Elon Musk would be “very welcome” in Europe, a spokesperson for the European Commission said Friday, as tensions between the tech billionaire and United States President Donald Trump continue to escalate, AFP reported.
The comment came after Musk and Trump’s previously close political alliance unravelled in a public dispute on Thursday.
The president voiced disappointment over Musk’s recent criticisms, prompting a fiery exchange on social media.
Trump later suggested stripping Musk’s companies of US government contracts worth an estimated $18bn. Musk, in turn, threatened to terminate a key American space programme.
At the Commission’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Paula Pinho was asked whether Musk had contacted the European Union about possibly relocating his businesses or launching new ventures in Europe. “He’s very welcome,” she replied, smiling.
Thomas Regnier, another Commission spokesperson specialising in technology, added that the EU is open to all innovators.
“Everyone is very welcome indeed to start and to scale in the EU,” he said, pointing to the “Choose Europe” initiative, which supports start-ups and business expansion across the bloc.
Despite frequent criticism of the EU, including accusations of censorship over its digital policies and support for far-right movements in Europe, Musk could now be considering a shift away from the US market in light of the growing rift with the Trump administration.
Musk’s disagreement with Trump reportedly stems from the president’s plan to cut electric vehicle subsidies as part of a new federal spending bill.
The announcement triggered a sharp decline in shares of Tesla, one of Musk’s flagship companies.
AFP
