EU News and Discussions

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caltrek
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Atomico Report: European Startups on Track to Raise $85 Billion This Year, Down From $100+ Billion in 2021
by Ingrid Lunden
December 6, 2022

Introduction:
(TechCrunch) Startups across Europe are on track to raise $85 billion in funding this year — a drop of $15 billion on 2021 when funding passed $100 billion, according to a new report published today. The figures come from London VC firm Atomico’s annual State of European Tech, which has become a bellwether for the tech industry in the region, and they underscore the pressure bearing down on it as the region grapples with an ongoing war in Ukraine, a sagging economy and specifically tech industry, and a population wobbling to get back on its feet and productive again after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Altogether, the European tech industry has lost about $400 billion in value, Atomico said: it is now valued at $2.7 trillion. And in keeping with those losses, it also notes that tech layoffs in the region will shape up to be about 14,000 for the year — a giant figure, but still only a 7% of the total number of layoffs globally, which number about 200,000.

The report encompasses a survey of VCs and founders, as well as research from third party firms like Dealroom.

The total-raised figure is not entirely a grim message when put into context. Atomico noted that funding for the year actually started out looking like it would exceed 2021 levels. Then in July, activity dropped off a cliff and hasn’t come back.

That’s not a great sign going into 2023, but it also seems to indicate that 2021’s $100 billion raised was also an outlier year. The total funding raised in 2020, for example (a year when all kinds of activity grounded to a halt with the start of the pandemic), was just $39 billion.
Read more here: https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/06/atom ... -in-2021/
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EU corruption charges 'very very worrisome', says foreign policy chief

44 minutes ago

Arrests over alleged corruption at the European Parliament are "very, very worrisome", the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.

[...]

Among the arrested was European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili - believed to be one of those charged.

Prosecutors suspect a Gulf state - reportedly Qatar - tried to influence parliament by donating money or gifts.

[...]

Belgian police seized cash worth about €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) in 16 searches in Brussels on Friday. Computers and mobile phones were also taken, to examine their contents.

[...]

Watchdogs and opposition MEPs said the bribery investigation could represent one of the biggest corruption scandals in European Parliament history.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63941509
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caltrek
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Czechs Vote for Pro-EU Retired NATO General for President
by Cain Burdeau
January 30, 2023

Introduction:
(Courthouse News) — The Czech Republic's turn toward a pro-NATO and pro-Western stance was consolidated over the weekend with the election of a retired NATO general as the next president.

Petr Pavel won in a landslide Saturday in a runoff against Andrej Babis, a popular but divisive former prime minister and billionaire denounced by critics as a corrupt, pro-Russian and populist politician.

Pavel will replace Milos Zeman, a highly problematic figure known for his anti-gay and anti-immigrant statements, friendliness toward China and Russia and public displays of drunkenness.

The Czech president's role is largely ceremonial, but the head of state also serves as the commander in chief of the Czech military. Pavel is expected to make supporting Ukraine a priority. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately called to congratulate Pavel and the new Czech president plans to visit Kyiv after he takes office in March.

Pavel took more than 58% of the vote, the most ever in a presidential election in the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia. He becomes the country's fourth president and is being hailed as someone who can bring normalcy back to the Prague Castle, the residence of the president.
Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/czechs- ... resident/
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EU's AI Act: Stricter Rules for Chatbots on the Horizon
The European Union is preparing new AI regulations that could impact development and deployment, requiring companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material. As the AI Act evolves, chatbots may face increased scrutiny and transparency requirements.
  • The EU is developing new AI regulations, potentially requiring companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material.
  • This development highlights the growing concern surrounding AI safety, transparency, and responsible deployment in the EU.
  • Stricter regulations could shape the future of AI governance, affecting innovation and the way AI platforms operate globally.
(Artisana.ai)
The European Union is preparing new regulations that could significantly impact the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, according to the Financial Times. As discussions continue in Brussels regarding the proposals in the comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act, sources indicate that the forthcoming regulation may require companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material in training their AI.
Wjfox is going to hate me for saying this, but, if there were ever any positives about Brexit, then this would have to be one of them. I completely understand having regulatory measures on corporations from pursuing the profit motive against the wellbeing of the public, but there needs to be a sensible balance when it comes to regulation and innovation. I like the U.K.'s approach to the issue, since at the least it won't stifle innovation regarding its deployment in society, and if we truly are on an exponential growth curve, it may very well revitalize the U.K.'s economy if the technology is utilized effectively.
Nanotechandmorefuture
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Cyber_Rebel wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 4:39 pm EU's AI Act: Stricter Rules for Chatbots on the Horizon
The European Union is preparing new AI regulations that could impact development and deployment, requiring companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material. As the AI Act evolves, chatbots may face increased scrutiny and transparency requirements.
  • The EU is developing new AI regulations, potentially requiring companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material.
  • This development highlights the growing concern surrounding AI safety, transparency, and responsible deployment in the EU.
  • Stricter regulations could shape the future of AI governance, affecting innovation and the way AI platforms operate globally.
(Artisana.ai)
The European Union is preparing new regulations that could significantly impact the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, according to the Financial Times. As discussions continue in Brussels regarding the proposals in the comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act, sources indicate that the forthcoming regulation may require companies like OpenAI to disclose their use of copyrighted material in training their AI.
Wjfox is going to hate me for saying this, but, if there were ever any positives about Brexit, then this would have to be one of them. I completely understand having regulatory measures on corporations from pursuing the profit motive against the wellbeing of the public, but there needs to be a sensible balance when it comes to regulation and innovation. I like the U.K.'s approach to the issue, since at the least it won't stifle innovation regarding its deployment in society, and if we truly are on an exponential growth curve, it may very well revitalize the U.K.'s economy if the technology is utilized effectively.
Seperate from some negative stuff there must have been some hilarious queries put in for this to be a thing!
weatheriscool
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Re: EU News and Discussions

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There's a reason that the United state and China lead the world in tech. The EU is far to restrictive and regulated to allow for healthy development of tech.

It is sad but it does a lot of good but it also does bad too.
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caltrek
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Spain Swings Right in Local and Regional Elections
May 28 , 2023

Introduction:
MADRID (AP via Courthouse News) — Spain's conservative opposition Popular Party made significant gains in Sunday's local and regional elections, offering a dire assessment of public feeling towards the ruling left-wing coalition ahead of general elections in December.

In the local vote, the Popular Party, or PP, won 31.5% of votes compared with 28.2% for the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, or PSOE, which leads the central government, with more than 97% of votes counted, according to results published by the Interior Ministry. This was a 1.2 percentage point decrease for PSOE on 2019, but almost a 9 point increase for the PP, which benefited from the collapse of the centrist Citizens party.

The PP also dominated several regions previously won by PSOE including Valencia, Aragon and La Rioja. Spain's regional governments have enormous power and budgetary discretion over education, health, housing and policing.

The party also swung important cities including Valencia and Seville from the Socialists, and achieved an absolute majority for the mayor of the capital, Madrid.

The far-right Vox movement more than doubled their share of local councilors to 7.2%, meaning they will have significant influence on policy in cities where the PP will need their votes.

Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/spain-s ... ections/
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caltrek
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Self-exiled Catalan Separatist Leaders Dealt Blow by EU Court
by Cain Burdeau
July 5, 2023

Introduction:
(Courthouse News) — Carles Puigdemont, a popular Catalan politician who fled to Brussels after spearheading an illegal independence referendum, faces arrest by Spanish authorities after a European Union court ruled Wednesday that he is not protected by political immunity.

The General Court rebuffed Puigdemont's claim that he should be shielded from prosecution in Spain because he is a member of the European Parliament. Puigdemont said he would appeal the decision to the EU's highest court, the Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

In 2017, Puigdemont was the president of Catalonia's regional government when he approved holding a highly contentious referendum on Catalan independence in defiance of Spanish authorities.

After Spanish authorities brutally cracked down on the referendum and independence movement, Puigdemont and other Catalan politicians fled the country, fearing imprisonment.

Since then, Spanish courts have battled to get him returned to Spain to face prosecution for allegations of insurgency and misuse of public funds in connection to the illegal referendum.
Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/self-ex ... eu-court/
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weatheriscool
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Americans will need a visa to visit Europe starting in 2024. Here's what you should know.
Next year, Americans will be required to obtain travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens.

The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece.

Here is everything Americans need to know.

Application process

Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive, providing peace of mind. Keep in mind that the new rules will be enforced starting in January 2024.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/americans-ne ... 32841.html
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