World

EU Under Fire: ASML Executive Reveals Bureaucratic Hurdles Stifling Access to Top EU Officials

ASML exec criticizes EU access, says it’s harder than the White House. Wants more dialogue for growth.

October 3, 2025, 9:11 AM

The European Union flag waves in front of a modern glass building

The European Union flag is prominently displayed against a backdrop of a modern glass building, symbolizing the EU and its institutions. By MDL.

Executive Summary

ASML executive Frank Heemskerk criticized the European Union for its perceived inaccessibility, stating it’s harder to meet with high-ranking EU officials than with senior officials in the White House.

Heemskerk contrasted the EU’s accessibility with direct engagement from leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting EU policymakers should foster more direct dialogue with investing companies.

Despite criticism, ASML recently formed a €1.3 billion deal with French AI company Mistral, contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty through industrial collaboration.

The Story So Far

The European Union is actively striving for technological sovereignty and enhanced economic competitiveness in critical sectors like semiconductors and AI, a goal set against a backdrop of intense global competition where nations such as India are aggressively attracting advanced technology investments. This ambition is, however, complicated by a perceived lack of accessibility for major European corporations like ASML to engage directly with top EU policymakers, which some companies argue could potentially hinder investment and policy alignment within the Union.

Why This Matters

The criticism from ASML, a major European semiconductor firm, regarding the EU’s perceived inaccessibility to top policymakers compared to global counterparts, highlights a potential barrier to the bloc’s industrial competitiveness and technological sovereignty. This difficulty in direct engagement could deter crucial investments and hinder the EU’s ability to foster economic growth, particularly as other nations actively court advanced technology industries, urging EU leaders to adopt a more proactive and accessible dialogue with key industrial players.

Who Thinks What?

Frank Heemskerk of ASML believes the European Union is often inaccessible to European companies, making it difficult to secure meetings with top EU policymakers compared to other global economies, and suggests EU leaders should engage more directly with investing companies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrates a proactive and direct approach to engaging with major companies, actively seeking feedback on how to improve the investment environment.

Frank Heemskerk, executive vice president of global public affairs at Dutch semiconductor giant ASML, recently criticized the European Union for its perceived inaccessibility to European companies. Speaking at Politico’s Competitive Europe summit in Brussels, Heemskerk highlighted the challenges of engaging with top EU policymakers, drawing comparisons to the ease of access in other major global economies.

EU Accessibility Criticized

Heemskerk conveyed that securing meetings with high-ranking EU officials, such as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is “not always easy.” He referenced a previous ASML executive’s observation, noting it was “easier to get a meeting in the White House with a senior official than to get a meeting with a commissioner,” according to the Politico report.

This sentiment underscores a growing concern among some major European corporations regarding perceived bureaucratic hurdles in connecting with the bloc’s leadership. The difficulty in direct engagement could potentially impact investment strategies and policy alignment within the EU.

Engagement with Global Leaders

The ASML executive’s comments followed his revelation that ASML’s chief executive, Christophe Fouquet, had a two-hour meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Heemskerk recounted Modi’s direct approach, stating, “After an hour and a half of listening, he [Modi] said you’re too friendly, tell me what we can do better.”

Heemskerk suggested that European policymakers could learn from such engagement. He emphasized that “political leaders should sit down with the companies that are investing money,” stressing the importance of direct dialogue to foster economic growth and industrial development within the Union.

ASML’s European Collaborations

Despite the criticism regarding EU accessibility, Heemskerk also discussed ASML’s recent €1.3 billion deal with French Artificial Intelligence company Mistral. This collaboration is seen as a significant boost for Europe’s ambition to enhance its technological sovereignty.

Heemskerk clarified that the partnership was primarily driven by Mistral’s focus on “industrial AI,” rather than geopolitical considerations. He added that the shared European identity of the companies facilitated mutual understanding and collaboration.

The backdrop to these discussions includes India’s broader efforts to become a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design, supported by the India Semiconductor Mission. This program, with an outlay of €76,000 crore, aims to attract investments in semiconductor fabrication and display manufacturing, highlighting the global competition for advanced technology industries.

Outlook for EU Industrial Engagement

The ASML executive’s candid remarks underscore a critical discussion point for the European Union: the effectiveness of its engagement with key industrial players. As the EU strives for technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness, ensuring accessible and proactive dialogue with companies investing in crucial sectors like semiconductors and AI may prove increasingly vital.