President Ursula von der Leyen will visit this afternoon the headquarters of the Dutch company Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography (ASML) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, together with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton.
ASML is a European giant and a major worldwide manufacturer of lithography systems – machines that are used to produce semiconductors. President von der Leyen, Prime Minister Rutte, Executive Vice-President Vestager and Commissioner Breton will meet Peter Wennink, President and CEO of ASML, as well as other managers of the company, to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in the semiconductor industry.
As announced by the President in her State of the Union Address, the European Commission will put forward a European Chips Act. The goal is to make Europe more competitive and more sovereign in the tech sector by doubling its global market share in chips by 2030. The visit will finish with a tour of the company’s Experience Centre. Later, Prime Minister Rutte will host the President for a working dinner.