EU Commissioner candidate Zaharieva supports funding for defence technology

"I support the allocation of more funds in the field of innovation for defence" - this is how the Bulgarian candidate for the post of European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, answered a question by Bulgarian MEP Petar Volgin during her hearing in the European Parliament.

"Europe did not start this war, Russia did," Zaharieva continued, adding: "Well, I hope that peace will defeat war. I firmly believe that our security depends on Ukraine winning the war. And yes, I believe that the resources we use to help Ukraine win are not wasted - they are an investment in our own security. Ukraine is fighting for our own security."

"We have a brainpower of 2 million smart people who make Europe a force in global research," Zakharieva stressed. If appointed, she said her priorities would be an action plan for women in innovation, start-ups and science, the promotion of artificial intelligence in science, the creation of an AI research council, and she expected to see 3% of EU GDP spent on innovation and research.