Thierry Breton, the European Union's commissioner for the internal market, has called on more EU member states to take action against Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE by removing them from their 5G networks, CNBC reports.
In a speech delivered on Thursday, June 15, Breton emphasized the importance of addressing national security risks associated with these "high-risk" suppliers.
He referred to the EU's adoption of a "5G cybersecurity toolbox" in January 2020, which aimed to identify potential risks of involving certain providers in the rollout of 5G infrastructure.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom, have banned Huawei due to security concerns.
EU Commissioner Urges Member States to Address Security Risks with 5G
Breton expressed his determination to work with member states and telecommunications operators to speed up the decision-making process regarding replacing high-risk suppliers from 5G networks.
Currently, only 10 EU countries have restricted or banned Huawei from their networks.
Breton also announced that the Commission would implement the 5G toolbox principles in procuring telecom services to avoid exposure to Huawei and ZTE.
China has vehemently opposed some EU countries' bans on Huawei and argued that the Commission lacks legal grounds to prohibit the company.
Germany, in particular, is considering a ban on Huawei and ZTE from its 5G network, leading to a strong reaction from the Chinese embassy in Germany. In March, we reported that the German government already blocked components from the said Chinese companies.
EU Demands Implementation of Cybersecurity Guidelines
According to a progress report by the European Commission, most EU member states have been slow in implementing the bloc's cybersecurity recommendations, particularly in excluding high-risk 5G vendors.
Thierry Breton stressed the need for swift action, stating that reducing dependencies on critical sectors, such as energy, has been achieved "in record time."
Referring to efforts to reduce reliance on Russian gas and oil, Breton asserted that the situation with 5G should be no different.
He emphasized that critical dependencies that could become a weapon against the EU's interests must be eliminated promptly.
Breton called on member states to adopt legislation banning these suppliers without delay.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission's executive vice president, also expressed concern about the slow progress, noting that the Commission is taking steps to ensure security in its networks and funding instruments.
The United States has been a vocal advocate for excluding Chinese telecom companies from 5G networks due to national security risks.
Concerns stem from China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, which allows the government to compel Chinese companies to hand over data if requested. Huawei argued that the law does not let the company install 'backdoors' in its networks.
The US banned the sale and import of communications equipment from five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, in November 2020.
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