Minister Harakka to attend a Telecommunications Council meeting

The EU Telecommunications Council will convene in Brussels on 3 December 2021. In the meeting, Finland will be represented by Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.

The Council will aim to adopt a general approach on measures ensuring a high common level of cyber security. Finland has been in favour of the aim of the so-called NIS2 directive proposal to improve the level of cyber security and data protection both in the EU as a whole and in Member States.

The Presidency will present a progress report on the proposal for a Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and on the proposal for a legislative framework for European digital identity (eIDAS Regulation). 

The Ministers will hold a policy debate on digital rights and principles on which an inter-institutional declaration is under preparation. Finland emphasises, among other things, that fundamental rights must be ensured in all digital development, and that security issues and equal inclusion and participation of all in the digital transformation must be taken into account.

Over lunch, the Ministers will discuss the data economy on the basis of the European Data Strategy published in February 2020 and its aim of a single market for data.       

The Council will hear a progress report on a proposed decision establishing the policy programme "Path to the Digital Decade". According to the proposal, Member States should draw up their own national strategic roadmaps for the digital decade.

"In Finland, we have set up a ministerial working group to guide the development of public administration, digitalisation, data economy and information policy, and I would like to present this approach to my ministerial colleagues as well. Already in its first meeting, the group made a decision to create a digital compass for Finland in spring 2022. At its best, our compass could show the direction of the plans to other Member States," says Minister Harakka.

Inquiries:

Johanna Juselius, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. + 358 295 342141

Kaisa Kopra, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 441 8005