But the EU executive is facing pushback as it finalizes its proposal. European capitals are hesitant to let Brussels lead security policy, according to national officials interviewed for this article and a string of position papers seen by POLITICO.
Amid the controversy, the Commission pushed back the release date for its text, POLITICO reported Friday. Initially expected Jan. 14, the proposal is now scheduled to be released on Jan. 20.
A previous plan to wean telecom operators off Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE showed how difficult it is to get European capitals aligned on how to handle high-risk Chinese technology. That plan, launched in 2020, urged national governments to limit or block telcos from using Chinese 5G equipment but took years to deliver clear results, as most capitals held back on tough measures for fear of hurting operators and Beijing’s retaliation.
Access to the latest draft of the new law has also been unusually tight, with officials from other departments within the Commission being required to physically to the Commission’s headquarters and enter a safe room without their phones to view it, according to two industry officials familiar with the process.
Europe’s hesitance is frustrating China hawks, who fear Beijing’s rising power on technology has turned into an existential security risk for Europe.
“If not now, then when?” said Dutch liberal member of the European Parliament Bart Groothuis, one of the lawmakers who wrote to the Commission to raise concerns about Chinese dominance in solar inverters. “It’s long overdue … It’s about supply chain security, national security, it’s also about competitiveness and about European industries being able to compete.”
