Tag: europe

  • Can Luxembourg lead in AI?

    Can Luxembourg lead in AI?

    Let’s have a real conversation.

    When we ask if Luxembourg can lead in AI, we’re not questioning our country’s capability.

    We’re really asking whether we’re ready to back the people who are already pushing the boundaries.

    I’m thinking of Misch Strotz from LetzAI, today. Misch and the team are the kind of innovators who make you sit up and think, “F8vk, this is happening right here in Luxembourg!” They’re putting us on the map in a global race that’s moving faster every day.

    Let’s be honest—we’ve got challenges:

    – Living Costs: Starting something new is tough in Luxembourg.

    – We’re Culturally Cautious: Taking risks isn’t exactly our national pastime.

    – WHERE’S THE MONEY?: Tech start-ups need capital, and the ecosystem here isn’t as nurturing as it could(should) be.

    It’s not about whether we have talent.

    We do.

    It’s about whether we’re creating the right environment for that talent to thrive.

    If a company from Luxembourg becomes a global household name, something people talk about for the next 20 years, it’s going to be LetzAI.

    That’s the potential I see in LetzAI. Their market reach could be massive—from Netflix producers and Hollywood studios to advertisers across Europe and Asia. They’re already becoming a go-to tool for creators around the world.

    They empower people and brands to contribute their own content, creating “AI Models” that respect intellectual property. As Misch puts it:

    “Better AI requires better niche data. By encouraging users to add themselves and optimize their datasets on our platform, we’re tackling one of AI’s biggest problems: the lack of quality data for niche content.”

    This opens many doors; two that I want to highlight here for my Luxembourg IP laywers and investors:

    – Intellectual Property: They are offering SOLUTIONS in a time when AI and COPYRIGHT are in a messy relationship.

    – Creator Economy: They will be HELPING artists and creators MONETISE and TRACK the impact of their work in ways we haven’t seen before.

    If I were in VC, I’d back them in a heartbeat.

    Supporting companies like LetzAI isn’t just good for them; it’s good for all of us.

    We said years ago we wanted to set the stage for Luxembourg to become a tech hub.

    We got very good at saying it.

    Now it’s time to show how it’s done.

    While we’re pushing forward, we obviously can’t ignore the impact of AI on society. The UN released the “Governing AI for Humanity” report last week and it talks about how we need global cooperation to manage the risks of AI and make sure its benefits reach everyone.

    But the key word is ‘while’.

    We (especially in Europe) have done a lot to be ahead of regulation, but not ahead of Tech.

    And here’s something I’ve kept saying and we need to consider seriously: the future of AI should be shaped by democratic values and democratic countries.

    If we leave AI development to countries or companies that don’t prioritise transparency and individual freedoms, we put the future of our democracies at risk.

    Supporting teams like LetzAI isn’t just business — it ensures Luxembourg can be an active and influential participant in the global AI conversation, outside of Parliaments and Bureaucracies: in the actual tech.

    So, can Luxembourg lead in AI?

    I believe we can.

    But now is the moment to prove it by supporting and funding our innovators.

    Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

    Christos Floros

  • Every Nation for Itself

    Every Nation for Itself

    This is not just a ‘thank you’ post.

    But first, yes:

    28,874 personal thank you‘s for supporting me.

    And 253,344 thank you‘s for supporting our incredible DP – Demokratesch Partei team.

    To have earned your trust, your support, your faith, in my, and our team’s ability to deliver for you, that requires a huge, and sincere, thank you.

    My projections for Luxembourg and Europe were unfortunately accurate, and yet on an emotional level, we always hope to do better.

    One always hopes to do better than their own data indicates. Even if, again, I have to thank you, for giving me almost double the personal support I expected in my first election, especially one that I fought without any press, or media coverage — entirely with you, entirely grassroots. But this is not about any one person, or even any one country. Because these were European elections, about the future of our Union.

    So, let’s make it clear:

    The extremes did not win these elections, but many of us around Europe lost them. By failing (over the years, not just in this campaign) to convince our fellow citizens, that we can do better. And we must listen very clearly to this democratic protest.

    The biggest loser of these Elections is the European Union.

    ‘Divide et impera’: we are being divided, and the fact that many of us seem to ignore a carefully curated plan being actioned, is incredibly worrying.

    Those who seek to divide us have infiltrated our society, our media, our industries, our public discourse, and our politics.

    And the trend is clear, our Union is polarised, both in terms of political direction and in terms of supranational unity.

    Those of us who are responsible, moderate, politicians must be willing to take responsibility for this loss of confidence in our Union.

    Those of us who have opened a history book more than twice in our lives, must be willing to continue working, just as passionately, just as determined, to ensure history does not repeat itself.

    We must be willing to continue doing everything we can, to ensure Europe delivers for its citizens.

    Because we have got to take responsibility for the results all over Europe.

    Even if my generation is only just entering politics, we must be willing to take responsibility for the previous generations too. Because that’s what leaders do.

    European citizens are tired of overregulation. European citizens are fed-up with a European Union unable to work successfully together on border control. European citizens are frustrated, that we keep asking more of them, than we are able to offer them. European citizens are tired of handouts, when the majority of them work incredibly hard for their dues. European citizens want to be empowered to succeed.

    In the process of this protest, in the process of this polarisation, we are having our Trump moment. Mirroring what is happening in the United States, as I told Christelle BRUCKER yesterday. The big difference however is this: Trump loves Trump. And in Europe we don’t actually elect a single Trump. We elect multiple different Trumps, who each only love themselves, and their nations. A Europe of nations, working in their own self-interest, in a G-Zero world (yes, I’ve stolen the title from Ian Bremmer‘s 2012 book) will not deliver for any European citizen, regardless of how industrious, capable or ambitious the individual nation may be.

    Our countries, may have bright histories, but only together, do we pull enough weight in the world today (and even together, we’ve been reducing our weight enormously over the years – see image below). The United States are innovating, and we are simply falling behind, as China rises at an incredible pace.

    Only a strong, empowered, and purpose-led European Union can deliver for European citizens. Whether Spanish, French, Greek or Luxembourgish. Whether Romanian, Portuguese, German or Finnish.

    Share of World GDP / observations in text above

    So bottom line, here’s what I am going to do.

    • I will continue to be incredibly active in my country’s politics, at every level, micro-local, local, national and international.
    • I will continue investing my time and energy for you, within the DP – Demokratesch Partei to ensure we can conserve our Union and ensure we collectively succeed in the new global order.
    • I will continue attempting to make our politics more accessible, and more open to both criticism and participation.
    • I will continue encouraging, with my incredible colleague Jana Degrott (who by the way, not only had an incredible score, but also proved to be one of our country’s most committed politicians) more people to get involved.
    • I will continue speaking about AI, Defence and Cybersecurity (including Misinformation and Foreign Influence).
    • I will continue speaking about Europe’s competitiveness, our economy, our industries.
    • I will continue to ask for increased availability of information across our media in Luxembourg.

    And you may have guessed it:

    I will continue asking more of you, to choose to take responsibility and REGISTER TO VOTE.

    I want to thank all of you again for your support,

    Thank Charles Goerens , Amela Skenderovic , Nancy Braun , Jana Degrott , Gusty Graas and the entire team, every section, every MP, every member, every volunteer, for their support, and engagement into our campaign, to strengthen Europe.

    I want to also thank you for reading,

    I believe in Europe.

    If every nation in our Union plays for itself, we will all lose in the new state of the world.

    If we can continue to play together, with real, purposeful leadership, then we can succeed.

    Thank you for everything,

    This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I look forward to doing it again for you, for our city, our country, our Union, and yes, the collective success of our world.

    Kind regards,

    Christos FLOROS

  • Is it really Europe we’re talking about?

    Is it really Europe we’re talking about?

    Soundbites dominate discourse. National interests overshadow broader visions. We lose sight of the bigger picture. This is even more apparent in these European Parliament elections, where the ballot box may once again become a battleground for national grievances and triumphs rather than a platform for discussing and deciding the future of Europe as a whole.

    So, is it really Europe we’re talking about?

    In a European post-2004 era marked by unprecedented interconnectedness, where events in one corner of Europe and the globe can ripple across continents in seconds, the answer should be, a resounding yes. Whether it’s climate change, migration, or economic instability, the challenges facing Europe today transcend national borders. Ignoring this reality in favor of narrow, short-term interests is not only shortsighted but also perilous. Fragmented approaches, driven by individual national interests, will only serve to weaken our collective resilience. To confront the next stage of the global order effectively, we need a strong, cohesive EU capable of speaking with one voice on the world stage.

    It’s time to talk about Europe.

    This means recognizing that our fates are intertwined, and that only by working together can we navigate the challenges that lie ahead.

    It’s also about reclaiming our agency in shaping the world around us.

    We have a responsibility to engage in constructive dialogue, to seek common ground, and to advocate for policies that advance the greater good.

    This is not to say that national interests should be disregarded. On the contrary, they should be viewed through a European lens, mindful of their implications for the continent as a whole. By aligning our priorities and pooling our resources, we can amplify our impact and create a Europe that is not only stronger but also more resilient and prosperous.

    Are we willing to rise to the challenge of building a better Europe for future generations?

    The time for complacency is over. The time to talk about Europe is now.

  • “2024 is history in the making” interview with Chronicle.lu

    “2024 is history in the making” interview with Chronicle.lu

    Chronicle.lu: In a context of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, plus taking into account Eurosceptic/anti-Europe narratives (talks of EU exits – and this being the first European election since the 1970s without the UK) and the fact that this is a “record” year for elections worldwide, why do you feel it is important that more people (not least potential first-time voters) head to the polls in June 2024?

    Christos Floros: Voting is our civic duty. It’s how we shape the future of our society, at every scale, locally, nationally, internationally. In democratic societies, at least. Here in Luxembourg, citizens are required to vote.

    If we could legally make every resident vote, I believe we would. Because in Luxembourg we really do see it as a duty, if you live and work in this country, we want you to take responsibility for it, too.

    2024 is history in the making. The year they’ll point to in the future and say, “That’s when we stood up for democracy” or the opposite. The latter option, well, let’s just say Trump getting re-elected, makes it scarily possible. Remember, he was elected after the shockwave of Brexit, right?

    This year, Europe should send a different kind of shockwave to the US. A nod to our American allies, a message that says, “Hey, we’re still building that post-WWII world together.” A wake-up call. And guess how we do that? Electing pro-EU leaders across our Union in June.

    We gotta rekindle that commitment in Europe. Our peace, our freedom, our freedom of movement, our Erasmus, our shared prosperity, all these things, we’ve achieved together, we’ve got to remind every single European that this only works, when we work together and when politicians are also willing to take responsibility for what didn’t go as planned, what we didn’t get right. Otherwise, we are going to leave the field free for the far right… And those who scream “no more Europe” are basically condemning us all. We, as individual nations, can’t navigate this new world we are entering, alone. […] We live in a world of giants now, and going it solo for any of us is a recipe for disaster. We can and will continue to love and cherish our homelands, celebrate our traditions, and at the same time we must continue to aspire to build our bigger selves together. We need more Union today, than we needed in the 90’s or the 2000s.

    This is not just an election, it’s a chance to shape history. It’s our opportunity to show the world that Europe is still a beacon of hope, collaboration, and progress […] And that’s why I want everyone to sign up to vote before 15 April, to vote on 9 June.

    Read the full interview: https://chronicle.lu/category/politics/48625-change-for-luxembourg-founder-discusses-importance-of-european-elections

  • Ready to renew our commitment to Europe

    Ready to renew our commitment to Europe

    Our campaign of inclusion and participation has never been about one person.

    All of it has been about you, about all of us together.

    About the belief that when more people get a say, our democracy works better.

    I am incredibly happy to have seen so many new faces, so many of you last night, showing up, getting involved.

    Luxembourg needs all of us, our European Union needs all of us.

    United in diversity is the motto of our Union, and where could that be more true, than in our Luxembourg?

    Luxembourg brings us together, and we will continue to celebrate this, and show the rest of Europe, what we can do when we work together.

    In these images, you will see people from Luxembourg to Romania to India, who all have one thing in common: Luxembourg is their home.

    Many of them have already become Luxembourgish citizens, many of them are European, many of them were always Luxembourgish citizens, what we all have in common is that we believe that Europe can work, must work, and will work, if we work together.

    Thank you once again, for all the interesting conversations and every word of encouragement.

    But more importantly, thank you for showing up, thank you for your engagement, thank you for your voice.