Henna Virkkunen

Getting ready for the Youth Policy Dialogue in Barcelona.

We will discuss AI, online safety, and opportunities for students and young people across Europe.

Join us live at 15:00 CET:
https://www.youtube.com/live/J_Fd9o76HvQ?si=gr4B4OnBrsnv42dF

Today, we are taking a significant step for the Western Balkan partners’ journey towards joining the EU’s Roaming family.

We have proposed opening negotiations to integrate Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia into the EU roaming area.

https://link.europa.eu/fWytmd

Prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against major diseases.

We have launched a call for expression of interest to establish a new Network of AI-powered Advanced Screening Centres in Europe.

If you are a medical centre that has already deployed AI solutions, or is preparing to introduce them in the near future, we invite you to express your interest before 10 April.

⬇️
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EuropeanNetworkOfAdvancedScreeningCentres

The AI revolution is global and Europe is deepening cooperation with trusted partners around the world.

In New Delhi at the AI Impact Summit, I met with Ministers, CEOs and leading experts from across the world to discuss how we can turn AI’s transformative power into shared progress.

AI is no longer just a technology. It is a driver of competitiveness, security and global influence.

Together, we’re ensuring that AI remains innovative, competitive and aligned with our democratic values.

In New Delhi, we launched the first-ever European Legal Gateway Office, together with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

This new office will serve as a one-stop hub to support the mobility of Indian talent and skilled ICT-professionals seeking opportunities in Europe.

At the same time, it will help EU-based employers and higher education institutions connect more effectively with India’s digital ecosystem and pool of skilled talent.

Exactly two years ago, the Digital Services Act drew a clear line: what’s illegal offline is also illegal online.

Since then, we’ve seen real progress across the EU:

📍More transparency.

📍More responsibility for platforms to assess and reduce the systemic risks they create.

📍Stronger user rights.

The digital world keeps evolving, and implementation continues with Member States to ensure the rules deliver in practice.

Look through to see what’s already changing and what it means for you 👉

Today, we have launched an investigation into Shein under the #DSA.

The investigation concerns the platform’s potentially addictive design features, the lack of transparency around its recommender systems, and the sale of illegal products, including child sexual abuse material.

In the EU, illegal products are prohibited whether they are sold on a store shelf or through an online marketplace.

Cyber-attacks on ICT supply chains are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can have significant impacts on our security and economy.

Last Friday, the NIS Cooperation Group adopted the EU ICT Supply Chain Security Toolbox, developed by EU Member States with the support of the European Commission and ENISA, together with two risk assessments on connected and automated vehicles and on detection equipment.

A strong opportunity for Europe’s AI ecosystem to take part in the Frontier AI Grand Challenge.

As part of the Apply AI strategy, together with the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, we have launched a flagship EU-wide competition aimed at driving the development of sovereign, large-scale European AI models.

The selected project will receive up to 2.5 percent of the overall EuroHPC computing capacity for one year, on one or more AI-optimised EuroHPC supercomputers.

Two intense days in Munich, from quantum to security & cybersecurity, through innovation, digital sovereignty.

Europe’s direction is now set at the heart of our policy, funding & strategic thinking, to ensure Europe remains innovative, secure and strong in the digital age.

A quantum leap for European technological sovereignty.

Welcome Euro-Q-Exa, Europe’s latest quantum computer.

Hosted at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre in Munich and part of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, Euro-Q-Exa is the third EuroHPC quantum computer to come online.

Strengthening Europe’s quantum ecosystem and supporting researchers & innovators across Europe.

Click for more: https://www.eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/inauguration-euro-q-exa-expanding-european-quantum-computing-infrastructure-2026-02-12_en

Europe’s security environment has changed profoundly. Our response must be united, swift, and forward-looking.

Today, we launched an EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security.

This means:
➡️ Boosting preparedness for drone-related incidents
➡️ Enhancing detection by leveraging advanced technologies and 5G networks
➡️ Improving coordination and response to malicious drone activity
➡️ Strengthening defence readiness against evolving threats

97% of young people in the EU use internet daily. Today, on Safer Internet Day, Europe takes a step forward in protecting and empowering young people online.

Together with Commissioner Glenn Micallef, we presented an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying aimed at giving children, parents, carers and educators the tools they need to prevent, report and combat cyberbullying.

Today in Leuven to inaugurate Europe’s largest #ChipsAct pilot line, NanoIC at IMEC. A milestone for EU semiconductor development and manufacturing.

This pilot line will enable the next gen of advanced semiconductor technologies essential for future tech and our competitiveness.

NanoIC will serve as a strategic European pilot line where researchers and companies can test and develop new chip designs and technologies.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/edBvwkYi

Today, the Commission has preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the DSA, for its addictive design.

This includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommender system.

TikTok seems to fail to implement reasonable, proportionate and effective measures to mitigate risks stemming from its addictive design.

At this stage, the Commission considers that TikTok needs to change the basic design of its service.

🔗: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_312

New toolbox, funding priorities, €347M investment: today we are strengthening submarine cable security. We continue delivering on the commitments of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security and show that Europe can respond quickly to rising threats. We have published a new Cable Security Toolbox with risk mitigation measures, alongside a list of Cable Projects of European Interest.

Strengthening Europe’s competitiveness is essential.

This work starts at home:
- by fully unlocking the potential of the Single Market,
- by simplifying rules and cutting unnecessary burdens for businesses and citizens,
- and by mobilising the savings and investments union to drive growth, innovation, and scale across Europe.

It also means deepening our network of trusted trade partners, grounded in shared values and mutual benefit.

Europe has what it takes. Now we must deliver.

We have started two sets of proceedings to assist Alphabet in complying with its obligations on AI services interoperability and online search data sharing under the DMA.

This will ensure more open and innovative AI and Search services to the benefit of consumers and businesses.

🔗 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_202

Creating fake, sexual images of women and children is a cruel and unacceptable form of abuse. We will not accept that.
 
Today, the European Commission has launched new investigation against X under the DSA. We have taken investigative steps and suspect that X has not properly assessed and mitigated risk on Grok´s functionalities. This includes the risk of spreading illegal content in the EU, like fake sexual images and child abuse material.