According to Bloomberg, Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen wants to turn the existing recommendation into a legal requirement, pushing member states to follow Brussels’ security guidance. Although national governments usually control infrastructure decisions, the new rule would compel them to toe the line.

The EU has grown increasingly twitchy about Chinese telecom manufacturers as relations with Beijing sour. Officials worry that allowing companies with strong ties to the Chinese government access to vital communications infrastructure could threaten national security.

Virkkunen’s proposal explores ways to curb Chinese suppliers’ role in fixed-line networks, just as EU nations ramp up fibre rollouts to deliver faster broadband. The Commission is even considering hitting non-EU countries where it hurts by denying Global Gateway funding to countries that use Huawei equipment in state-backed projects, according to insiders familiar with the talks.

The potential shift marks one of Brussels’ strongest steps yet in its effort to reduce reliance on Chinese technology, reflecting both geopolitical tensions and an urgent push to safeguard Europe’s digital backbone.