It was a true meeting of the minds, as Apple CEO Steve Jobs traveled to Brussels to meet with the European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes yesterday.
Those attending the caucus along with Sir. Jobs were Eddie Cue (Apple’s iTunes head), representatives from EMI, eBay, Fiat, the UK consumer association, famous face Mick Jagger, and other select European company heads. The topic at hand? The suits (minus Jobs, decked out in his standard uniform) were there to “explore opportunities and barriers to online retailing and the European Single Market.”
Best summed up by Mr. Kros himself: “The people in Europe were promised a union, a place without boarders: but on the Internet they have not yet got it. Progress has been made; sometimes impressive, but it is not enough. As Competition Commissioner, I want to know why. if this is because the competition rules are not clear enough, I will clarify them. If it is because the competition rules are not up to date, I will update them. And of course, if this is because the competition rules are not being respected, consumers and companies should know I that I will enforce them.”
In Layman’s terms, this is a message to companies doing business in Europe (Apple is no exception) that if they do not comply with European standards (i.e. not being charged more than other countries for the same service,) then European consumers will go ahead and pick products at the best available European price, according to 9to5mac.com. Therefore, they met, shook hands, smiled, said their niceties, and probably left there thinking of a way to get around the Commissioner’s stronghold. Regardless, a publication of what really went on behind closed doors should be available later this year.
In other news: With Steve Jobs in Europe, Mac users are beginning to speculate whether or not Mr. Jobs will swing by the remains of Europe’s largest Apple trade show, the Apple Expo. Wouldn’t it be a perfect time to announce the release of the highly anticipated updated MacBooks?….ah….We only tease. As Steve could very well remain in Brussels and share a delicious vegan supper with Mick Jagger while they play around with the idea of how they can mimic the likes of Bill Gates and Seinfeld.
Update: Jobs was attending a European roundtable discussing the legal obstacles to pan-European online retailing. Most likely Jobs was there to combat the European Commission which has criticized Apple’s Online iTunes music store. Some countries “unfairly” charge residents more for the same content. Emi, another major music label, attended the event as well.
Visit – Apple Expo
[via 9to5Mac]
