EU to evaluate risks of technology weaponisation
Semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies and biotech
The European Commission plans to evaluate the potential misuse of four key technologies, and to implement measures to address related concerns in the coming year.
The technologies under scrutiny are semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and biotechnologies. The Commission is considering their use by "countries not sharing EU values."
"The Commission will do risk assessments of these four technologies with member states. The deadline is by the end of the year," an EU official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"The next step is to mitigate the risks next year."
The European Commission is considering various risk mitigation measures, such as export controls and collaborations with like-minded allies.
Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and EU industry chief Thierry Breton will discuss the issue in a press conference this week.
This initiative is part of the European Union's broader economic security plan.
In June, the European Commission and the High Representative released a Joint Communication outlining the European Economic Security Strategy.
The Strategy aims to mitigate risks associated with specific economic activities amidst rising geopolitical tensions and rapid technological changes, while maintaining high levels of economic openness and dynamism.
The proposal emphasises several key points, including the necessity to restrict exports of highly sensitive technology by EU member states.
It also calls for a closer examination of outbound investments that could strengthen military and intelligence capabilities, especially those of entities that might use them to threaten international peace and security.
The Strategy establishes a unified framework for achieving economic security by focusing on three main pillars:
- Promoting the EU's economic foundation and competitiveness.
- Safeguarding against various risks.
- Collaborating with a wide range of countries to address common concerns and interests.
The document outlines a comprehensive risk assessment in four key areas:
- Risks to the resilience of supply chains, which includes energy security considerations.
- Risks related to the physical and cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.
- Risks associated with technology security and potential technology leakage.
- Risks of economic dependencies being weaponised or used for economic coercion.
Several countries, including the USA and Australia, have implemented similar measures in response to concerns about China.
While the Security Strategy paper does not explicitly mention China, it emphasises cooperation with like-minded nations and adopts a "de-risking" policy, which involves reducing economic dependence on China.
The proposed Strategy also includes a call for the EU member states to allocate an additional €10 billion to support the development of strategic technologies within the industry.