> The GDPR does not prevent US big tech from operating in the EU.

Of course it doesn't, that'd be stupid. But it does require them to be compliant, otherwise they'll face fines and eventually they'll chose to either be compliant, or exit the market.

As a EU citizen with rights, I love this, exactly what I want from my inter-continent union of countries.

> otherwise they'll face fines and eventually they'll chose to either be compliant, or exit the market.

Or declare war against the EU, which is the option they've gone for.

And complying with the GDPR isn't that difficult as a startup. You can build your systems from the ground up to be able to accommodate GDPR requirements. There is some documenting paperwork you are supposed to have internally, but enforcement is quite lenient if you show good-faith efforts to comply.

> and the red tape in registering corporations.

what red tape? from what I understand you have your articles of incorporation, your id an register with chamber of commerce. I mean it varies from country to country and licenses and all the EU stuff exists, but what red tape is there when registering the company itself?

Registering corporations is pretty fast all things considered. Or reasonably affordable even for buying existing one.

The thing really is that there is lot less readiness to simply burn money on anything and everything. And then keep doing that even further...

> De-industrialization due to high energy prices is, but of course von der Leyen will not mention that.

Europe needs to let Putin finish off Ukraine so he can turn the gas on again, amiright?