Latest news with #SecurityandDemocracy
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
EU a 'reliable partner' for digital cooperation amid turbulence, tech chief says
FILE PHOTO: Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen holds a press conference after the European Commission College meeting in Brussels, Belgium January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union will work with international partners to boost its competitiveness and promote a rules-based global digital order, EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said on Thursday, a move aimed at offsetting turbulent ties with the United States. The U.S. administration has in recent months criticised the European Commission for its swathe of new rules reining in the power of Big Tech and threatened to impose tariffs in retaliation for fines levied on U.S. tech giants. Under the proposed International Digital Strategy announced on Thursday, the 27-country bloc will collaborate with other countries for a secure and trusted digital infrastructure in energy, transport, finance and health, the European Commission said. Other areas of cooperation include emerging technologies, digital governance that fosters social cohesion and protects democratic principles, cybersecurity and protecting children on online platforms. "We are living through a profound digital revolution that is reshaping economies and societies worldwide. This is happening in a geopolitical landscape that is more challenging than before," Virkkunen told a press conference. "In this environment, the EU is stepping forward as a stable and reliable partner, deeply committed to digital cooperation with our allies and partners," she said. Virkkunen said the proposed strategy had two prongs - the first is to boost the bloc's competitiveness in key technologies like AI, quantum cybersecurity or semiconductors, and the second is to help other countries in their digital goals. "Crucially, it reaffirms the EU's unwavering commitment to building a rules-based global digital order, rooted firmly in our fundamental values. Indeed, no country or region can lead the technological revolution alone," she said. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, Isabelle Yr Carlsson and Milan Strahm; Writing by by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
Euronews
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Poland leads EU call for more civilian and military cooperation on cyber
Civil and military cooperation on cybersecurity needs beefing up to confront ongoing threats faced by EU member states, Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski said at the informal meeting of telecom ministers in Warsaw on Wednesday. 'These worlds cannot be apart,' he said, adding that his own country – which is chairing the EU meetings in the first half of this year – is at the frontline of 'fighting thousands of cyber threats daily." 'We have more and more attacks against critical infrastructure, and other member states too. We need to invest and exchange information,' Gawkowski added. The remarks come as EU heads of state are set to discuss, during a special meeting in Brussels on Thursday, a five-point response plan, dubbed "REARM Europe", proposed by the EU Commission earlier this week. The plan aims to mobilise around €800 billion over the next four years, the bulk will come from the 27 national governments increasing their spending on defence and security. When asked whether cybersecurity can benefit from this, Gawkowski said that the funds 'largely speaking' also affect cyber, 'the first stage of the war is hybrid.' Estonia's Liisa Pakosta, Minister for Justice and Digital Affairs, said that trust and cooperation between member states needs to be improved. 'We would like to see much more trust, willingness, as in the way we work in the military field. We misunderstand the threat that cyber issues have, we don't take it as a bombing, but it is that, it is a physical threat.' Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said at the joint press conference that the telecom ministers' meeting comes at a crucial moment. 'We see that member states and the EU institutions continue to be targeted. Hybrid attacks require more coordination,' Virkkunen said. She added that the ministers' discussion would feed into the Commission white paper on defence, to be presented two weeks from now. In February, the European Commission presented a proposal to ensure an effective and efficient response to large-scale cyber incidents. The proposed blueprint – discussed today by the ministers – updates the comprehensive EU framework for Cybersecurity Crisis Management and maps the relevant EU actors, outlining their roles throughout the entire crisis lifecycle. It also published a recommendation on the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructures, used for telecommunication, in the wake on ongoing incidents such as in the Baltic Sea.
