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Microsoft announces new European digital commitments

Forty-two years ago, Microsoft released the very first version of Microsoft Word. It was a major milestone in the company’s journey to enhance people’s productivity through innovation. It also marked the young and growing company’s first big step in Europe with the first Microsoft product localized in multiple European languages, starting with German and French.

Since then, our economic reliance on Europe has always run deep. We recognize that our business is critically dependent on sustaining the trust of customers, countries, and governments across Europe. We respect European values, comply with European laws, and actively defend Europe’s cybersecurity. Our support for Europe has always been–and always will be–steadfast.

In a time of geopolitical volatility, we are committed to providing digital stability. That is why today Microsoft is announcing five digital commitments to Europe. These start with an expansion of our cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe, aimed at enabling every country to fully use these technologies to strengthen their economic competitiveness. And they include a promise to uphold Europe’s digital resilience regardless of geopolitical and trade volatility. Continue reading “Microsoft announces new European digital commitments”

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European Commission presents its compass to boost Europe’s competitiveness

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President Ursula von der Leyen presented the European Commission’s plan to boost Europe’s competitiveness and turn it into a place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactures, and put on the market.

This Competitiveness Compass sets out the course the Commission will follow in the next five years. The Compass, first announced by President von der Leyen in November, transforms the recommendations laid out by Mario Draghi is his report on the future of European competitiveness, into a roadmap.

During a press conference, President von der Leyen explained that Europe has what it takes to lead the global economy of tomorrow: “I want to start by emphasising the strengths of the European Union. We have a very strong manufacturing and industrial base. We have a highly trained and well-educated workforce. We have a continental-size Single Market. We have the second-largest economy. We have a stable and predictable legal environment. And we have a longer life expectancy and lower inequalities than all our global competitors,” the President said. Continue reading “European Commission presents its compass to boost Europe’s competitiveness”

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Expanding the EU-Switzerland relationship

Switzerland Europe

On 20 December, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd confirmed the completion of negotiations on a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.

The broad package includes a wide range of elements:

  • The update of five agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market – air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons, conformity assessment and trade in agricultural products. Bringing these agreements to a modern standard will enable citizens and businesses on both sides to fully benefit from the rights they provide and will create a level playing field for business.

Each agreement will reflect the evolution of EU legislation in the area concerned and will ensure it is updated dynamically. The agreements will include dispute resolution provisions and State aid disciplines will apply where relevant. Continue reading “Expanding the EU-Switzerland relationship”