The new EU Tech Commissioner, Henna Virkkunen, is set to focus on improving the adoption processes of certification schemes, particularly the ongoing debate around voluntary cybersecurity certificates for cloud services. The draft text of the scheme, developed by ENISA in 2019, has been delayed due to disagreements over sovereignty requirements, with France pushing for exclusion of non-EU cloud companies. The deadlock reflects broader debates on protectionism and cybersecurity in the EU.
Virkkunen’s mission, as outlined in her letter from President Ursula von der Leyen, will be to strengthen cybersecurity and oversee the ongoing debate. The delay in the certification scheme comes alongside the evaluation of the Cybersecurity Act, which gives ENISA a central role in coordinating EU responses to cyberattacks.
In addition to the cloud certification scheme, two other certification proposals on baseline ICT products and 5G are also in progress. The Commission has now requested ENISA’s support for the certification of European Digital Identity Wallets, highlighting the increasing importance of certification schemes in the digital economy.
As the new European Commission prepares to take office, the resolution of the certification scheme deadlock will be a key challenge for Virkkunen. The outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the cybersecurity and digital competitiveness of the EU market.
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