Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday called for the immediate completion of the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing, so that the state’s critical data can be protected.
Dependence on non-EU providers
Speaking after the session, committee chair and DISY MP Giorgos Karoullas said that three cloud and digital data storage providers from third countries control more than 70% of the European market.
He added that more than 80% of digital infrastructure depends on providers outside the European Union.
A national security issue for Cyprus
Mr Karoullas described the matter as first and foremost an issue of national security for Cyprus, because of the occupation, hybrid threats and the country’s geographical position.
He said the committee supports the European Commission’s proposal. He also said the government must seek three things from the European Union:
- energy interconnections
- European funding for every new obligation, since acquiring data centres and storing data involve enormous costs
- equal treatment of small states
Call to publish the strategy in Greek
The committee chair called on the government to finalise the strategy without delay and to issue it in its final form in Greek, not only in English.
The aim, he said, is to protect the state’s critical data and to ensure that Cyprus becomes an equal partner and not merely a recipient.
Source: CNA
