I live and run an IT startup in the EU.

The EU council can publish whatever press release they want - that's not gonna make a slightest dent in the business-hostile environment. Maybe it's perfectly clear for von der Leyen why the EU needs engineers and scientists but these sweet old ladies in the local job center will make sure your application shall never pass. And between those two entities (EU council and your local city council) guess who has the real power over your success?

A successful environment for business forms only when the most local government gives it a go. For example, Poland is quite welcoming and it shows[1].

I would absolutely love for the EU to wake up but in order for that to happen, something needs to change deeply in the governing structure.

[1] https://notesfrompoland.com/2024/08/14/polands-records-eus-f...

They will need to spend waaaay more money across Europe and insist on relaxing working rules if they are planning on attracting top talent. Shit like shutting down VU earth science in Amsterdam after spending 20 million euros on new facilities should not fly. The same is true for the way soft money positions work. I know a nonzero number of people who have won ERC grants which are work millions of euros only to have the university they work at refuse to offer them a contract because they have reached the limit of years allowed to work on a temporary contract. This means they either have to find a new host for their erc or not accept the grant. I love working in Europe as a scientist and have done so for 10+ years. But I think there should be more of everything in order to compete with America.

There's nothing of substance here, there's isn't any actual visa or residency fast track or any reforms mentioned just a vague "invitation".

I can tell you I have zero regrets from moving to Ireland almost ten years ago.

I second Ursula’s invitation. There’s much wonder to discover this side of the Atlantic.

At the same time an EU country is deporting Russian scientists and banning them from the Schengen zone: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/14/sweden-s-security-se...

They can invite whoever they want, but I think they will struggle to attract talent unless they actually start making some changes to make it a more attractive option rather than just assuming elsewhere is going to get worse.

I did a post-doc in France after my PhD in the UK. It was possibly worthwhile just for the experience, but the actual funding and research environment is not one I would recommend to my colleagues.

von der Leyen's country, Germany, has a very hostile immigrations system. Not as bad as America these days, but still dystopian. The Auslaenderamt across Germany is filled with racists and bigots.

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The EU is hostile to all emerging technologies like AI, why would any scientist go there? Let alone the poverty wages you'll earn and the 50%+ tax you'll pay.