Debate has reignited in Brussels over a recent agreement between Spain’s Ministry of the Interior and the Chinese corporation Huawei. At the center of the controversy is a contract granting the company the right to store audio recordings obtained during the operations of Spanish law enforcement agencies.
EU Commissioner for Technological Independence and Security Henna Virkkunen has voiced concerns that such a deal could increase the influence of foreign actors in highly sensitive sectors. She believes that relying on an overseas provider to store such sensitive information may pose additional risks to the country’s entire security system.
In Spain, however, officials emphasize that the agreement fully complies with national standards and does not threaten state interests. Interior Ministry representatives assert that access to the data is strictly controlled and that extracting information from the servers is impossible without the appropriate permissions. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has previously stated that Spanish services closely monitor the security and confidentiality of all materials.
The contract signed in July is valued at 12.3 million euros. Huawei will be responsible for storing telephone call records obtained during investigations authorized by the court. Despite assurances from Spanish authorities, the European Commission believes that such agreements could increase the risk of external interference, especially given the strategic importance of the sector in which the Chinese company operates.
The question of whether cooperation with Huawei is acceptable in Europe remains the subject of intense debate. Many EU countries have already restricted the use of the company’s equipment in critical infrastructure. Spain, however, despite pressure, has chosen its own course, sparking a new wave of discussions about the balance between technological development and national security.
