Roberto Viola will remain at the helm of the European Commission’s tech department until September 2026, despite reaching retirement age this year.
Viola, who has led the European Commission’s Directorate for Communications, Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) since 2015, has received an extension beyond the usual age limit, two Commission officials confirmed to Euractiv.
The Italian turned 65 this year – the standard retirement age for officials who joined the European institutions before 2013. Those hired later retire at 66.
Limited extensions of up to one year are possible, a Commission official said, meaning Viola has probably received two decisions for extensions allowing him to stay on until September 2026. Extensions are only possible under exceptional circumstances and up to age 70.
As head of DG CNECT, Viola oversees some of the EU’s most significant tech laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the AI Act. His role has taken on increasing geopolitical importance since those laws have come under fire from Donald Trump and his administration, amid ongoing talks that the EU hopes will free it from some US tariffs.
(de/om)