Commission’s statement for keeping 'key technologies' in Europe

President Von der Leyen expressed today in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg she wanted key technologies to be kept in Europe. She will make this topic the main outset of her term.

“We have to manage key technologies and keep them in Europe: AI, supercomputing, blockchain [..] If we’re not able to do that, we have to work on our strength. Let’s bring together our money, research capacity, knowledge.”

AI, security standards for critical infrastructures as priorities

The President advocated for a more protective approach of European technology by strengthening the concerned sectors against foreign rivals. Investment, EU security standards for key infrastructures like 5G and new rules on public investments will be the key actions for the new Commission.

Regarding the European Commission’s agenda, draft rules for artificial intelligence are expected by the first 100 days in office. The legislative effort should be similar and complementary to the the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

“As we did with the GDPR, we set the framework for the world, we can do that now for AI. Because we here in Europe put people in the center, not the market or money. What’s at stake here is that we should be setting the rules for how to deal with data. Protecting digital identity should be a top priority,” she said.

However, Commissioner for the internal market Thierry Breton has been more reluctant during his EP hearing and was more in favor of lightweight recommendations. Meanwhile, President Von der Leyen has granted Thierry Breton with a new element in his mission letter: leading a new EU data strategy.

EU Budget to better invest in innovation

When it comes to the budget, she reiterated the importance of moving to “significantly modernize” the EU budget to ensure Europe’s industry can keep up with global competitors.

Von der Leyen said a shift was urgently needed to prevent Europe from falling behind competitors such as the U.S. and China.

“For years, we invested less in innovation than our competitors do,” she said. “This is a huge handicap to our competitiveness … This is why we should not see the next Multiannual Financial Framework as a simple accounting exercise. The world seven years ago looks nothing like the world in seven years time. Our budget must be significantly modernized.”

The Commission’s blueprint for the seven-year MFF proposes spending more on innovation and cutting allocations for the traditional programs of agriculture and cohesion.