Today, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria’s designated EU Commissioner, received a significant endorsement from lawmakers, positioning her to become the bloc’s inaugural Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation. This pivotal role comes with a commitment to engage national finance ministers in meaningful discussions aimed at enhancing investment across Europe.
Zaharieva, representing the European People’s Party (EPP), previously held the esteemed position of Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister from 2017 to 2021 and served as the Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2017. Following a public hearing, she garnered the approval of the chairs and coordinators who cast their votes behind closed doors, as reported by Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell on X.
During the hearing, Zaharieva faced pointed criticisms from lawmakers such as Filip Turek from the Czech Republic (Patriots for Europe) and Per Clausen from Denmark (GUE-NGL). Turek expressed concerns regarding her technological expertise, stating, “We don’t need another diplomat.” Meanwhile, Clausen urged her to cease funding Israeli defense projects through the Horizon Europe initiative. In response, Zaharieva clarified, “No project foresees defense-related funding. We have a strict monitoring system in place. These applications are strictly civilian, and no exceptions are allowed.”
During a comprehensive three-hour hearing held in Brussels, Zaharieva articulated her vision to alleviate bureaucratic hurdles, promising to simplify the funding application process for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). She asserted, “I plan to work on simplifying access; this will save a lot of time,” and emphasized her understanding of the sector’s needs.
Zaharieva expressed her intention to engage with national finance and economy ministers to advocate for increased investment in research and development. She remarked, “EU funding alone is not sufficient; I will communicate with finance ministers to demonstrate the added value of enhanced investment.” This approach aligns with the momentum generated by the Draghi report, which also advocates for greater investment in research initiatives.
Another critical aspect of Zaharieva’s agenda is the development of talent and fostering an environment conducive to retaining skilled individuals within Europe. She passionately stated, “The biggest asset we have is our talent. The most important goal is to keep them, as without talent, there will be no investment.”
Furthermore, Zaharieva has set an ambitious goal to ensure that women comprise 50% of all boards, expert groups, and commissions involved in the Horizon Europe research funding program.
The final confirmation vote for the 26 Commissioners-designate is scheduled to take place during the plenary session in Strasbourg from November 25 to 28.
