EU telecom ministers on 9 June 2026 backed a general approach on the European business wallet and took note of progress reports on the Digital Networks Act and cybersecurity package, while diverging on how to balance openness with reducing dependencies in tech sovereignty. The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in Luxembourg saw Cyprus, represented by Minister Nicodemos Damianou, present the business wallet text and lead a debate on the broader digital agenda.
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen framed the files as part of a tech sovereignty agenda linking cybersecurity, connectivity, procurement, and investment to competitiveness and single-market integration. She stressed that openness without capacity becomes dependency, a position Cyprus shared on control over critical systems. However, Cyprus pushed back on being excluded from Franco-German sovereignty talks, insisting the Council is the proper forum. Virkkunen rejected a conflict framing, seeing member-state initiatives as converging with the Commission package.
On procurement, Virkkunen defended tech-sovereignty criteria against French criticism that incentives are insufficient. Cyprus added that procurement is only one tool and needs start-up ecosystem support. On market-share targets, Virkkunen acknowledged European cloud companies hold only 15% and have lost share, but argued the cloud and AI development act would boost demand. On external engagement, both backed ITU cooperation, but Virkkunen stressed internal capacity first.
Unfinished files will continue under the incoming Irish presidency. Affected stakeholders include EU businesses and public administrations that will use the business wallet, cloud and AI providers facing market-share challenges, and telecom operators subject to the Digital Networks Act and cybersecurity rules.