site.btaWrap-up: European Parliament Greenlights Ekaterina Zaharieva for European Commissioner

The European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday gave the greenlight for Bulgaria’s Ekaterina Zaharieva to become European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation in the second von der Leyen Commission, which will run through 2029. Zaharieva’s nomination was approved by seven out of eight political group coordinators for the EP Industry, Research and Energy Committee after a confirmation hearing at the EU legislature. The far left was the only force that did not approve her bid.

The news was reported to BTA by MEP Eva Maydell (GERB/European People's Party), who sits on the Committee. “I am glad to note that Mrs Zaharieva was backed by a large majority as she was supported by the main coordinators for the committee and the main political groups,” Maydell said. According to her, the coordinators were very impressed by Zaharieva’s performance during the hearing. “Even the party of the left, which said it could not support the nomination for political reasons, expressed appreciation of the answers given during today’s hearing. By the way, they have not supported any of the candidates so far, which means that this has nothing to do with Mrs Zaharieva’s bid specifically,” the Bulgarian MEP said.

She also said the other coordinators as well as the MEPs who asked the questions were impressed by the concreteness of the answers and the fact that Zaharieva managed to go into depth. “She proved that she understands and knows the big picture which stands as a challenge to Europe, because she gave very concrete answers on some geopolitical topics and issues as well,” Maydell noted.

The hearing

The hearing included a presentation by Zaharieva of some 15 minutes. She said in her opening speech that, if elected, she would work to increase investment in research and innovation to 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the EU Member States. Zaharieva noted that she will create a European Forum for Innovation and Research and will insist on a greater role for women in these areas if she is approved as European Commissioner.

Zaharieva expressed gratitude for her consideration, and said that her administrative and political experience at a high level will help her in the development of her portfolio, which is the basis of the European competitiveness programme.

"I will work tirelessly so that there is no brain drain from the European Union. The lack of coordination in the actions between the EU Member States makes it difficult to achieve high results," continued the Bulgarian candidate for European Commissioner, and noted that this leads to an an ineffective funding system. She added that the European Research Council allocates only 8% of its budget to innovation. 

Zaharieva outlined her key priorities, including strengthening the European Research Area with a new legislative act; increasing investment in innovation and research from 2.3% to 3% of GDP; a comprehensive strategy for start-ups and the establishment of a European Forum, working with Ukrainian researchers and educators; increasing the role of women to an equal 50%.

Twenty-three Bulgarian journalists and over 40 MEPS from various political groups attended the hearing. Zaharieva's presentation was followed by statements by coordinators of the political groups in the European Parliament.

Bulgarian MEPs joined European parliamentarians from other countries in addressing questions to Bulgaria’s candidate.

Petar Volgin (Europe of Sovereign Nations) asked whether there a risk for the war economy to become the driving force behind Zaharieva's intended portfolio in the European Commission, and how she would help prevent war from defeating peace in the framework of Startups, Research and Innovation. In her reply, Zaharieva expressed the hope that peace will prevail over war. "Our security depends on Ukraine winning this war. The resources we provide and the efforts we make to help Ukraine win are not wasted money for us. They are investments in our security. Ukraine is fighting for our security," she noted. Her reply was met with applause.

Eva Maydell (European People's Party) asked how funding can be re-channelled to ensure that the European economy is innovative and growing, given that Europe lags behind the United States and China in terms of economic competitiveness. Zaharieva replied that the big difference between Europea and the United States, and also Japan as well as countries closer to Europe, lies in private investments. Only 40% of EU companies invest in research and innovation. In the United States, the share is 56%, and in Japan and South Korea, it is even higher. The EU needs to be clearer about its priorities and more focused, Zaharieva argued. Pillar II of the Horizon Europe Programme lacks focus. The programme management is too complicated, and Pillar II lacks a sufficiently effective system to measure the amount of private investment and the contribution of industry. Stronger incentives are needed for the private sector to invest in innovation and science, she noted.

Tsvetelina Penkova (Socialists and Democrats), Vice Chair of the EP Industry, Research and Energy Committee, asked how far has the European Commission gone in adopting a definition of the term “startup company” and what financial mechanisms can be used to encourage private investments in innovation and technology. "Without a legal definition of 'startup,' we cannot set the scope of the regime. An analysis should be made to see how many companies registered in Europe will be affected. The European Innovation Act has serious issues with product testing. Another problem is that Europe is far behind the United States in the field of public procurement, a method which Europe almost never uses," Zaharieva explained.

Hristo Petrov (Renew Europe), Vice Chair of the EP Culture and Education Committee, asked whether access to culture should be inclusive in the context of the new instruments of the Horizon Europe Programme. "Leaving aside the fact that my portfolio is not directly related to culture, the inclusiveness of education and culture is very important. Inclusiveness should be promoted on the level of regions, not just countries. I am ready to work with you. You can count on my support in the drive for inclusiveness. Many of the so-called Widening countries [Member States lagging behind under Horizon Europe] are below the average level of research and science," Zaharieva replied.

Emerging from her confirmation hearing, Zaharieva told Bulgarian journalists that she wants to thank all MEPs who asked her questions, describing these as “competent and constructive.” She said: “You see how high people hold this portfolio in their regard. The EP obviously sets great store by having a stronger and larger budget [for Startups, Research and Innovation] and a more focused programme. I hope I managed to present my vision, and of course, if I am confirmed, I hope I will implement this vision by working in the best interests of every EU citizen.”

The reactions

GERB leader Boyko Borissov congratulated Zaharieva in a Facebook post: “She showed that her experience as an expert, deputy minister, minister and MP from GERB has given her a broad basis to be trusted with such an important portfolio,” the post reads.

Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell (GERB/European People's Party) commented for BTA that Zaharieva was very convincing and the hearing was constructive. "Zaharieva presented her vision, was concrete, gave clear political answers and made very specific commitments. This is what MEPs want to hear, that is why they are satisfied and that is why we have approved her", Maydell said. The Bulgarian MEP defined Zaharieva's portfolio as “a portfolio of the future”.

Bulgarian MEP Tsvetelina Penkova (Bulgarian Socialist Party/S&D) commented that Zaharieva demonstrated preparedness and knowledge on the topics during her confirmation hearing. Penkova said that the hearing went normally and with a constructive tone. "Of course, from here onward, we expect a little more depth in the analysis and specifics of the policies that will be applied," said Penkova, who is Vice Chair of the EP Industry, Research and Energy Committee. Commenting on Zaharieva's intention to increase investment in innovation and research to 3% of the EU Member States' GDP, Penkova said: "That is the big target set for the European budgets. There is more to be desired with the goal of investment and support for the sector, and without investment and real support we cannot talk about technologies and innovation. They are directly linked to the creation of a working and competitive economy. Therefore, I still believe that there is what to invest in. Research and development should be a leading activity in the EU, because Bulgaria and many other countries have proven themselves at the idea level. We have prepared people, we have talents, we have ideas and we should be able to make them happen in a way that they have value added," Penkova argued. 

Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Valchev (TISP/ECR) commented for BTA that Zaharieva's hearing went well and unlike other candidates, she chose to not hide behind generic phrases and vague answers. "Zaharieva showed she is prepared, she did not assume the pose, 'Look how much I have studied', she replied to the questions raised. Therefore, there  surely is no resistance to what she showed and to her personal qualities," Valchev argued. Commenting on Zaharieva's intention for an increase to 3% of investment in research and innovation, Valchev told BTA that Zaharieva should work in close cooperation with other Commissioners and act in the name of culture, so that artists can get the right to freedom, without limitations over ideological correctness.

Bulgarian MEP Petar Volgin (Vazrazhdane/Europe of Sovereign Nations) told BTA that Zaharieva would be elected Commissioner because "she has really taken the right course." Volgin, who is a substitute on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, said Zaharieva's hearing met his expectations and the rules of the Brussels game, without any particular surprises. "Everything followed the familiar, politically correct track. This is how a candidate for a high post in the European institutions should behave, and I have almost no doubt that Ms Zaharieva will be elected European Commissioner," said Volgin. Asked to mark Zaharieva's performance at the hearing on a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 is poor and 6 is excellent, the MEP said: "It depends who is doing the marking because if we apply the Brussels criteria and the politically correct narrative, we might give Ms Zaharieva a 12. But if we evaluate her answers from the point of view of normality, then her mark would not be so great. Because she said that we should support Ukraine to complete victory, that Ukraine is also fighting for our freedom, which are cliched phrases that by no means reflect the infinitely complex world we live in. That is why it seems to me that in terms of normality, her performance was not perfect, but in the final analysis, when one is a candidate for office, it is important to meet the criteria of the establishment, not the criteria of normality." In Volgin's view, the only questions that went beyond the cliche during the hearing were those put by MEPs from the Left, from Patriots for Europe and from Europe of Sovereign Nations. Asked by BTA to comment on the importance of Zaharieva's portfolio, Volgin said: "What seems important to me when we talk about this portfolio - and I did ask such a question - is that here too, there is too much emphasis on the policy outlined in Mario Draghi's report, namely, that the focus should be on defence, on security, meaning that even innovation, startups and research should be slanted towards the military, with a prevalence of military-related research, and that is what will be sought. A growing militarization of Europe in all possible areas. In this sense, Bulgaria's role is almost minimal because we are not generating a policy of our own, we are moving in the rut of what is allowed and what is believed to be expected from us."