{"id":638768,"date":"2024-09-18T20:12:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T20:12:55","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:12:55","slug":"why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why tech insiders are worried about the EU&#8217;s startup commissioner"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a30c7bf693e6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a30c7bf693e6\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner\/#1_She_lacks_experience_in_tech\" >1. She lacks experience in tech<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner\/#2_Theres_no_plan_for_an_EU_version_of_DARPA\" >2. There\u2019s no plan for an EU version of DARPA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-tech-insiders-are-worried-about-the-eus-startup-commissioner\/#3_Shes_been_embroiled_in_a_scandal\" >3. She\u2019s been embroiled in a scandal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image?fit=796%2C417&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2024%2F09%2FUntitled-design-1-3.jpg&amp;signature=84018c65d2d1b2e52922fb649583327d\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            Ekaterina Zaharieva hasn\u2019t even started work as the EU\u2019s first startup commissioner,\u00a0but tensions are already rising around her role.<\/p>\n<p>The Bulgarian politician was nominated for the job on Tuesday. Alongside startups, her brief will also cover <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research and innovation. But first, her <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ointment needs approval from the European Parliament.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Her critics hope that confirmation never comes. Here are three big reasons for their opposition.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_She_lacks_experience_in_tech\"><\/span>1. She lacks experience in tech<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zaharieva was a lawyer before climbing the ranks of Bulgarian politics to become deputy minister. In the world of tech, however, her experience is slim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Her resume contains scant evidence of experience with startups. Nor does she have a background in research or innovation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper channel-cta\">\n<div class=\"ica-text\">\n<p class=\"ica-text__title\">TNW Conference 2025 &#8211; Back to NDSM on June 19-20, 2025 &#8211; Save the date!<\/p>\n<p>As we wrapped up our incredible 2024 edition, we&#8217;re pleased to announce our return to Amsterdam NDSM in 2025. Registration now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>The R&amp;D community <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencebusiness.net\/news\/who-ekaterina-zaharieva-new-commissioner-start-ups-research-and-innovation\">reportedly<\/a> wanted a commissioner<span lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0with more relevant expertise.<\/span><\/span><span>\u00a0Fin<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><span>land\u2019s<\/span><\/span><span> Henna Virkkunen was singled out as a promising alternative, but has instead been <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2024-09-17\/eu-picks-tech-enforcer-who-helped-write-its-social-media-rules\">proposed as<\/a> the EU\u2019s next digital chief.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Theres_no_plan_for_an_EU_version_of_DARPA\"><\/span>2. There\u2019s no plan for an EU version of DARPA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Earlier this month, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi released a damning report about the EU\u2019s competitiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Draghi said the bloc was \u201cfailing to translate innovation into commercialisation.\u201d To solve the problem, he wants to create an EU agency modelled on DARPA \u2014 the Pentagon\u2019s \u201cmad <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>\u201d unit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The European Innovation Agency, he said, should be reformed to become this new body. Its mission: supporting high-risk projects that could deliver \u201cbreakthrough technological advances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This bold concept, however, has not been mentioned in the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/document\/download\/130e9159-8616-4c29-9f61-04592557cf4c_en?filename=Mission%20letter%20-%20ZAHARIEVA.pdf\">mission letter<\/a> to <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zaharieva.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Shes_been_embroiled_in_a_scandal\"><\/span>3. She\u2019s been embroiled in a scandal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Tech issues aren\u2019t the only concerns swirling around Zaharieva. She was also once entangled in the illegal sale of Bulgarian passports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In 2018, a whistleblower accused Zaharieva and two other politicians of \u201crunning the scam,\u201d\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euractiv.com\/section\/justice-home-affairs\/news\/deputy-pm-minister-and-mep-named-in-bulgarias-cash-for-passport-scam\/\">Euractiv reported<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Zaharieva denied the allegations and the scandal subsided. <\/span><span>But the accusations have resurfaced since her nomination for the new EU role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>As a result, Politico named <span>Zaharieva as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/ursula-von-der-leyen-new-eu-commissioners-nominees-rejected-parliament\/\">one of five<\/a> commissioner nominees that the European Parliament is most likely to reject. The hearings will be held over the next few weeks.<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/concerns-about-eu-startup-commissioner-zaharieva\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ekaterina Zaharieva hasn\u2019t even started work as the EU\u2019s first startup commissioner,\u00a0but tensions are already rising around her role. The Bulgarian politician was nominated for the job on Tuesday. Alongside startups, her brief will also cover research and innovation. But first, her appointment needs approval from the European Parliament. Her critics hope that confirmation never&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":638769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280%2C640&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2024%2F09%2FUntitled-design-1-3.jpg&signature=b192b6b2e66c17610e6731fdd180ee2f","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-638768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=638768"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638768\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/638769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=638768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=638768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=638768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}