Finland’s commissioner hearing: Henna Virkkunen on tech sovereignty, security and democracy — live updates

Virkkunen is, and has been, a European lawmaker for over a decade. She will be in front of fellow lawmakers she knows quite well (from the industry and the internal market committees) and will be grilled about files that she used to cover already as a lawmaker. 

But Virkkunen’s wide portfolio — as Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy — could still make for a heated exchange. After last week’s re-election of Trump as U.S. President, there have been ample calls for Europe to become more self-sufficient, also with regard to critical technologies or the defense industry. 

Another thorny topic could be the enforcement of a flurry of tech rules that were adopted last mandate. Virkkunen will have to show these rules can bite, but among the possible targets is X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, Donald Trump’s protégé. 

We’ll be bringing you all the live action from 6.30 p.m. on November 12. You can watch the hearing live here. 

Want to read something while waiting? 

• A profile of Finnish horse enthousiast Henna Virkkunen. 
• A list of questions lawmakers could ask Virkkunen. 

PS. If you want to follow more of the action from the hearings, our reporters will be bringing you blow-by-blow updates from all 26 commissioner interviews here.