Her profile and CV made her the most likely candidate for a digital portfolio (see EUROPE 13475/12), and so it is: Henna Virkkunen, the candidate proposed by Finland, has been appointed by the President of the European Commission as “Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy”.
In a role similar to the former portfolios held by Margrethe Vestager and Thierry Breton, the Finnish Commissioner will be responsible for digital issues and “cutting-edge technologies” as detailed in her mission statement published on Tuesday 17 September, a few hours after Ursula von der Leyen announced the composition of the new College.
DSA, DMA, AI and cybersecurity. Ms Virkkunen is now responsible for implementing the historic platform regulations – the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – as well as overseeing Europe’s artificial intelligence strategy.
According to her mission statement, she will manage the Commission’s digitisation strategy, known as the “digital decade” and work to stimulate innovation in AI.
She will also be responsible for the development of a future regulation on cloud networks and AI, as proposed by the Draghi report, the European plan for quantum chips, the future regulation on telecommunications, cybersecurity and the EUCS dossier, as well as the European Data Union strategy.
Her portfolio also includes missions relating to the security of the EU’s borders, supervision of the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’ and respect for the rule of law within the Union.
She is expected to head DG CONNECT and DG DIGIT directly, and to oversee the work of the Commissioners responsible for Defence and Space, Home Affairs and Migration, and Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law.
A member of the European People’s Party, Ms Virkkunen has been an MEP since 2014 and has worked on a number of technology and cybersecurity-related dossiers, including the Digital Services Regulation (DSA).
She was also a member of the PEGA committee of inquiry and the AIDA special committee on artificial intelligence. In Finland, she has held the post of Minister of Education (between 2008 and 2011) and of Local Government (2011-2014).
Her appointment was quickly welcomed on X by the Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, who declared he was “very pleased” with her brief. She has also been endorsed by the European technology lobby, DigitalEurope: “Henna Virkunnen will be an excellent Digital Commissioner [...] Linking digital with security is a great decision – the war in Ukraine has shown us that mastering critical technologies is indispensable to keeping us safe”.
Involvement across the Executive. Other Commissioners will also be able to influence the EU’s digital strategy: Stéphane Séjourné, a surprise replacement for Thierry Breton, will be “Executive Vice-President in charge of Prosperity and Industrial Strategy”, and should therefore have a say in matters involving industry, SMEs and the single market.
Ekaterina Zaharieva (EPP), Bulgaria’s candidate, is responsible for Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Allied for Startups, the voice of European start-ups, said on X that it was “delighted” to see a commissioner dedicated to start-ups and that the appointment represented “a great victory”.
Finally, issues relating to consumer rights and protection, which often intersect with those relating to digital technology, will be managed by Ireland’s Michael McGrath (Renew Europe), responsible for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law.
The hearings in the European Parliament will now begin, to determine the final composition of the new College, which is due to take office on 1 December.
To see Henna Virkkunen’s mission statement, go to https://aeur.eu/f/dgc (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)