EU's first start-up commissioner approved, promising to promote investment

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria’s EU Commission designate, today received the backing from lawmakers to become the bloc’s first ever Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, giving MEPs a pledge to engage national finance ministers in dialogue to promote investment. 

Zaharieva (EPP), who previously was Bulgaria's Foreign Minister (2017 to 2021) and Minister Justice from 2015 to 2017, got the go-ahead from the chairs and coordinators who vote behind closed doors, after the public hearing, Bulgarian lawmaker Eva Maydell (EPP) said on X.

Criticism during the hearing came from lawmakers Filip Turek (Czechia/Patriots for Europe) and Per Clausen (Denmark/GUE-NGL). Turek said she lacked technology expertise, adding: "We don't need another diplomat."

Clausen asked her to stop funding Israeli defence projects through Horizon Europe. Zaharieva said in response that "no project foresees defence related funding. We have a strict monitoring system. These are civilian applications, and no exception is allowed."  

In a three-hour hearing in Brussels, Zaharieva promised to cut red tape and make it easier for start-ups and SMEs to apply for funding, when approved. “I plan to work on simplifying access, this will save a lot of time,” she said, adding that she “understands the needs of the sector”.

She said that she will work to convince national finance and economy ministers to invest in research and development. 

“[EU] Funding is not enough itself, I will speak with finance ministers to show them the added value of more investment,” she said, adding that there is momentum with the Draghi report, which also called for more investment.

She said that talent development and creating the right climate to keep talent in Europe, is a topic dear to her heart. “The biggest asset that we have is our talent. The most important goal is to keep them, without the talent there will be no investment,” she said. 

In addition, she will set a target to have 50% women on all boards, expert groups and commissions in research funding program Horizon Europe. 

The 26 Commissioners-designate face a final confirmation vote in the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.