European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies

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European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies
Flag of Europe
since 1 December 2024
European Commission
Member ofEuropean Commission
Reports toPresident of the European Commission
Term length5 years
Precursor
See list
  • Commissioner for Information Technology
    Commissioner for Telecommunications
    Commissioner for Technological Development
    Commissioner for Information Society
    Commissioner for Digital Agenda
    Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
    Commissioner for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
Formation1985
First holderKarl-Heinz Narjes
Unofficial namesTech Commissioner

The European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies[a] is the member of the European Commission responsible for matters relating to media, information, telecommunications, and information technology. The Commissioner leads the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) and the Directorate-General for Digital Services (DG DIGIT). The portfolio covers the development and regulation of digital infrastructure, emerging technologies, and related policy areas within the European Union.

The portfolio for digital and telecommunications policy has historically been combined with a variety of other portfolios, including industry, science and research, education, enterprise, and competition.

The current Commissioner is Henna Virkkunen, who has held the office in the von der Leyen II Comission since 1 December 2024.

History

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The European Commission portfolio for digital and telecommunications policy has played a central role in shaping Europe’s digital landscape. Commissioners in this role have introduced legislation to cap mobile roaming charges, ensuring fairer pricing for consumers travelling across the EU.[1][2] The office oversaw the launch of the .eu top-level domain, providing a European internet identity and fostering a sense of a single digital market.[3] It has promoted the Digital Single Market, supporting cross-border online services, broadband infrastructure, and cybersecurity initiatives. The portfolio has also advanced policies to increase competition in the telecom sector, including functional separation of network and service operations, while fostering innovation in emerging technologies. More recently, the office has focused on digital skills, online safety, and education, as well as regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Services Act[4] and Digital Markets Act,[5] and the development of artificial intelligence and cloud computing policies. Its current mandate includes ensuring technological sovereignty, security, and democratic resilience, reflecting the EU’s strategic priorities in an evolving digital environment.

Several Commissioners responsible for this portfolio have also served concurrently as Vice-Presidents of the European Commission, among them Karl-Heinz Narjes, Filippo Maria Pandolfi, Antonio Ruberti, Neelie Kroes, Margrethe Vestager, and the current officeholder, Henna Virkkunen.

List of Commissioners

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No. Portrait Name Term Party Commission Full Position Title Member state
European National
1 Karl-Heinz Narjes 1985–1988 EPP CDU Delors I European Commissioner for Industry, Information Technology, Science and Research[b]
West Germany
2 Filippo Maria Pandolfi 1989–1992 EPP DC Delors II European Commissioner for Science, Research, Development, Telecommunications, and Innovation[b]
Italy
3 Antonio Ruberti 1992–1995 PES PSI Delors III European Commissioner for Science, Research, Technological Development, and Education[b]
Italy
4 Martin Bangemann 1995–1999 ALDE FDP Santer European Commissioner for Industrial Affairs, Information Technologies, and Telecommunications
Germany
5 Erkki Liikanen 1999–2004 PES SDP Prodi European Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society
Finland
6 Olli Rehn 2004 ALDE C
7 Viviane Reding 2004–2010 EPP CSV Barroso I European Commissioner for Information Society and Media
Luxembourg
8 Neelie Kroes 2010–2014 ALDE VVD Barroso II European Commissioner for Digital Agenda[b]
Netherlands
9 Günther Oettinger 2014–2017 EPP CDU Juncker European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
Germany
*[c] Andrus Ansip 2014-2019 ALDE Reform Juncker European Commissioner for Digital Single Market
Estonia
10 Mariya Gabriel 2017–2019 EPP GERB Juncker European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
Bulgaria
*[c] Maroš Šefčovič 2019 PES Smer Juncker European Commissioner for Digital Single Market
Slovakia
11 Margrethe Vestager 2019–2024 ALDE B Von der Leyen I Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age and European Commissioner for Competition[b]
Denmark
12 Henna Virkkunen 2024–2029 EPP Kok Von der Leyen II Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy and European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies[b]
Finland

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The portfolio has evolved over time, with its official title changing to reflect shifting priorities. Key names include: Commissioner for Technological Development, Commissioner for Information Technologies and Telecommunications, Commissioner for the Information Society, Commissioner for Digital Agenda, and Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Concurrently serving as Vice-President of the European Commission
  3. ^ a b The Commissioner for Digital Single Market was a separate portfolio during the Juncker Commission

References

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  1. ^ "The history of roaming | Shaping Europe's digital future". digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  2. ^ Roaming Charges Portal European Commission
  3. ^ `.eu' Domain Names Top 2.5M in Year One HuffPost
  4. ^ "The EU's Digital Services Act". commission.europa.eu. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  5. ^ "A Digital Single Market for Europe: Commission sets out 16 initiatives to make it happen". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
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