Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva is the EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation

The European Parliament has approved the nomination of Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva as European Commissioner. She will be in charge of the 'Start-ups, Research and Innovation' portfolio.

After her confirmation hearing in the European Parliament, which lasted more than three hours, Zaharieva said that it had been organised in a fair way and that the questions had been very competent and constructive.

"I am grateful to all the representatives of the European Parliament who asked their questions," Zaharieva said, as quoted by public broadcaster BNT.