Henrique Laitenberger
@toenlaiten.bsky.social
EU federalist, liberal, football fan, historian | Head of 🇪🇺 Affairs for Technology Industries of Finland | Views are mine.
To the activists, journos, and MEPs pushing the "Trump Appeasement" narrative: please talk to us, the European technology companies, not about us - only together, we can achieve the Digital Sovereignty and Competitiveness we all strive for and we need to have a debate based on facts, not fear.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
To the activists, journos, and MEPs pushing the "Trump Appeasement" narrative: please talk to us, the European technology companies, not about us - only together, we can achieve the Digital Sovereignty and Competitiveness we all strive for and we need to have a debate based on facts, not fear.
The Omnibus is thus a precondition for European tech companies to make it on the market. It does so in a balanced way by rectifying specific aspects of EU law that will reduce administrative burdens. Rumours of the "EU Digital Way of Life" turning into a "Wild West" are greatly exaggerated.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The Omnibus is thus a precondition for European tech companies to make it on the market. It does so in a balanced way by rectifying specific aspects of EU law that will reduce administrative burdens. Rumours of the "EU Digital Way of Life" turning into a "Wild West" are greatly exaggerated.
In contrast to US tech firms, our members cannot withdraw to a jurisdiction where these obstacles are not present. They are also mostly SMEs who do not have the resources of Big Tech to absorb these regulations and work around them. This is the crux: the current acquis *cements* Big Tech dominance.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In contrast to US tech firms, our members cannot withdraw to a jurisdiction where these obstacles are not present. They are also mostly SMEs who do not have the resources of Big Tech to absorb these regulations and work around them. This is the crux: the current acquis *cements* Big Tech dominance.
Anybody who has worked with GDPR, the Al Act, and the Data Act (incl. NGOs and left-wing MEPs) will tell you that, in their current form, they pose major practical challenges that make it extremely difficult for our businesses to offer solutions that can compete with that of non-EU tech businesses.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Anybody who has worked with GDPR, the Al Act, and the Data Act (incl. NGOs and left-wing MEPs) will tell you that, in their current form, they pose major practical challenges that make it extremely difficult for our businesses to offer solutions that can compete with that of non-EU tech businesses.
I work for the Finnish tech industries. Our companies are founded, based, and invested in Europe. The success of the EU political and socio-economic model is not an afterthought to them, it's at the heart of their own success. To be able to compete, they need to be given the tools to succeed though.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I work for the Finnish tech industries. Our companies are founded, based, and invested in Europe. The success of the EU political and socio-economic model is not an afterthought to them, it's at the heart of their own success. To be able to compete, they need to be given the tools to succeed though.
This is not the view of our European tech firms, far from it: we want and need this Digital Omnibus precisely to make sure that our companies can have a fair shot at competing in this global landscape and safeguard the European digital model, including with its fundamental civic rights dimension.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This is not the view of our European tech firms, far from it: we want and need this Digital Omnibus precisely to make sure that our companies can have a fair shot at competing in this global landscape and safeguard the European digital model, including with its fundamental civic rights dimension.
In the reading of many, the von der Leyen Commission is acting contrary to the interests of EU citizens and indeed the European tech industry by deepening industrial dependencies and rolling back the rights of Europeans in the hopes of keeping Washington DC on side at a critical geopolitical moment.
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In the reading of many, the von der Leyen Commission is acting contrary to the interests of EU citizens and indeed the European tech industry by deepening industrial dependencies and rolling back the rights of Europeans in the hopes of keeping Washington DC on side at a critical geopolitical moment.
Reposted by Henrique Laitenberger
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 AM
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
In other words, the obvious failure to act politically responsible in line with the lessons of history and the clear unwillingness to take responsibility for this came in this instance clearly from the progressive side - as many of them acknowledged themselves. Why can't you see that?
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
In other words, the obvious failure to act politically responsible in line with the lessons of history and the clear unwillingness to take responsibility for this came in this instance clearly from the progressive side - as many of them acknowledged themselves. Why can't you see that?
This is another point: the CS3D is not a "minimal attempt at sustainability", as you claim. It is the most ambitious law of its kind - and it is likely to remain so, even in its simplified form. Indeed, in some areas, the EP position is still more aspirational than the Council position.
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
This is another point: the CS3D is not a "minimal attempt at sustainability", as you claim. It is the most ambitious law of its kind - and it is likely to remain so, even in its simplified form. Indeed, in some areas, the EP position is still more aspirational than the Council position.
This is also shown by the fact that the Omnibus text did not reflect far-right views: they wanted to abolish the laws entirely. The EPP instead proposed a reform that, even if one may not like it, is entirely in line with classic conservative principles. There was no "sell-out" on the substance.
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
This is also shown by the fact that the Omnibus text did not reflect far-right views: they wanted to abolish the laws entirely. The EPP instead proposed a reform that, even if one may not like it, is entirely in line with classic conservative principles. There was no "sell-out" on the substance.
Likewise, during the same plenary session, the centrist groups voted for an ambitious 2040 climate target - underlining yet again that this was not a permanent shift away from these coalitions but a specific policy disagreement that the social democrats were squarely responsible for scuppering.
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Likewise, during the same plenary session, the centrist groups voted for an ambitious 2040 climate target - underlining yet again that this was not a permanent shift away from these coalitions but a specific policy disagreement that the social democrats were squarely responsible for scuppering.
There are always shifting majorities in the EP: in the past mandate, the S&D Group often relied on the far-left to push through amendments against the EPP. Where was the outcry then? Why was there no red line to work with Mélenchon and Iglesias? No risk of being "cannibalised" by the far-left?
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
There are always shifting majorities in the EP: in the past mandate, the S&D Group often relied on the far-left to push through amendments against the EPP. Where was the outcry then? Why was there no red line to work with Mélenchon and Iglesias? No risk of being "cannibalised" by the far-left?
There are several flaws to this argument: first, there is no formal alliance between the EPP and the far right. The EPP simply opted for a free vote rather than a voting deal with S&D/Renew on a specific policy issue where the centre-left had proved unreliable. This is not unprecedented.
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
There are several flaws to this argument: first, there is no formal alliance between the EPP and the far right. The EPP simply opted for a free vote rather than a voting deal with S&D/Renew on a specific policy issue where the centre-left had proved unreliable. This is not unprecedented.
The denial of reality comes, if anything, from progressives who insist on pushing through their policy platform and brand of politics despite elections showing time and again that there is no democratic majority for them - thereby directly playing into the hands of and empowering populists.
November 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The denial of reality comes, if anything, from progressives who insist on pushing through their policy platform and brand of politics despite elections showing time and again that there is no democratic majority for them - thereby directly playing into the hands of and empowering populists.
Democracy is based upon good faith compromise in the spirit of the majority will. The S&D rebels spurned both principles: they rejected compromise in the hopes of forcing through a minority view. That is not about ethical principles, but selfishness - and should be called out as such.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Democracy is based upon good faith compromise in the spirit of the majority will. The S&D rebels spurned both principles: they rejected compromise in the hopes of forcing through a minority view. That is not about ethical principles, but selfishness - and should be called out as such.
For this reason, the EPP declined to renegotiate and instead opted for a free vote on amendments. As seen, there was no majority for the demands of the rebel S&D MEPs. It is also worth noting that 10% of S&D MEPs and 25% of liberal MEPs supported the final text. This brings us to the crux of it all.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
For this reason, the EPP declined to renegotiate and instead opted for a free vote on amendments. As seen, there was no majority for the demands of the rebel S&D MEPs. It is also worth noting that 10% of S&D MEPs and 25% of liberal MEPs supported the final text. This brings us to the crux of it all.
The reality is: the EPP won the 2024 election. The leftwing coalition lost its majority. This has to be reflected in the policymaking of the EU. Yet the S&D rebel MEPs believed that they could force the EPP to keep making policy in the spirit of the old majorities. This is corrosive for democracy.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The reality is: the EPP won the 2024 election. The leftwing coalition lost its majority. This has to be reflected in the policymaking of the EU. Yet the S&D rebel MEPs believed that they could force the EPP to keep making policy in the spirit of the old majorities. This is corrosive for democracy.
Had these S&D MEPs voted with the centrist majority, we would not have had this situation. Even many social democrats and greens accepted that this rejection was a mistake because it meant that the EPP could no longer rely on the reliability of S&D as a voting partner.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Had these S&D MEPs voted with the centrist majority, we would not have had this situation. Even many social democrats and greens accepted that this rejection was a mistake because it meant that the EPP could no longer rely on the reliability of S&D as a voting partner.
The Omnibus Package was first put to a vote to the plenary in October under a compromise supported by the centrist coalition of EPP, S&D, and Renew. All group leaders had signed up for the proposal. In the end, a group of rebel S&D MEPs decided to scupper that deal to force a renegotiation.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The Omnibus Package was first put to a vote to the plenary in October under a compromise supported by the centrist coalition of EPP, S&D, and Renew. All group leaders had signed up for the proposal. In the end, a group of rebel S&D MEPs decided to scupper that deal to force a renegotiation.
This is simply not true, be it empirically or philosophically. It is not centrism that is at fault - if anything, this episode shows that it is the best bulwark we have against democratic backsliding and that the greatest risk is posed by those who put ideological purity over balanced compromise.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This is simply not true, be it empirically or philosophically. It is not centrism that is at fault - if anything, this episode shows that it is the best bulwark we have against democratic backsliding and that the greatest risk is posed by those who put ideological purity over balanced compromise.
I'm sorry but the only reason why we ended up in this scenario was because a handful of social democrat MEPs rejected a centrist compromise because they hoped they could blackmail the EPP back to the negotiating table that way. It's the S&D rebels that acted out of pure selfishness and caused this.
November 14, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I'm sorry but the only reason why we ended up in this scenario was because a handful of social democrat MEPs rejected a centrist compromise because they hoped they could blackmail the EPP back to the negotiating table that way. It's the S&D rebels that acted out of pure selfishness and caused this.
Only Frost could manage the sublime feat of trying to stylise himself as a "philosopher-king" politician and ending up inadvertently making himself sound as the exact clueless political dilettante that he is.
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Only Frost could manage the sublime feat of trying to stylise himself as a "philosopher-king" politician and ending up inadvertently making himself sound as the exact clueless political dilettante that he is.