Henna Virkkunen becomes EU Commission VP for tech sovereignty

Posted by Admin September 17, 2024 Tech

Tech and industry portfolios go to Finland’s Henna Virkkunen, France’s Stéphane Séjourné, Bulgaria’s Ekaterina Zaharieva and Ireland’s Michael McGrath.

Finland’s Henna Virkkunen will become the Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy in the next college of commissioners, President Ursula von der Leyen announced Tuesday.

In a role similar to that of outgoing Commissioners for the internal market, Thierry Breton and Executive Vice President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager, she will be responsible for digital matters and “frontier technologies”.

“I will ask Henna to look at the internal and external aspects of security. But also to strengthen the foundations of our democracy, such as the rule of law, and protect it wherever it comes under attack,” von der Leyen said.

According to her mission letter, she will manage the Commission’s digitalisation strategy, known as the Digital Decade, and will drive innovation in artificial intelligence. Her role will encompass a broad range of topics, from cloud computing and semiconductor technology to quantum computing and copyright issues.

Additionally, she now holds responsibility for implementing the landmark platforms regulations: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act.

Virkkunen (EPP) was elected to the European Parliament three times — in 2014, 2019 and 2024 — and led Parliament’s work on the DSA. Prior to that, she was Finland’s minister of education (2008-2011) and local government (2011-2014).

Her Finnish EPP allies reacted quickly to the announcement, congratulating her on the role.

“We are very satisfied, congratulations Henna!” wrote Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The European MP active on tech issues, Aura Salla, posted on X: “I look forward to working together to promote the EU’s competitiveness.”

Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, director-general of DigitalEurope, an EU tech lobby group, welcomed the Finnish nomination: “Linking digital with security is a great decision — the war in Ukraine has shown us that critical technologies are indispensable to keeping us safe.”

France keeps industry portfolio

In a surprise move, Breton — who could have kept a similar portfolio in the von der Leyen II Commission — resigned on Monday, accusing the Commission president of “questionable governance” and lobbying for a different candidate from Paris.

France’s new nominee, former Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Séjourné (Renew), who was put forward by the government on the same day, will be the executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy. He will look after the industry, SME, and single market portfolio.

“He will guide the work to put in place the conditions for our companies to thrive — from investment and innovation to economic stability and trade and economic security,” von der Leyen told reporters.

His mission letter outlines his responsibility for developing a new industrial strategy and simplifying regulations for European businesses. He will also work alongside the Commissioner for Climate Wopke Hoekstra to implement the Clean Industrial Deal — a framework aimed at investing in less polluting, high-tech innovations.

The nomination is opposed by MEP and leader of the French far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella: “That the president of the republic dares, in the name of France, to propose Stéphane Séjourné as European Commissioner speaks volumes about his disconnect and contempt for the election results.”

This sentiment was shared by the opposite side of the political spectrum. MEP Manon Aubry (The Left) wrote on X: “Stéphane Séjourné has no legitimacy to be appointed EU Commissioner. Emmanuel Macron persists in his autocratic drift.”

Start-ups, research and innovation

Ekaterina Zaharieva (EPP) from Bulgaria will be Commissioner for research and innovation. Zaharieva served as Bulgaria’s foreign affairs minister (2017-2021), after posts as minister for regional development and public works, and deputy prime minister focused on economic policy and administrative reform.

Bulgaria was the only country that proposed both a male and female candidate to become commissioner, as von der Leyen requested all member states to do.

“She will help ensure that we invest more and focus our spending on strategic priorities and on groundbreaking innovation,” the Commission president said.

Zaharieva’s mission will include work on a European Innovation Act, and on a start-up and scale-up strategy to improve the conditions for such businesses. She will set up an AI Research Council to pool resources.

Allied for Startups, the voice of growing businesses, posted on X that they were “thrilled” to see a Commissioner dedicated to startups. They added that this news was “a huge win for Europe’s startup scene and exactly what we’ve been advocating for.”

Consumer agenda

Ireland’s Michael McGrath (Renew) will be Commissioner for democracy, justice and the rule of law. McGrath, a former Irish finance and public expenditure minister, is expected to continue work done by outgoing Didier Reynders on issues such as data protection and consumer protection.

“I have entrusted him with the responsibility to take forward the European Democracy Shield,” von der Leyen said. According to his mission letter, he will be tasked with – among others – presenting the next Consumer Agenda 2025-2030, developing a Digital Fairness Act, and implementing product safety policies.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin congratulated McGrath, saying he would serve with “great energy and diligence” in “a significant role,” according to local Irish media.

The nominees will now face hearings in the European Parliament before they can officially take up their jobs. The new College of Commissioners is expected to take office on 1 December.