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The “Huawei Saga” in Europe Revisited: German Lessons for the Rollout of 6G

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Notes du Cerfa
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Notes du Cerfa, N° 187, Ifri, Juin 2025
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While the European Union attempted to coordinate a collective response through its 5G Toolbox in Europe’s 5G infrastructure, member states diverged significantly in balancing political, economic, and technological considerations. Germany, despite its economic ties to China and status as Europe’s largest telecom market, only reached a tentative agreement in July 2024—one that appears largely symbolic. 

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Dusseldorf, Germany - September 22 2024: Huawei, Chinese multinational technology company's logo and lettering on the flags next to the brand's corporate office in Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf, Germany - September 22 2024: Huawei, Chinese multinational technology company's logo and lettering on the flags next to the brand's corporate office in Dusseldorf
Alexander Fedosov/Shutterstock.com
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Germany’s compromise reflects persistent institutional divisions and a reluctance to decisively reduce reliance on Chinese technology, even in the face of geopolitical and security concerns. With 6G on the horizon, Europe must learn from its fragmented 5G response. A future 6G strategy should prioritize network diversity, enhanced encryption, and reduced dependency on high-risk suppliers to preserve European sovereignty and digital resilience. It is urgent to build a more unified and binding EU framework for managing the rollout of next-generation wireless infrastructure.

Tim Rühlig is Senior Analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), focusing on Europe-China relations, Chinese foreign and tech policy, and Hong Kong politics. His work explores China’s role in global standardization, the US-China tech rivalry, and implications for Europe. He holds a PhD from Frankfurt University and degrees in International Relations, Political Science, and Cultural Anthropology. 

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979-10-373-1056-9

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Notes du Cerfa, No. 187, Ifri, June 2025

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The “Huawei Saga” in Europe Revisited: German Lessons for the Rollout of 6G

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The Pariser Platz (Paris Square) on the east side of the Brandenburg Gate at Berlin, Germany
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.

 

Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.

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Authentic Modern High Tech Robot Weapon
Center for Geopolitics of Technology
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Artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cybersecurity, robotics, semiconductors, space... Technology, especially in the digital domain, is now deeply affecting all human activities and, by extension, international relations. The resulting political, strategic, economic and social issues manifest themselves at multiple political scales involving states, international organizations and private companies. The dynamics of international competition and cooperation are transformed.

It is to respond to these challenges that Ifri is launching the Geopolitics of Technology program in the fall of 2020, which builds on the work it already carried out on these subjects for several years.

The program takes a resolutely European approach to international issues related to so-called critical technologies. Its work is organized around four cross-cutting themes:

  • Power: redistributions of power caused by new technologies, in particular digital; military and dual innovations; transformations of international competition;
  • Sovereignty: definition of critical infrastructures and technologies; industrial and innovation policies in strategic sectors; opportunities and risks associated with international value chains;
  • Governance: ethical and legal issues; interactions between companies, states, international organizations and users; public-private partnerships and GovTech;
  • Society: political and social impacts of technological innovations; risks and opportunities for the future of work, health, the fight against climate change; connectivity and economic development.
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France, the U.S. Oldest and Most Complicated Ally: A Stubborn Defender of a Truly European Industrial and Defence Policy

Date de publication
10 April 2025
Accroche

France, the U.S.’ oldest ally, is also the EU country which most stubbornly defends genuinely European industrial and defence policies. It calls for ‘strategic autonomy’ in all political domains, a position increasingly difficult to hold against a hardening international climate.

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The Franco-German Brigade and the Revival of European Defense

Date de publication
08 April 2025
Accroche

One thing has been clear since Donald Trump's return to the White House: the very existence of the European unification project is threatened. Unless it develops a sovereign defense policy to counter the war in Ukraine and the weakening of American security guarantees, the European Union will continue to see its internal cohesion and external attractiveness wane.

Jacob ROSS Nicolas TÉTERCHEN
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Friedrich Merz and the Zeitenwende 2.0. A “New Era” for Transatlantic Relations?

Date de publication
07 March 2025
Accroche

On February 23, 2025, almost 60 million voters were called upon to elect a new Bundestag. These elections will also give rise to a new government in Europe's largest economy.

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After the Elections: Germany in Search of Shaken Stability?

Date de publication
05 March 2025
Accroche

With a voter turnout of 82.5%, Germany recorded its highest participation since 1987—an increase of 6.1 percentage points compared to 2021. As in the previous election, the high turnout particularly benefited the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was able to mobilize many former non-voters. Many voters sought to punish the outgoing government with their ballots, as its approval rating had dropped to just 14% before the coalition broke apart in November 2024. Germany is now very likely heading toward a grand coalition between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, with exploratory talks having begun on February 28.

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Dusseldorf, Germany - September 22 2024: Huawei, Chinese multinational technology company's logo and lettering on the flags next to the brand's corporate office in Dusseldorf
Alexander Fedosov/Shutterstock.com

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The “Huawei Saga” in Europe Revisited: German Lessons for the Rollout of 6G