03 September 2025

Hosted by Michal Kobosko MEP, this EIF debate opened the new political season with a focus on Reliable and Resilient connectivity in Europe. Against the backdrop of increasing cyberattacks, sabotage of physical infrastructure, and climate-driven natural disasters, participants stressed the urgency of securing Europe’s networks as a foundation for competitiveness, security, and digital sovereignty. The discussion took place while the European Commission is preparing its Digital Networks Act (DNA), expected by the end of the year.

Reliable and Resilient Connectivity

 

Opening Remarks – Michal Kobosko MEP

MEP Kobosko set the stage by underlining the timeliness of the debate, noting that Europe faces an “online war” alongside Russia’s physical aggression in Ukraine. He warned of the growing number of hybrid threats—from cyberattacks and sabotage of networks to disinformation and climate-related disasters—that endanger Europe’s connectivity. For citizens, reliability also has a tangible dimension: “It’s about network speed when roaming, it’s about continued service when crossing the border.” He stressed that secure and resilient connectivity must be a core priority for the EU in the years ahead, with the DNA and upcoming budget negotiations offering critical opportunities to strengthen Europe’s defences and competitiveness.

Keynote Contributions

Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General at DG Connect, linked connectivity to Europe’s competitiveness, recalling the Draghi report’s call for stronger investment and a functioning single market. She underlined the need for modern, high-quality, and secure networks to support AI, cloud, and future technologies, while reducing strategic dependencies. Simplification, spectrum coordination, and governance reform were highlighted as central elements of the forthcoming DNA, complemented by industrial measures such as the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act.

Speaking on behalf of the Danish Council Presidency, Katinka Clausdatter Worsøe emphasized diversified networks and strategic investments as pillars of resilience. She pointed to recent incidents in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic as reminders of Europe’s vulnerabilities, calling for strengthened backbone infrastructure, including undersea cables. While acknowledging the critical role of private investment, she underlined the EU’s responsibility to de-risk projects through the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and ensure that digital sovereignty remains a central priority.

Industry Perspectives

Malgorzata Krajewska, Director of Public Policy and EU Affairs at Orange Poland, spoke from both a European and national security perspective. Drawing on Orange’s experience in subsea cable operations and Poland’s exposure to regional conflict, she argued that resilience is not an abstract concept but a daily necessity. Krajewska recounted the challenges posed by floods in Poland and sabotage incidents in the Baltic, calling for a shift in EU policy from a narrow focus on competition and low prices toward sector robustness and preparedness. She proposed five key actions: embedding resilience into investment frameworks, fostering pan-European cooperation, ensuring fair conditions for operators, adopting dual-use design in networks, and supporting European technology providers.

From Telefónica’s side, Gonzalo Lopez Barajas shared lessons from Spain’s massive energy blackout, which disrupted communications, payments, and transport. The incident highlighted the interdependence of critical sectors and the high costs of ensuring resilience, such as extended backup capacity. Lopez Barajas stressed the need for intersectoral crisis coordination, systematic training, and a modern regulatory framework that enables long-term investment. He cautioned that resilience cannot be achieved without a healthy European telecom sector and supportive reforms in the DNA and merger regulations.

Outcomes and Next Steps

Across the debate, a broad consensus emerged: reliable and resilient connectivity is indispensable to Europe’s security, competitiveness, and sovereignty. Speakers aligned on the urgency of embedding resilience into both policy and investment frameworks, with a balance of private sector initiative and EU-level support. The forthcoming DNA, the Cloud and AI Development Act, and the next MFF were seen as decisive opportunities to modernise regulation, strengthen infrastructure, and enable Europe to lead in future technologies.

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