Lawmakers call for binding 5G security measures in wake of Huawei scandal

A group of 35 EU lawmakers has called upon Henna Virkkunen, the European Commissioner in charge of technology, to require member states to exclude high-risk vendors from 5G telecom infrastructure in the wake of a probe into alleged bribery of MEPs involving Huawei. 

“We call upon you to make the EU toolbox for 5G security a legally binding instrument, ensuring its full and uniform application to high-risk vendors,” they said in a letter seen by Euronews. 

The lawmakers include Aura Salla (Finland/EPP), Svenja Hahn (Germany/Renew), Bart Groothuis (Netherlands/Renew), and Alexandra Geese (Germany/Greens-EFA). 

In 2020 the Commission adopted a so-called 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox to protect 5G networks from cyber threats and risks. EU member states agreed to apply restrictions for suppliers considered to be high risk – such as China’s Huawei and ZTE – including necessary exclusions, following security concerns.

To date, only a limited number of countries have taken concrete steps to ban the companies. Euronews reported last year that fewer than half the 27 EU member states have used legal powers to impose restrictions on such telecom suppliers. 

Wednesday’s letter says that making the toolbox binding is “necessary to establish a uniform and robust defence against foreign interference”. 

“The time for voluntary measures has passed,” they add. 

Earlier this month in a telecom congress in Barcelona, Virkkunen said that she will explore ways to speed up the implementation and enforcement of 5G security measures taken by member states to protect critical communication networks from foreign interference.   

Huawei lobbyists were banned from entering the Parliament’s premises on Friday, following allegations of bribery linked to the Chinese company's lobbying activities. The ban is temporary and will remain in place until the authorities conclude their investigation.

Huawei said in a statement that it has "a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times".