts. The hearings started on 4 November and will take place until 12 November.
- On Tuesday, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee questioned Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgarian candidate for the Startups, Research and Innovation portfolio.
- Zaharieva needs to secure the European Parliament’s approval as a final step before taking on her new position in Brussels.
Zaharieva is awaiting European Parliament approval
Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission on 18 July 2024. To initiate the process of appointing her College of Commissioners, Ms. von der Leyen sent a letter to the 25 EU Member States, requesting that national governments nominate candidates for Commissioner positions.
Now, the European Parliament invites Commissioners-designate to committee hearings to assess their suitability for the assigned posts. The hearings started on 4 November and will take place until 12 November.
On Tuesday (5 November 2024), the Industry, Research and Energy Committee questioned Bulgarian candidate Ekaterina Zaharieva for the Startups, Research, and Innovation role. After the hearing, the committee chair and political coordinators will assess her qualifications.
In her opening statement, Zaharieva emphasized prioritizing Research and Innovation (R&I) for EU competitiveness. As R&I spending in Europe is lower than in the US, China or Japan, she called for strategic investment to support digital and low-carbon transitions.
Zaharieva needs to secure the European Parliament’s approval as a final step before taking on her new position in Brussels.
Focused on R&I investments and support for smaller companies
Presenting her proposed team of commissioners on Tuesday morning, von der Leyen said Zaharieva will help ensure the EU invests in more focused spending on strategic priorities and innovation. “We must put research and innovation, science and technology, at the center of our economy,” said von der Leyen.
Ekaterina Zaharieva also pledged to propose a European Innovation Act to push Member States toward a 3% R&I spending target, combat brain drain, protect research freedom, invest in R&I infrastructure, and strengthen the European Research Council.
Zaharieva called for a broad strategy to support startups and small businesses by easing access to capital and reducing bureaucracy. She also proposed initiatives for European life sciences, advancing AI in research, and creating an Advanced Materials Act.
Becoming the third Bulgarian to lead EU research portfolio
Zaharieva, from Bulgaria’s center-right GERB party, in her substantial political career has served as deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Justice Minister. Zaharieva will replace fellow Bulgarian Iliana Ivanova, who warmly welcomed Zaharieva’s appointment. “This is a recognition of her competence and qualities, as well as Bulgaria’s achievements and contribution in this field,” Ivanova said.
This is the third time the research portfolio has been assigned to a Bulgarian. In 2019, von der Leyen appointed Mariya Gabriel as research commissioner.
Zaharieva graduated with a law degree and a master’s from the University of Plovdiv in 1975. She practiced law until 2003, after which she began her political career, initially as a legal adviser and later as the director of the legal department at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment and Waters.
However, her resume shows little evidence of experience or in-depth knowledge in research, innovation, or the requirements for nurturing technology-driven startups. Thus, many startup ecosystem stakeholders from the region were skeptical about her appointment for the new role in the EU Commission.
