MEPs approve Iliana Ivanova as new Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

The European Parliament today approved the appointment of Iliana Ivanova (Bulgaria) as Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Ms Ivanova will succeed Mariya Gabriel to implement the EU's research and development programme. She will also be responsible for the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC).

On 5 September, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Culture and Education Committee held a three-hour hearing with Iliana Ivanova to assess her suitability to succeed Mariya Gabriel, who resigned as EU Commissioner on 15 May to become Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria.

After the hearing, both committees gave Ms Ivanova a positive evaluation, which was subsequently confirmed by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and Group Presidents) and the plenary of the Parliament. 522 MEPs voted in favour, 27 against and 51 abstained.

The Director General of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) is Marc Lemaître. This is responsible for the European Union's research and innovation policy and the coordination of research and innovation activities. It funds research and innovation through Framework Programmes (currently Horizon Europe) and follows a strategic programming approach.

The Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) has recently been Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) is the executive arm of the European Union responsible for policy in the fields of education, culture, youth, languages and sport. DG EAC also supports these issues through a number of projects and programmes, most notably Creative Europe and Erasmus+.

Marc Lemaître and Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen now report to the new Commissioner Iliana Ivanova.

Source: European Parliament