Mariya Gabriel to be given Commission’s digital portfolio

Bulgarian says post is ‘primarily a political job, not a technical one.’

STRASBOURG, France — Mariya Gabriel, Bulgaria’s pick to join the European Commission, will be given the digital economy and society portfolio, the Commission said Tuesday.

She was interviewed for the job Tuesday morning by Jean-Claude Juncker, the Commission president. She still needs to be confirmed by the European Parliament.

A hearing in front of committees dealing with tech — such as the internal market and consumer protection committee and the industry, research and energy committee — is likely to take place in the coming weeks.

If confirmed, Gabriel would work under vice presidents Andrus Ansip and Jyrki Katainen.

She would fill the shoes of Günther Oettinger who took over the budget portfolio from Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva, who rejoined the World Bank. Oettinger’s responsibilities had been handed over to Ansip since January.

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Gabriel has little experience of the tech sector but is serving her second term as a member of the European Parliament. She is best-known for her work on visa policies and foreign affairs. Most recently, she has been a rapporteur on two reports, which gave Ukrainians and Georgians the right to travel to the Schengen area without visas for up to 90 days.

Asked about criticism of her lack of experience on digital issues, Gabriel told POLITICO that being a commissioner was “primarily a political job, not a technical one.”

Speaking outside the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg, she said she looked forward to working on digital issues, as it was “a field that represents the future.”

Gabriel said she took her new appointment as “a major responsibility and a sign of trust from the Bulgarian government and the Commission.”

“But I’m waiting for the parliament hearing because as an MEP I know how important it is to get their approval,” she added.

This article has been updated with additional information.