With its woeful trade deal, Europe prostrated itself before the president. We need a leader who will tell him where to shove it, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst
So you want the EU Government to ask Microsoft to move to France or something? You’re not suggesting much at all just saying “I don’t like what’s currently on the table but I also refuse to leave.”
I’ll put this as politely as possible: putting words into someone else’s mouth really does not convey “I do discussions well” at all, that aside:
Forcing Microsoft to just switch countries is no solution at all, the only solution is to build something here and then use it here. Free from US influence. That means no AWS, no Microsoft, no Google involvement. I’m not talking about forcing industry to switch, if they want to be dependent on foreign companies let them but there is no reason for government agencies to be at the mercy of another country.
These general rules should be followed:
All hardware must be within the EU, run by an EU-based company (the highest parent company must also be EU-based), in today’s world this is essentially critical infrastructure
The Software chain is as follows (lowest to highest priority): hostile nations (China, Russia) - possibly hostile nations (USA) - neutral nations (Africa, most of SEA) - friendly nations (Switzerland, Norway) - EU countries
Prevent too many soups for too few chefs, EU wide projects are to be prioritized over nation wide ones. Duplicating work is inefficient and not something that can be allowed given the current situation.
Under consideration of these the following steps should happen:
1 - migration away from Windows, most office computers can be switched almost immediately, regular office use is well supported in the Linux ecosystem
2 - immediate migration away from Windows exclusive, US based specialized Software (for example Photoshop) for Software with existing and applicable alternatives
3 - reduction of computers with Windows exclusive, US based Software where Step 2 is not possible via use on Virtual Machines, access via remote connection
4 - Collaboration with EU based companies to replace any Software from Step 3 (long term target)
Obviously what’s mentioned takes time but not doing anything isn’t improving the situation either and as shown by Finland increasing their Linux share from 5% at the start of the year to 20% in July Step 1 should be achievable relatively quickly, which would at least ensure governments remain operational in the, currently unlikely, case of full US hostilities.
As for the military concern: just build more factories, we’ve got most of the know-how we need already, just not enough production of it. There are systems we don’t produce in Europe but nothing too critical, US systems in those categories can be replaced within ~5 years I recon.
1-3 of your consideration list have been happening for a long time, 4 might be cool to see, and I think the required rare minerals needed for tech and military could be sourced from Africa but are not currently: North America and Russia are the world’s major suppliers for Platinum*, Palladium, etc. I just don’t think it’s fair to call EU leadership weak over its actions, and I also don’t think you realize the unnecessary financial burden created by your plans.
Reckon*
/* South Africa does produce the most palladium by far, but they seem to sell a lot of it to the US.
1-3 have technically been happening but not with nearly enough urgency. I don’t think you realize the potential fallout should Trump hold Microsoft hostage, the cost for my proposed points would look like pennies in comparison, besides the cost is only high because years of warning signs have been repeatedly ignored.
And I call EU leadership weak because they are, I am more than familiar with the proven incompetence/corruption of Ursual von der Leyen, she got “parked” in the EU parliament because she kept fucking up too much in government. She has on at least 3 separate occasions “accidentally” deleted potentially incriminating messages in deals suspected of corruption. And while I don’t know much about the rest but I don’t need to, when you go into negotiations for tariffs and walk out with promised investment payments, something that wasn’t even on the table before the negotiations started, that is weakness.
Raw materials are less of a concern than finished products, so long as there is an alternate source switching suppliers is comparatively child’s play compared to unbricking a weapons system because the manufacturer shut you out.
So you want the EU Government to ask Microsoft to move to France or something? You’re not suggesting much at all just saying “I don’t like what’s currently on the table but I also refuse to leave.”
I’ll put this as politely as possible: putting words into someone else’s mouth really does not convey “I do discussions well” at all, that aside:
Forcing Microsoft to just switch countries is no solution at all, the only solution is to build something here and then use it here. Free from US influence. That means no AWS, no Microsoft, no Google involvement. I’m not talking about forcing industry to switch, if they want to be dependent on foreign companies let them but there is no reason for government agencies to be at the mercy of another country.
These general rules should be followed:
Under consideration of these the following steps should happen:
1 - migration away from Windows, most office computers can be switched almost immediately, regular office use is well supported in the Linux ecosystem
2 - immediate migration away from Windows exclusive, US based specialized Software (for example Photoshop) for Software with existing and applicable alternatives
3 - reduction of computers with Windows exclusive, US based Software where Step 2 is not possible via use on Virtual Machines, access via remote connection
4 - Collaboration with EU based companies to replace any Software from Step 3 (long term target)
Obviously what’s mentioned takes time but not doing anything isn’t improving the situation either and as shown by Finland increasing their Linux share from 5% at the start of the year to 20% in July Step 1 should be achievable relatively quickly, which would at least ensure governments remain operational in the, currently unlikely, case of full US hostilities.
As for the military concern: just build more factories, we’ve got most of the know-how we need already, just not enough production of it. There are systems we don’t produce in Europe but nothing too critical, US systems in those categories can be replaced within ~5 years I recon.
1-3 of your consideration list have been happening for a long time, 4 might be cool to see, and I think the required rare minerals needed for tech and military could be sourced from Africa but are not currently: North America and Russia are the world’s major suppliers for Platinum*, Palladium, etc. I just don’t think it’s fair to call EU leadership weak over its actions, and I also don’t think you realize the unnecessary financial burden created by your plans.
Reckon*
/* South Africa does produce the most palladium by far, but they seem to sell a lot of it to the US.
1-3 have technically been happening but not with nearly enough urgency. I don’t think you realize the potential fallout should Trump hold Microsoft hostage, the cost for my proposed points would look like pennies in comparison, besides the cost is only high because years of warning signs have been repeatedly ignored.
And I call EU leadership weak because they are, I am more than familiar with the proven incompetence/corruption of Ursual von der Leyen, she got “parked” in the EU parliament because she kept fucking up too much in government. She has on at least 3 separate occasions “accidentally” deleted potentially incriminating messages in deals suspected of corruption. And while I don’t know much about the rest but I don’t need to, when you go into negotiations for tariffs and walk out with promised investment payments, something that wasn’t even on the table before the negotiations started, that is weakness.
Raw materials are less of a concern than finished products, so long as there is an alternate source switching suppliers is comparatively child’s play compared to unbricking a weapons system because the manufacturer shut you out.