Overview

• Speaking at POLITICO’s Competitive Europe summit in Brussels, ASML EVP Frank Heemskerk said it is often harder to meet an EU commissioner than a senior White House official.
• Heemskerk cited a two-hour meeting between CEO Christophe Fouquet and Narendra Modi, quoting the prime minister asking for frank feedback on how India could improve.
• He urged European leaders to sit down with companies committing capital, framing direct access as essential to strengthening the region’s competitiveness.
• Heemskerk referenced ASML’s €1.3 billion partnership with French AI firm Mistral, describing it as focused on industrial AI rather than geopolitics.
• The comments land as India advances its semiconductor agenda, including the India Semiconductor Mission and the recent presentation of pilot made-in-India chips to the prime minister.