The Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) hold a joint public hearing with Ms Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth. Ivanova has been named by the Bulgarian Government to substitute the former Commissioner Maryia Gabriel who left the office on the 15th of may 2023. Extracts from the hearing.

Brussels

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

statement

Committee on Culture and Education

VERHEYEN, Sabine (EPP, DE)

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

hearing of Commissioners

IVANOVA, Iliana (EPP, BG)

2023 Commissioners' hearings (T)

Hearing of Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth: extracts from the hearing

Arrival of Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth I would like to start by sharing with you my vision for the remaining year of the mandate, where I could bring solutions and set a direction for the future. Three points are central to me. The key role of research and innovation for the use growth model. The best way to foster education and skills as developing people's potential is the best investment in our future and the cohesive role of culture for our society.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth I will also focus efforts on innovative ways to develop advanced technologies. The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, for instance, is one new tool which I will fully support to put us back in the lead in the race for leadership on new technologies that will define the green and digital future.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth I will continue working on building the University Alliances, encourage the efforts for mutual recognition of exams and diplomas and the joint European degree. The Digital Education Action Plan has proven to be a key enabler for learning opportunities across the EU, and I will support the Member States in ensuring the effective digital transformation of education systems.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth The main goal that I see for our Horizon Europe program is to tackle these global challenges and boost the European competitiveness based on research and innovation that is focusing on excellence, inclusivity and sustainability. Along with all these measures. I want to acknowledge also another important moment in this widening process, which is also the role of the Member States themselves.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth We have to realize that this cannot be a one sided action of only providing incentives and then of course, using all these opportunities. But also it has to be covered by matching efforts from the member States themselves. They have to implement the structural reforms. They have to do the necessary investments. And together, combined with the measures, this could start giving some some good results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Iliana IVANOVA, Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth We know we have a limited competence here because it's mainly the member states prerogative and we respect the autonomy of sports institutions, but we have other tools that we can use. For instance, the High-Level Group on Gender Equality in Sport. This is a tool that we could use with the idea of issuing recommendations that are aimed at the safety of sport, that are aiming to fight against harassment in sport and of course, build on more role models.