The EU is considering a mandatory ban on Huawei building 5G networks. 

The European Union is contemplating a mandatory ban on the use of companies that could pose security risks, such as Huawei Technologies, for building 5G networks in member states. 

Reports say concerns have arisen in Brussels due to delays by certain national governments in taking action on the issue.

The European Commission has not commented on the claims, but it has stated that it is collaborating with member states to oversee the implementation of a security measures toolbox. A second progress report on the toolbox's implementation is currently being prepared and is expected to be released in the following weeks, following the initial report from July 2020.

In 2020, the EU stated that member states have the option to restrict or exclude high-risk 5G vendors, including Huawei, from the core components of their telecommunications networks. 

At that time, the EU resisted pressure from Washington to outrightly ban Chinese telecommunications companies.

During a meeting last Friday, Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market commissioner, informed telecoms ministers that only one-third of EU countries had implemented bans on Huawei in critical areas, as mentioned in the report.

Given that the guidance fell short of imposing a ban in 2020, the EU may introduce a mandatory ban on companies deemed to be security risks if member states, such as Germany, continue to delay. 

In March, a government source informed Reuters that Germany was contemplating banning specific components from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE in its telecoms network, which could be a significant step towards addressing security concerns.