On November 12, 2024, Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, addressed the European Parliament during her confirmation hearing. Virkkunen stated that quantum technologies are critical for Europe’s technological independence and competitiveness, noting that while Europe possesses leading quantum researchers, the market remains fragmented across national strategies.
According to the hearing record, Virkkunen proposed developing a EU quantum strategy to unify efforts, pool resources, and coordinate investments across Member States. She assumed the Executive Vice-President role on December 1, 2024, with a portfolio including oversight of digital and frontier technologies and the EU’s 2030 Digital Decade targets.