23 Oct 2024
Research Commissioner-designate Zaharieva provides written answers to EP Hearing questions
As part of the hearing process for the new European Commission at the European Parliament (EP), all candidates received written questions which they had to answer by 22 October 2024. The answers are now available and can be viewed on the EP's respective “Hearing pages” for the Commissioners-designate.
The answers paper provided by Commissioner-designate for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, explicitly states that "one top priority will be the development of the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation". In addition, Ms. Zaharieva speaks of a "new and strengthened Framework Programme 10".
Amongst other issues, Ekaterina Zaharieva reports on her "broad background", and emphasises the "strong momentum" of European R&I policy. She mentions the ERA Act ("freedom of scientific research will be a core element of the ERA Act"), the European Innovation Act, the Advanced Materials Act (incl. IPCEI), the ERA Talent Platform, and the issue of fragmentation in the ERA. She announces a European strategy for research infrastructures, declares that "addressing the R&I divide is a must", underlines the close cooperation with the EP, and refers to the reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi ("help construct a true European Research and Innovation Union"). Ms Zaharieva also refers to the future MFF and the budget ("will champion the 3% of GDP in research and development target, by mobilising private capital, including through European partnerships"). She repeatedly underlines the role of the EIT (also regarding Widening) and says she will strive for a balanced approach to international cooperation.
The answers of Commissioner-designate Ekaterina Zaharieva to the hearing questions can be downloaded here: