There is already an agency in Europe for the approval of medicines - so why not one for the approval of components of future 5G mobile networks? So anyway, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) argued on Wednesday during the general debate in the Bundestag.
She wanted to transfer the monitoring of security standards in the 5G expansion of a newly created EU authority, Merkel said. This should "work together with the national institutions, which deal with the certification of 5G".
The reason for the statement is the debate about the participation of the Chinese concern Huawei in 5G expansion in Germany. Critics, not least from the CDU, fear that involvement could create a back door for espionage and sabotage by China.
"Possible with France"
Merkel called for a European solution to this question. "It is undisputed that we need high security standards in 5G expansion," she said. But "if everyone in the digital single market is doing their own and everyone acts differently then we will not get very far".
Merkel suggested that "finding possible joint solutions with France, if possible, with which we can then develop a total of European solutions". Her call for European cooperation also applies to China's policy in general, Merkel said. She sees "dangers" when every EU country makes "its own China policy," she said. Such a split would be "devastating for us in Europe".
