Statement by European Commission President von der Leyen on her visit to ASML, together with Dutch Prime Minister Rutte

Source: European Commission (EC) i, published on Monday, November 15 2021.

Today, I am visiting, together with Prime Minister Mark Rutte i, one of our European digital champions - ASML, based in Eindhoven.

I look forward to discussing with ASML's staff about the future of the digital sector in the EU. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager i and Commissioner Thierry Breton i will join me for this visit.

ASML is one of the most important tech companies in the world. It is a major player in the global value chain for semiconductors. And it is essential to chips manufacturers across the globe. Technology and machines designed by ASML help produce chips in Singapore, Korea or the US, to name just a few.

This company will play a big role in our efforts to make Europe more competitive and more sovereign in the tech sector.

This is the objective of the European Chips Act, which we will propose in the first part of next year.

Our aim is that Europe should double its market share in chips by 2030, including in the most cutting-edge chips.

That means reaching 20% of the global market share. Today we are at 10%.

And Europe has what it takes to get there. ASML is a clear proof of that.

To succeed, we need to work together. Indeed, the entire sector will benefit from more coordination and from joining forces.

First, we need more coordination between research activities in this sector.

And we have to match research with industry's needs.

Second, we need to get better on chip design.

Third, we must build up production capacity for chips.

And it's important to coordinate the support we provide to companies to develop this additional production capacity.

And fourth, we need more cooperation with industry, which will develop new European products that will use cutting-edge chips.

And that means more skilled jobs and new markets for our companies.

Increased European production of chips is good for Europe, as this means less dependence on a few East Asian countries.

It is also good for the world, as it means more diverse supply chains.

And for ASML, it means broader, stable markets for its products.

The whole sector will benefit from the European Chips Act.

In addition, the European Union will invest substantially in the digital sector over the next years. Up to €200 billion from our Recovery Plan NextGenerationEU will fund developments in this sector.

Let's work together to make this a European success story.