The EU plans to phase out components and equipment from high-risk suppliers in critical sectors, reports Reuters, citing a draft proposal released by Brussels on Tuesday. The move was criticised by China’s Huawei, which is set to be among the companies affected.
According to Reuters, the measures, set out by the European Commission in revisions to the EU’s Cybersecurity Act, follow a rise in cyber and ransomware attacks and growing concerns over foreign interference, espionage and Europe’s reliance on non-EU technology suppliers.
“A legislative proposal to limit or exclude non-EU suppliers based on country of origin, rather than factual evidence and technical standards, violates the EU’s basic legal principles of fairness, non-discrimination, and proportionality, as well as its WTO (World Trade Organization) obligations,” a Huawei spokesperson said in response.