Kiri

Saatja: [email protected] <[email protected]> Saaja: Esindus EL juures üldaadress, SKORDAS Thomas, KALBE Gustav Teema: Nominations for the informal Commission expert group: Quantum Technologies Coordination Group EE Your Excellency, Please find attached the letter from the Director General of DG CONNECT, Roberto Viola, concerning the nomination of a representative for the Quantum Technologies Coordination Group. Kind regards, CNECT.C2 Ref. Ares(2024)3084346 - 26/04/2024 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, CONTENT AND TECHNOLOGY The Director-General Brussels CNECT/RV Subject: Nominations for the informal Commission expert group: Quantum Technologies Coordination Group Your Excellency, Quantum technologies are of key strategic importance for the EU. Quantum computing, communication and sensing are emerging technologies of global strategic importance that will bring a change of paradigm in technological capacities. They have extensive uses in many different fields including security, critical infrastructures and dual use technologies. For example, they can provide ultra-secure communication systems, extremely accurate sensors that can see under the ground and under water, and powerful computing systems that could break existing encryption methods. In the recently adopted European Economic Security Strategy,(1) quantum is cited as a strategic technology that is fundamental to the EU’s economic and security interests. The development of quantum technologies and infrastructure is a key objective of the 2030 Path to the Digital Decade policy programme announced by the Communication on the Digital Compass. The Commission has set a specific target on quantum (by 2025, the EU should have its first computer with quantum acceleration, paving the way for being at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030). In order for the EU to meet these challenges, and to compete with the major advances being made in quantum in other regions, it needs to pool its competences, skills and resources, acting in close cooperation with national and regional quantum initiatives. Member States have already taken a step towards doing by signing the European Declaration on Quantum Technologies, committing to collaborate with each other and with the Commission with the ultimate aim of making the EU the quantum valley of the world. To facilitate this aim and implement the Quantum Declaration, we propose to create a Commission expert group: the Quantum Technologies Coordination. The Terms of Reference of this group are attached. The members of the expert group will be Member States’ competent authorities in the field of quantum technologies. Member States are invited to nominate one representative (1) JOIN/2023/20 final. Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 [email protected] with a high level of expertise. Each representative may be accompanied during meetings by one technical expert. We would be grateful if you could send the details of the relevant authority and the name and coordinates of the nominated representative for your country to CNECT- [email protected] by 25 May 2024. The first meeting of the expert group should take place before the summer break. For any further information please contact Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director – Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure, DG CONNECT ([email protected]) or Pascal Maillot, Deputy Head of Unit – High Performance Computing and Quantum Technology ([email protected]). Yours faithfully, Electronically signed Roberto Viola 2 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, CONTENT AND TECHNOLOGY Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure High Performance Computing and Quantum Technology Luxembourg CNECT.C.2/GK INFORMAL COMMISSION EXPERT GROUP QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES COORDINATION GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE 1. BACKGROUND Quantum technologies are of key strategic importance for the EU. Quantum computing, communication and sensing are all emerging technologies of global strategic importance that will bring a change of paradigm in technological capacities. They have extensive uses in many different fields including security, critical infrastructures and dual use technologies. For example, they can provide ultra-secure communication systems, extremely accurate sensors that can see under the ground and under water, and powerful computing systems that could break existing encryption methods. In the new European Economic Security Strategy, quantum is cited as a significant field that is key to the EU’s economic and security interests. ( 1). Moreover, quantum is a key part of the Digital Decade strategy which, amongst other goals, aims for Europe to be at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030 ( 2). The development of quantum technologies and infrastructure is a key objective of the 2030 Path to the Digital Decade policy programme announced by the Communication on the Digital Compass ( 3). The Commission has set a specific target on quantum (by 2025, the EU should have its first computer with quantum acceleration, paving the way for being at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030) and has proposed new possibilities for multi-country projects to ensure that this target will be met. The Commission’s approach to quantum consists of investing in research and innovation activities as well as in large-scale infrastructures, and of fostering the development of a strong quantum ecosystem. In 2018, it launched under the Horizon 2020 Framework program the Quantum Technologies Flagship, a ten-year, one billion Euro multidisciplinary initiative. The Flagship’s main aim is to make the most of European (1) JOIN(2023) 20 final (2) Europe’s Digital Decade: digital targets for 2030 | European Commission (europa.eu) (3) 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade, COM/2021/118 final Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 [email protected] scientific excellence in quantum and bring research results closer to industrial exploitation and real-life applications, fuelling innovation and laying the foundations for a world- leading quantum ecosystem in the EU. Other major players are investing heavily in quantum technologies and as they also are considering them strategic technologies, they are increasingly applying restrictions in the areas of funding eligibility and export control. Europe needs to build resilient European capacities in developing and producing quantum technologies in order to safeguard the EU’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security and to avoid a situation of strategic dependency on non-EU technologies and inputs. In order for the EU to remain at the edge, in the light of major advances being made in quantum in other regions, it needs to pool its competences, skills and resources, acting in close cooperation with the national or regional quantum initiatives of the Member States. Therefore, the Member States signed the European Declaration on Quantum Technologies, committing to collaborate with each other and with the European Commission with the ultimate aim of making the EU the quantum valley of the world. This expert group contributes to this objective. It brings together the Member States and has the mandate of contributing to the coordination of the Member States’ and the Commission’s quantum technology and innovation policies at EU, national and regional level, with a view to creating a globally competitive European quantum ecosystem that can support a wide range of scientific and industrial applications and ensure that the EU is at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030. 2. SUBJECT MATTER The expert group Quantum Technologies Coordination Group (‘the group’) is set up for an unlimited duration. 3. TASKS The group’s tasks shall be: a) to coordinate efforts between the Commission and the Member States to implement the European Declaration on Quantum Technologies; b) to provide advice and assistance to the Commission in the context of the Digital Decade policy programme with a view to reaching its quantum targets by 2030; c) to assist the Commission with a view to aligning the Commission’s quantum initiatives and the respective quantum initiatives of the Member States and help to ensure coherence between the different activities; d) to help coordinate efforts between the Commission and the Member States to support the European quantum ecosystem, and build pan-European quantum infrastructures; e) to assist the Commission with a view to coordinating support for start-ups and scale-ups, as well as actions to encourage large companies in many industrial sectors to invest in this emerging strategic field; 2  f) to assist the Commission with a view to promoting skills development and attraction of the best talent; and mobilise public investment in quantum; g) to help coordinate Member States’ efforts to accelerate the transition from research to manufacturing, fill the gaps in the European supply chain, and facilitate the transformation of high-quality European quantum research into marketable devices and applications with substantial economic and societal value; h) to assist the Commission with the tasks related to quantum technologies referred to in the European Economic Security Strategy ( 4) and the related Recommendation on critical technology areas ( 5); i) to support reflection on the social and economic impact of quantum technologies in Europe, and in particular of the challenges that quantum computing is likely to raise for current encryption techniques; j) to help the Commission monitor the global quantum technologies outlook, identify key developments, opportunities, and threats, and contribute to the development of prospective EU-level agreements and collaboration opportunities in quantum with third countries and international organisations, and ensure coherence of similar Member-State level activities. 4. CONSULTATION The Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (‘DG CNECT’) may consult the group on any matter relating to the quantum technologies strategy of the Commission. 5. MEMBERSHIP 1. Members shall be Member States’ competent authorities in the field of quantum technologies. 2. Member States’ authorities shall nominate maximum one representative and shall ensure that this representative provides a high level of expertise. 3. Each representative of the Member State authority may be accompanied during the meetings of the group and sub-groups by one technical expert. Each representative shall inform the Chair of the name of the accompanying technical expert. 6. CHAIR The group shall be chaired by a representative of DG CNECT. 7. OPERATION (4) European Economic Security Strategy (JOIN/2023/20 final) (5) C(2023) 6689 final 3  1. The group shall act at the request of DG CNECT, in compliance with the Commission’s horizontal rules on expert groups ( 6) (‘the horizontal rules’). 2. Meetings of the group shall, in principle, be held on Commission premises or virtually, depending on the circumstances. 3. DG CNECT shall provide secretarial services. Commission officials from other departments with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups. 4. In agreement with DG CNECT, the group may, by simple majority of its members, decide that deliberations shall be public. 5. Minutes on the discussion on each point on the agenda and on the opinions delivered by the group shall be meaningful and complete. Minutes shall be drafted by the secretariat under the responsibility of the Chair. 6. As far as possible, the group shall adopt its opinions, recommendations or reports by consensus. In the event of a vote, the outcome of the vote shall be decided by simple majority of the members. Members who have voted against or abstained shall have the right to have a document summarising the reasons for their position annexed to the opinions, recommendations or reports. 8. SUB-GROUPS DG CNECT may set up sub-groups for the purpose of examining specific questions on the basis of terms of reference defined by DG CNECT. Sub-groups shall operate in compliance with the horizontal rules and shall report to the group. They shall be dissolved as soon as their mandate is fulfilled. 9. INVITED EXPERTS 1. DG CNECT may invite experts with specific expertise with respect to a subject matter on the agenda to take part in the work of the group or sub-groups on an ad hoc basis. 10. OBSERVERS 1. Individuals may be granted an observer status, in compliance with the horizontal rules, by direct invitation. 2. Observers may be permitted by the Chair to take part in the discussions of the group and sub-groups and provide expertise. However, they shall not have voting rights and shall not participate in the formulation of recommendations or advice of the group and sub-groups. 11. RULES OF PROCEDURE (6) C(2016) 3301, Article 13.1. 4 On a proposal by and in agreement with DG CNECT, the group shall adopt its rules of procedure by simple majority of its members, on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups, in compliance with the horizontal rules ( 7). Sub-groups shall operate in compliance with the group’s rules of procedure. 12. PROFESSIONAL SECRECY AND HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION The members of the group and their representatives, as well as invited experts and observers, are subject to the obligation of professional secrecy, which by virtue of the Treaties and the rules implementing them applies to all members of the institutions and their staff, as well as to the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of Union classified information, laid down in Commission Decisions (EU, Euratom) 2015/443 ( 8) and 2015/444 ( 9). Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures. 13. TRANSPARENCY 2. The group and sub-groups shall be registered in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (‘the Register of expert groups’). 3. As concerns the group’s and sub-groups’ composition, the following data shall be published on the Register of expert groups: (a) the name of Member States’ authorities; (b) the name of observers. 4. All relevant documents, including the agendas, the minutes and the participants’ submissions, shall be made available in the Register of expert groups. In particular, DG CNECT shall publish the agenda and other relevant background documents in due time ahead of the meeting, followed by timely publication of minutes. Exceptions to publication shall only be foreseen where it is deemed that disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) N° 1049/2001 ( 10). 14. MEETING EXPENSES 1. Participants in the activities of the group and sub-groups shall not be remunerated for the services they offer. (7) See Article 17 of the horizontal rules. (8) Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/443 of 13 March 2015 on Security in the Commission (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 41). (9) Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53). (10) These exceptions are intended to protect public security, military affairs, international relations, financial, monetary or economic policy, privacy and integrity of the individual, commercial interests, court proceedings and legal advice, inspections/investigations/audits and the institution's decision- making process. 5  2. Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by the participants in the activities of the group and sub-groups shall be reimbursed by the Commission for only one representative per Member State authority. Reimbursement shall be made in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission and within the limits of the available appropriations allocated to the Commission departments under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources. Technical experts referred to in point 5.3 accompanying the Member State representative shall not be reimbursed. Done in Luxembourg, on 24 April 2024. 6 Saatja: "Webdesktop" <[email protected]> Saaja: "MKM info" Teema: Webdesktop: Nominations for the informal Commission expert group: Quantum Technologies Coordination Group EE Kuupäev: 2024-04-30 12:35 Reg. number: 14-4/435 Reg. kuupäev: 30.04.2024 Sisu: Nimetamine Komisjoni Kvanttehnoloogia ekspertgruppi. Info nimetatud esindajate kohta edastada 25. maiks 2024 emailile: [email protected] Parimat Raili Lillemets Sekretär Eesti alaline esindus Euroopa Liidu juures