The European Commission (EC) is set to encourage member states to share more data to boost their cyber security defences ahead of the roll out of 5G networks, according to reports.

The EC is also poised to advise governments against acting upon US calls for an outright ban on using technology by Chinese firm Huawei, according to Reuters.

Andrus Ansip, Europe’s commissioner for the digital single market, is to set out the recommendations tomorrow, according to the reports, which will pile political pressure on EU countries to take legislative action in their own parliaments, enabling better data sharing with their allies in order to stamp out EU-wide cyber security risks.

The warning against overly stringent action related to use of Huawei equipment in national 5G infrastructure is the latest twist in an ongoing saga relating to US fears that the firm is enabling spying by the Chinese government through ‘backdoors’ in its products. Huawei has vigorously denied the claims.

The existing EU directive on security of network and information systems, or NIS directive, and the Cybersecurity Act, should be used by countries to co-ordinate their efforts to deter cyberattacks and exchange information on certification for Internet of Things devices and 5G equipment, Ansip is expected to say.

A decision on Huawei will be up to individual countries on the basis of national security grounds.

Earlier this month Vodafone warned that a ban on Huawei’s technology in 5G networks could cost the company hundreds of millions and delay the roll out of its next generation networks.

Last week, France’s president Emmanuel Macron said Europe was experiencing a “European awakening” with regards to the growing influence of Chinese technology.

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