President Stubb to Address Ambassadors on Foreign Policy; EU Official Discusses Tech Independence, Social Media

Finnish President Alexander Stubb is set to outline the nation's foreign policy direction to ambassadors at a three-day gathering. Stubb arrives directly from a visit to Ukraine, highlighting the immediate relevance of international relations to Finland's agenda.

The annual ambassadorial meeting serves as a platform for discussing pressing foreign policy matters. National leaders will deliver key addresses, setting the tone for diplomatic engagement. Earlier on Tuesday, European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen spoke about Europe's drive for technological independence, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on third countries for critical technologies like chip manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and cloud services.

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We cannot afford to end up in a situation where a third party can switch off our digital society.

Virkkunen warned against a scenario where external actors could control or disrupt digital infrastructure. She noted that while Europe possesses significant expertise, challenges remain in areas such as capital access, computing capacity, and data utilization. The Vice-President also touched upon the Commission's ongoing considerations regarding social media regulations for minors, suggesting that age limits might be raised beyond the current 13-year threshold for certain platforms, potentially to 15 years.

Discussions around social media age limits are complex, with Virkkunen stressing the importance of children's right to information and connection. This contrasts with recent legal challenges, such as France's highest court blocking President Emmanuel Macron's proposed ban on social media for those under 15. The Commission aims to balance protective measures with fundamental rights.

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Children have the right to receive information and to be in contact, and people's rights must not be restricted.