📋 Tender Overview
The EU Telecommunications Council meeting, attended by Dr. Aida Kamisalic Latific, State Secretary at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, concluded in Brussels. Representatives of EU member states adopted conclusions on the EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) and its role in the European cybersecurity ecosystem, as well as on managing the EU's digital infrastructure needs.
They also discussed the Digital Decade policy agenda until 2030 and ways to improve cooperation between the EU and the International Telecommunication Union (
ITU). The meeting was opened by Henna Virkkunen, the new Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. She stressed the importance of the EU's strategic sovereignty and security, which will require further investment in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, improving the conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening the digital skills of the population.
In her presentation on managing the EU's digital infrastructure needs, State Secretary Dr. Aida Kamišali? Latifi? highlighted Slovenia's support for the further development of key policies such as consumer welfare, market regulation, radio spectrum and country of origin. She stressed that the Commission must take into account that competitiveness in the provision of electronic communications networks and services is the foundation for the digitalisation of industry and the overall competitiveness of the EU, especially in the context of pan-European operators. Slovenia is also committed to the further development of cross-border, multi-country projects in the field of digital infrastructure and the upgrading of existing technological solutions into innovative, not yet existing solutions.
Regarding the Digital Decade goals, the Secretary of State noted that it is essential to regularly update these goals in the face of rapidly evolving new technologies. The development and deployment of 6G and other advanced technologies must be actively supported in order to reduce dependence on non-European solutions. The EU must increase funding for research and development, especially in key technology sectors, through programmes such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, and strengthen the development of innovation ecosystems and digital hubs that enable the connection of different actors – from governments to scientific research institutions and industry. Greater investment in research and development is also needed.
The State Secretary added that Europe needs to better address the skills shortage in the field of information and communication technologies. This includes increasing the number of graduates in these disciplines, upskilling and reskilling staff, and closer cooperation between educational institutions, research sectors and industry to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation. In the area of ??sustainable development goals, she stressed that the EU must develop more energy-efficient 5G networks, use artificial intelligence and introduce green criteria in all investments in digital infrastructure, both in the public and private sectors.
Representatives of the EU Member States also discussed enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the ITU, which operates within the UN framework. State Secretary Kamišali? Latifi? supported the initiative for a strengthened European policy on global digital issues. This would increase the Union's influence on global standards and regulations, while ensuring consistency with the EU's core values, such as the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the use of digital technologies.
The Commission provided information on mobile roaming with EU candidate countries. In her speech, Dr. Kamišali? Latifi? called on the European Commission to speed up the procedures and examine all legal options for the fastest and most complete integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU mobile roaming system. She stressed that all candidate countries must enjoy equal conditions for access to the single digital market. This is particularly important for the Western Balkan countries, as only in this way can the region's confidence in successful integration into the EU be strengthened.
The State Secretary also supported the Dutch proposal to establish an improved legislative framework in the EU that would more effectively promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the digital economy.
Ministers also took note of reports on the ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24), the Austrian Digital Competence Reference Framework, the EU's international activities in the digital field, activities related to the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. They also discussed the upcoming AI Action Summit to be held in Paris in February 2025, the conclusions of the study on the future of the postal sector, events under the Hungarian EU Presidency on digital affairs, and the Greek National Strategy for the Protection of Minors Online.
