Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2113 on critical technology areas for the EU’s economic security for further risk assessment with Member States

Summary:

Recommendation (EU) 2023/2113 - adopted by the European Commission on 3 October 2023 - establishing critical technology areas for the economic security of the European Union (EU), in view of further risk assessment with Member States.

Further information:

The Recommendation puts forward a list of ten critical technology areas. These areas were selected based on the enabling and transformative nature of the technology, the risk of civil and military fusion, and the potential misuse in violation of human rights. Oy of the ten critical technology areas, the Recommendation identifies four that are considered highly likely to present the most sensitive and immediate risks related to technology security and technology leakage: advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnologies. The Commission recommends further risk assessment in cooperation with Member States. The Recommendation includes some guiding principles to structure the collective risk assessments, including consultation of the private sector and protection of confidentiality.

This Recommendation was adopted by the European Commission on 3 October 2023, and it stems from an earlier Joint Communication on a European Economic Security Strategy. It focuses of one of four types of risks in that comprehensive approach, namely technology risk and technology leakage. It was published in the Official Journal on 11 October 2023.

Official

European Commission: Defence Industry and Space: Commission Recommendation of 03 October 2023 on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security for further risk assessment with Member States https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/commission-recommendation-03-october-2023-critical-technology-areas-eus-economic-security-further_en

European Commission: Press Release, 03/10/2023: Commission recommends carrying out risk assessments on four critical technology areas: advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnologies https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4735

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News

Reuters, 02/10/2023: EU to assess risks of critical technologies being weaponised https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-assess-risks-critical-technologies-being-weaponised-official-2023-10-02/

Euronews, 03/10/2023: These are the four technologies the EU wants to protect, especially from China https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/10/03/these-are-the-four-technologies-the-eu-wants-to-protect-especially-from-china

EurActiv, 03/10/2023: Stricter EU controls on critical technologies possible from spring 2024 https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/stricter-eu-controls-on-critical-technologies-possible-from-spring-2024/

France24, 03/10/2023: European Union seeks to protect sensitive tech from Chinese buyers https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231003-eu-seeks-to-protect-sensitive-tech-from-chinese-buyers

RTÉ News, 03/10/2023: EU publishes list of 'critical technologies' at risk from global rivals https://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2023/1003/1408778-eu-technology-list/

The Irish Times, 03/10/2023: EU moves to protect key tech as it eyes China threat https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/10/03/eu-moves-to-protect-key-tech-as-it-eyes-china-threat/

EUObserver, 03/10/2023: EU reveals 10 'critical tech' in bid to de-risk from China https://euobserver.com/world/157499

Science Business, 03/10/2023: Commission to review four critical technologies amid rising competition with China https://sciencebusiness.net/news/ai/commission-review-four-critical-technologies-amid-rising-competition-china

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Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle, 03/10/2023: EU-China rivalry: Protecting sensitive tech from Beijing https://p.dw.com/p/4X51O

European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Commentary, 11/10/2023: What the EU list of critical technologies tells us about its de-risking plans https://ecfr.eu/article/what-the-eu-list-of-critical-technologies-tells-us-about-its-de-risking-plans/

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