On Tuesday 3 July, the European Parliament adopted its opinion on the draft regulation establishing the joint European undertaking for European high-performance computing (EuroHPC).
This report was adopted by a large majority (599 votes for, 37 against, 39 abstentions) but carries very little weight because the European Parliament is only consulted in this procedure. The Council of the EU obtained a political agreement (General approach) at the end of June (see EUROPE 12048).
It should be recalled that high-performance computing helps to process a significant number of data by supercomputers in record time.
The EU now has none of the 10 highest performing computers in the world (as opposed to 4 in 2012). In January the European Commission proposed a legal, contractual and organisational framework to help the member states coordinate their strategies and investments in HBC computers for the 2019-2026 period. To this end it is proposing to mobilise €486 million from the EU budget.
The European Parliament report drafted by Zigmantas Balčytis (S&D, Lithuania), proposes amendments in the margins. It highlights the importance of data protection and respect for private life. It also emphasises that “access to Union supercomputers should not be granted to undertakings established in third countries, unless these countries grant reciprocal access to their supercomputers”.
Please see the following link for the Council of the EU text: https://bit.ly/2z74MGS (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)