The bloc’s tech chief has openly endorsed developing new strike capabilities as part of its expanding emphasis on defense
The EU should develop offensive cyber capabilities to enhance its defenses against perceived threats, the bloc’s tech chief, Henna Virkkunen, has told Politico.
NATO’s European members have long cited allegedly looming Russian aggression to justify their massive military buildup, including pledges to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. Moscow has dismissed such claims as “nonsense” and baseless fearmongering. The EU has also raised concerns over alleged cybersecurity risks posed by China.
Speaking to Politico on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Virkkunen signaled that the bloc is considering proactive measures in cyberspace. “It’s not enough that we are just defending …We also have to have offensive capacity,” she said.
Virkkunen also noted that the EU is seeking to reduce dependence on foreign technology and build a homegrown tech and cyber industry. “We don’t want to have risky dependencies in any critical fields,” she said.
The commission’s cybersecurity proposal, unveiled last month, aims to phase out high-risk technology from supply chains. EU officials have repeatedly warned that Chinese suppliers may pose security risks and could be used to collect sensitive data, claims Beijing has dismissed as “naked protectionism.”
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