The European Union is taking a major step to protect its infrastructure by phasing out technology from “high-risk” suppliers. On Tuesday, the European Commission released a draft proposal that aims to remove potentially dangerous equipment from the continent’s most sensitive industries. While the plan doesn’t name specific companies, everyone knows it targets Chinese tech giants like Huawei and ZTE.
EU leaders say they need these new rules because of a surge in cyberattacks and growing fears about foreign spying. They also want to stop Europe from relying too much on tech from countries whose interests might not align with Europe’s. Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s tech chief, called it a vital step to keep Europe safe and independent.
The ban will cover 18 different areas. This includes the obvious ones like mobile phone networks and cloud services, but it goes much deeper. The rules will also apply to self-driving cars, power grids, water systems, drones, and even medical devices. If a company makes the “high-risk” list, mobile phone providers will have exactly 36 months to rip out and replace that gear.
This shift follows a path similar to that of the United States, which banned new Huawei and ZTE gear years ago. China is already pushing back, calling the EU’s plan “naked protectionism” and demanding a level playing field for its businesses.
For years, some European countries have been slow to remove this technology because it’s incredibly expensive to replace. However, the mood in Europe has turned. Germany, for example, has already started banning Chinese parts from its future 6G networks.
This isn’t a final law just yet. The proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and the individual EU member states. If they agree, it will mark one of the biggest shake-ups in how Europe builds and secures its digital world.
