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Henna Virkkunen
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Henna Virkkunen
@HennaVirkkunen
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy of the European Commission 🇪🇺🇫🇮
Joined September 2009
From today, a new €3 per-item customs duty applies to low-value imports entering the EU. This helps level the playing field for European businesses, strengthens consumer protection against unsafe and counterfeit products.
This is another important step towards a modern Customs Union that supports fair competition and Europe's economic security. 🇪🇺- Social media can connect, engage & inspire. But we cannot ignore its impact on young people. That’s why we’ve launched a €1.48M call for proposals to create & test safer, more inclusive social media platforms and features designed with young users in mind. #SocialMediaDay
This pilot project will involve young people from different countries and backgrounds in designing and developing new European social media platforms, with a strong focus on user safety, mental health, privacy and ease of use. 🔗 - Ciao Italia! Italy is home to world-class researchers, startups & thriving technology ecosystems. I have seen these strengths firsthand, in Milan and Bologna, while meeting researchers, entrepreneurs, startups and innovators. This is the future I want to see for Europe.
- Cloud services have become a cornerstone of Europe’s economy, a prerequisite for AI. We informed Microsoft and Amazon of our preliminary view that they should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services, Microsoft Azure and AWS respectively, under the DMA.
More than half of EU businesses rely on cloud services, alongside record levels of investment in public cloud infrastructure. These services must operate in fair, open & competitive markets that foster innovation & Europe’s technological sovereignty. - Cybersecurity is not just a technical challenge but a strategic imperative. I had the pleasure to celebrate with @ecso_eu 10 year anniversary. ECSO has grown into an important partner of the Commission in our quest to improve security, competitiveness and tech sovereignty.
- Security threats don't stop at borders—and neither does the EU. The Commission is boosting the fight against cross-border and online crime by giving Europol and Eurojust stronger mandates and new powers. Read more: ec.europa.eu/commission/pre…
- We are allocating €5.8M to establish the first two Regional Cable Hubs in Baltic & Mediterranean Seas, while launching a €40M call to strengthen Europe’s capacity to repair submarine communication cables. This is Europe investing in its security, resilience & tech sovereignty.
With these first regional hubs and dedicated investment in repair capabilities, Europe is moving from concern to action: strengthening our ability to detect threats, respond more rapidly, and act collectively when our critical infrastructure is at risk. - One message stood out throughout these days in Paris: Europe is innovating and ambitious. We have the talent, research excellence and entrepreneurial spirit. Now it is time for Europe to scale innovation.
- Europe is innovating & ambitious. We have +45K startups, including thousands focused on AI. We also have more AI researchers per capita than many of our industrial competitors. The ingredients for leadership are here. Now it is time for Europe to scale innovation. #VivaTech
- The State of the Digital Decade Report is out! The message is clear: Europe has laid solid foundations for its digital transformation. At the same time, continued efforts will be needed to achieve our common 2030 targets. The challenge now is execution & delivery at scale.
Some important stats: 📶 96.8% of households now have basic 5G coverage 🌐 46.7% of EU enterprises use cloud computing 🤖 20% of EU companies currently use AI 🖱️ +60% of Europeans have at least basic digital skillsWe have laid the groundwork for a vibrant digital future. The foundations of the EU’s digital transformation are in place, however the scale, speed and coordination of implementation need to go further. - Welcome Ukraine to the EU Cybersecurity Reserve. Today, we are strengthening our collective defences and reaffirm the principle of solidarity that lies at the heart of Europe's digital future. link.europa.eu/3WxQQ9
- Europe represents an economic opportunity, not a security risk. We are and will remain a trusted partner. This is why we need to cooperate on emerging, powerful AI models. This is a shared global challenge. This also underlines the need for Europe’s technological sovereignty.We encourage the co-legislators to adopt our tech sovereignty package swiftly.
