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The new Bulgarian European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva will be in charge of “Startups, Research and Innovation”

by AI | 17.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Ursula von der Leyen presented the draft structure of the new European Commission

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented the new composition of the European Commission at a press conference at the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg. Photo: Martina Gancheva, BTA

STRASBOURG – The new Bulgarian EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zakharieva will be responsible for “Startups, Research, and Innovation”. This was announced at a press conference in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg by the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen. She presented the structure of the future Commission and the allocation of responsibilities of the new Commissioners after meeting with the EP Presidential Council, including the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the leaders of the political groups. The new European Commission will have 11 women.

“The draft structure of the new EC is based on our political priorities,” said Ursula von der Leyen and added that these are competitiveness, security, and digitalization.

“Ekaterina Zakharieva will be the Commissioner responsible for startups, research activities, and innovations. We need to put research activities, innovations, science, and technology at the center of our economy. She will help to invest more and more with a focus on priority sectors and innovations,” commented von der Leyen.

The portfolio that Bulgaria received is extremely important, Zakharieva said to Bulgarian journalists in Strasbourg. “I realize the responsibility. It is immense. The portfolio that Bulgaria received is one of the portfolios of the future“, added Zakharieva.

The current Bulgarian EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova with the portfolio “Innovations, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth” congratulated Zakharieva on social networks for the enormous trust placed in her with one of the most important strategic portfolios in the future European Commission. “This is a recognition of her competence and qualities, as well as the achievements and contribution of Bulgaria in this field,” wrote Ivanova.

The new 27 EU Commissioners are set to be voted on by the European Parliament. The new European Commission is scheduled to take office on November 1. (September 17, 2024)