EU Eyes China: Proposes Ban on 'High-Risk' Foreign Telecom Suppliers

• The EU executive proposed banning third-country companies from European mobile networks if they are deemed a security risk, a move widely seen as targeting China.
• This proposal follows 2023 actions urging states to exclude Huawei and ZTE, as voluntary measures failed to achieve sufficient change across the 27-country bloc.
• The EU will identify states or suppliers to ban, giving telecoms providers three years to phase them out; less than half of EU states currently restrict high-risk vendors.
• Huawei criticized the plans, stating that limiting non-EU suppliers based on country of origin rather than factual evidence violates EU legal principles.
• The proposal is part of broader cybersecurity rule revisions and plans to overhaul Europe's telecoms networks, aiming to bolster competitiveness and investment.

Why It Matters: The EU is moving to mandate the exclusion of 'high-risk' foreign telecom suppliers, primarily targeting China, due to security concerns.