For Europe, digital sovereignty is not an option!

Finland's Henna Virkkunen has been appointed Executive Vice-President in charge of Digital Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. This new portfolio confirms the development of the European Union's (EU) digital policy.

It's worth pointing out that the new vice-president's roadmap covers all the strategic issues relating to digital technology: the cloud, cyber-security, AI, innovation and research.

And, as is often the case in all these areas, Open Source technologies are key enablers!

And, as is often the case in all these areas, Open Source technologies are key enablers!

•  Technological dependence on third countries :
  European leaders are concerned about their dependence on third countries for certain key technologies. 
  To remedy this, Henna Virkkunen will be in charge of overseeing digitisation and the digital infrastructure, seen as prerequisites for being at the cutting edge of research and development.

• During her term of office, Henna Virkkunen will have a number of key tasks:
  - Develop an EU Cloud and AI Development Act and establish a roadmap for quantum chips, along the lines of the Chips Act ;
  - Developing a ‘Unified Cloud Policy’ for public authorities and public procurement;
  - Stepping up investment in so-called ‘disruptive’ technologies, such as supercomputers, semiconductors, IoT, genomics and quantum computing;
  - Support the move towards a legal framework for the sharing of data by businesses and public authorities;
  - Contribute to the action plan against cyberbullying ;
  - Help strengthen cybersecurity, in particular by improving the processes for adopting European certification schemes;

• Artificial intelligence objectives :
  Henna Virkkunen's immediate objective will be to strengthen the implementation of AI factories. She will then be responsible for leading the development of an ‘applied’ AI strategy to stimulate industrial use cases and improve public services.
  It will also be tasked with helping to set up a European AI Research Council.

  Henna Virkkunen's mandate will aim to strengthen the EU's digital sovereignty and security, while promoting innovation and Europe's competitiveness on a global scale.