EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has concerns about involving the Chinese telecommunications equipment supplier Huawei in the expansion of the fast 5G mobile network. The politician also refers to a Chinese secret service law, which companies such as Huawei may have to disclose to the Chinese state. "If there is a risk that data from citizens or companies could be tapped under this law, then we cannot accept it," von der Leyen told SPIEGEL.
The 5G and 6G infrastructure is "a critical key technology for secure data flows in Europe," said von der Leyen. The Commission plans to present proposals for common European standards in the near future. "One of these standards must be that the companies that supply us with these highly sensitive technologies are independent and cannot be forced by their governments to pass on data," said the EU Commission chief.
In the SPIEGEL conversation, von der Leyen also commented on the US sanctions against the controversial gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. It is true that the pipeline project "also has a political dimension", said von Leyen. The EU Commission is using its means to protect the interests of the eastern member states. "Another page says that the EU Commission is firmly opposed to sanctions against European companies that are involved in projects in accordance with the legal system."
Von der Leyen countered a statement by the German US ambassador Richard Grenell. In "Bild am Sonntag" he justified his country's sanctions as a "pro-European decision". "15 European countries, the European Commission and the European Parliament have all raised concerns about the project," the ambassador said.
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