The comments — made during a campaign event for Dutch center-right party Christian Democratic Appeal ahead of national elections Oct. 29 — are another shot across the bow of the EU’s embattled artificial intelligence law.
ASML, Europe’s leading tech company by market cap, has been campaigning to pause the parts of the law that are not yet implemented. In July, the company’s executives signed onto a letter from 46 companies calling for a two-year pause.
The company in September became the largest shareholder of French AI company Mistral with a €1.3 billion investment, strengthening the influence of ASML when it comes to the EU’s handling of AI companies.
Dassen also complained about the lack of protection that Europe’s most prominent companies are receiving amid ongoing geopolitical turbulence.
“You should ask the Airbuses, the Nokias, the ASMLs … whether they feel protected by Europe at all times in this huge struggle of power that takes place between the United States and China.
“The answer won’t always be yes,” he said.