Dijsselbloem calls for emergency law to help the chip sector
Dijsselbloem sees a major role for the European Commission in coordinating and optimizing national competition strategies.
Published on April 5, 2025
Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem of Eindhoven calls for a new 'emergency law' to support the chip industry, particularly companies like ASML. He refers to the Crisis and Recovery Act of 2010 as a model, which facilitated accelerated investments at the time. Dijsselbloem states that shortening bureaucratic procedures in the region is essential to facilitate the semiconductor industry's growth. He says this in an interview with BNR.
Dijsselbloem sees a major role for the European Commission in coordinating and optimizing national competition strategies. The rapid expansion of energy infrastructure is also a pressing issue, with thousands of new power cabinets and cables needed. Despite ASML's crucial role in global chip production, political action has so far lagged behind. Can this 'emergency bill' bring about the desired changes, or will it remain nothing more than words?
The urgency of accelerated investments
Jeroen Dijsselbloem advocates a drastic overhaul of the bureaucratic processes that are hindering the growth of the semiconductor industry. Following the Crisis and Recovery Act of 2010, which accelerated investments by temporarily relaxing regulations, he argues that similar measures are necessary. The Eindhoven region, with showpieces such as ASML, must be given faster access to investments in order to keep up in the increasingly competitive global chip industry.
ASML's growth threatened by grid and nitrogen crises
Grid and nitrogen hurdles threaten ASML's €2.5B expansion plan in the Netherlands.
The Dutch chip companies, including ASML, are under pressure from international competition, especially from countries such as France and Germany. These countries are trying to persuade ASML with substantial subsidies. ASML's crucial role in the global semiconductor industry makes it of strategic national importance. Yet, according to Dijsselbloem, there is a lack of bold political response from the Netherlands, despite his appeal for a one-time investment of billions to keep ASML.
Coordination at the European level
Dijsselbloem emphasizes the importance of European cooperation in developing a coherent chip policy that goes beyond national interests. He calls on the European Commission to take a stronger initiative in coordinating investments so that competition between EU countries remains limited. There are strong ecosystems within Europe, but these are threatened by fragmented efforts that can lead to internal competition rather than consolidation.
The expansion of the energy infrastructure is a critical requirement for the further development of the chip sector in Eindhoven. The region needs thousands of new power cabinets and cables to keep up with the rapid growth. However, current procedures are time-consuming, and the region does not have the luxury of time, as demonstrated by the two years it took to lay a cable just a few kilometers long.
The nitrogen problem in the Netherlands remains a major obstacle to construction projects and expansions in the technology sector. Despite the importance of technological solutions, such as reducing manure surpluses, the government must take swift action to make clear decisions. Without concrete measures regarding volume, the sector will often be held back by legal restrictions and regulations.
ASML's role in the Dutch economy
ASML is indispensable for global chip production, with its technology in demand from Asia to the US. ASML's expansion generates an economic spillover effect, with each employee creating work for 2.8 others in the chain. The company contributes greatly to the Dutch innovation ecosystem, which consists of more than 6,000 supporting companies. According to Dijsselbloem, this underlines the necessity of keeping ASML on Dutch soil, despite international interests.