Remarks by Executive Vice-President Vestager at the Press Conference on the Communication of the Commission on secure 5G deployment in the EU - Main contents
Welcome to Mr. Tonko Obuljen representing the Croatian Presidency here today. I think this is a very show of what we are going to present to you, this intense cooperation between Member States and the Commission. The Commission has today adopted a Communication on secure fifth-generation of mobile network deployment in the EU i. With this Communication, the Commission endorses the toolbox that Member States have jointly agreed on.
We can do great things with 5G. It will be a major enabler for future digital services in core areas of citizens' lives. The technology supports personalised medicines, precision agriculture and enables energy grids that can integrate all kinds of renewable energy. This will make a positive difference. We can achieve the goals that we have set ourselves, but only if we can make our networks secure. Only then will the digital changes benefit all citizens.
Making Europe fit for the digital age also means making our networks cybersecure. As many critical services will depend on 5G, ensuring the security of networks is of highest strategic importance for the entire EU.
Cybersecurity threats - including the risk of interference by non-EU states or state-backed actors - are becoming more sophisticated and widespread. When it comes to cybersecurity, we are only as protected as the weakest link. This means that a shared security culture and enhanced cooperation between Member States in the field of cybersecurity are of importance to address this issue and to build the EU's resilience against cyberattacks.
While operators are responsible for the secure rollout of 5G, and Member States are responsible for national security, networks and security is an issue of strategic importance for the entire Single Market and for the Union as a whole. The collective work on the toolbox demonstrates a strong determination to jointly respond to the security challenges of 5G networks. This is essential for a successful and credible European approach to 5G security.
The Commission will support the implementation of an EU approach on 5G cybersecurity by working to ensure a diverse and sustainable 5G supply chain, for example via the application of foreign direct investment screening, trade defence instruments, competition rules to make sure there is no lock-in, as well as through EU funding programmes and their security conditionality. Furthermore, the Commission will facilitate coordination among Member States on standardisation and EU-wide certification.
Both our Communication and the EU toolbox are based on an objective assessment of risks and a balanced set of possible measures. They apply across the board and do not target any specific country or company.
At the same time, we know that the decisions the EU and its Member States will take on these matters will have an impact in the way we relate with our partners.
And we want to tackle this head on, in an open and frank manner.
What we are defining today is a European approach to 5G security. One that respects the open nature of our internal market. And one that protects our citizens and our technological sovereignty as we tackle the cybersecurity threats of 5G networks through a serious and objectively risk-based approach. A proportionate approach that tailors restrictive measures to the specific risks identified.
And this is something we are more than willing to explain, also internationally.
This work is not easy but it is essential. Speed is also important because 5G holds all this potential. This is why the Commission calls on Member States to implement the key toolbox measures by the 30th of April to prepare a report on its implementation by June and to cooperate with the Commission to assess the effects of these recommendations by October this year.