London (CNN Business) The European Union has directed its member states to take steps to ensure their 5G networks are secure, but new guidelines published by the bloc on Wednesday stop well short of the blanket ban on China's Huawei sought by the United States.

EU countries should "apply relevant restrictions for suppliers considered to be high risk," such as leaving them out of "critical and sensitive" functions, said the European Commission. But it did not bar specific suppliers altogether.

It's the second time in two days that Europe has diverged from the path of zero-tolerance for Huawei taken by the United States. The United Kingdom, which leaves the European Union this week, said Tuesday it would allow Huawei a limited and highly regulated role in its 5G networks.

"We're not picking on anybody," European Commissioner Thierry Breton said at a press conference. "We're not ostracizing firms."

The EU recommendations were unveiled as part of a "toolbox" designed to help member states secure their networks, which Margrethe Vestager, another top official at the European Commission, identified as an issue of "high strategic importance."

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