Henna Virkkunen: NATO is really important now

Rejected EU commissioner Henna Virkkunen (kok) answered the reporters’ questions after Wednesday’s vote in his serious matter-of-fact style.

The new commission received support from the contentious parliament, but by an exceptionally small margin.

“The world is living in very challenging times. That’s why it’s important that the commission is in place,” Virkkunen began.

Starting work at the beginning of December, Ursula von der Leyenin the most important main goals of the second commission are strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and security, Virkkunen said.

He became the Commission’s Vice-President and Digital Commissioner responsible for technology, security and democracy.

“The purpose is above all to speed up investments and innovations. For example, I will take the initiative to open artificial intelligence factories in Europe. We want to strengthen our supercomputers, so that companies get computing capacity and better participate in artificial intelligence development,” he described.

The Commission and Virkkunen talk about pioneering technologies around which investments and innovations are wanted in Europe: artificial intelligence, microchip production and quantum computing.

Strengthening the competitiveness of the automotive industry will be on the commission’s table in the coming weeks, Virkkunen said. The commissioner did not yet have anything to say about concrete means.

Will the legislation get stuck?

Virkkunen did not doubt the commission’s chances of success at all, although there is an obvious danger that the bills will not progress in the parliament, at least according to the old model.

“We will represent the entire European Union and work closely with the parliament, political groups, committees, as well as member countries, so that our proposals get the widest possible support,” said Virkkunen.

In recent weeks, the activities of the center-right EPP group have been strongly criticized for fraternizing with fringe groups. Virkkus was asked if it will be difficult to draft laws if it is not known exactly for whom they are being drafted.

Virkkunen referred to chairman von der Leyen’s comment on Wednesday, in which he emphasized the cooperation of central groups. The prerequisite for the commission agreement was precisely the declaration of cooperation signed by the middle groups of the parliament, EPP, S&D and Renew.

“Above all, we want to find pro-European groups that are moderate and ready to make compromises.”

Hybrid threats

Virkkunen will also coordinate the future “white paper” of European defense, in which, according to the commissioner, hybrid threats, among other things, are to be dealt with thoroughly.

How can the Commission ultimately create security for Europeans? Defense policy is within the competence of the member countries, and on the other hand, the defense alliance NATO manages the security plot on its own.

“The defense industry is what the EU needs to focus on in order to strengthen the European defense industry and obtain competitive armaments,” said Virkkunen.

Cooperation with NATO will be strengthened, he said.

“Nato will be a really important partner when the white paper is being built so that it meets NATO’s performance goals as well as possible.”

The commissioner also mentioned that citizens’ own resilience and preparedness must be strengthened.