Von der Leyen urges EU to boost Arctic defense funding
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for increased EU defense funding to enhance Arctic security during her address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. She emphasized the need to direct part of the €150 billion allocated last year for defense towards Arctic capabilities, including icebreakers, and reiterated the EU's commitment to work with the US and other partners on Arctic security. Von der Leyen also criticized US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs related to Greenland, labeling them a mistake that could jeopardize long-standing alliances.
EU Proposes Revised Cybersecurity Act to Phase Out High-Risk Suppliers
The European Commission has proposed a revised Cybersecurity Act (CSA 2) that mandates EU countries to phase out high-risk suppliers from critical sectors, including telecommunications and healthcare, within three years. This initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity resilience by conducting sectoral assessments and designating suppliers from third countries deemed high-risk, a move that builds on previous voluntary frameworks targeting companies like Huawei and ZTE. The proposal will now undergo negotiations with the European Parliament and EU governments.
European Parliament passes Critical Medicines Act for drug security
The European Parliament adopted the Critical Medicines Act, implementing stricter rules for drug stockpiling to enhance the security and resilience of the pharmaceutical supply chain across the EU. This legislation aims to address recurring shortages of essential medications by promoting local production and requiring companies receiving public funding to prioritize supply to the EU market. The act will now proceed to trilogue negotiations with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to finalize its implementation.
