Brexit: Bye Bye Britain -The Netherlands here we come- More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere, -one of
 the most modern cities in Europe

Dutch officials are in contact with more than 250 companies about a possible post-Brexit move, the government said on Wednesday, after Sony revealed it would shift its base to the Netherlands.
 
The Dutch government will announce a final figure in February but “every new arrival of a business, big or small, is a success”, Michiel Bakhuizen, a spokesperson for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, told AFP.

Japanese electronics giant Sony is following Panasonic in moving its European headquarters across the North Sea to the Netherlands ahead of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU in March.

While Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he “doesn’t see Brexit as a business opportunity”, the Netherlands has still pushed hard to win post-Brexit investment.

Via the investment agency, the Dutch government is “in contact with more than 250 interested in an eventual move to the Netherlands because of Brexit”, Bakhuizen said. “The number of businesses we are in contact with for a possible arrival is growing. At the start of 2017 it was 80, at the start of 2018 150, and now it’s more than 250.

“This increase will continue and it’s not strange, because there is great uncertainty at the moment in Britain. And if there is one thing that’s bad for business, it’s uncertainty.”

The spokesperson said he would not comment on “individual” cases such as Sony, but added that the Netherlands welcomed any such decision. “In mid-February we will announce the number of companies that have left the UK for the Netherlands because of Brexit,” he said.

Asked whether Abe’s visit had helped with the Sony move, the spokesperson said that “it’s certain that these political and diplomatic moments help”.

However, Rutte warned in a press conference with Abe that any extra investments would be offset by the overall “negative impact” of Brexit, particularly if Britain crashes out without a deal with the EU.
Dutch officials said this week they are preparing for the “blue sea of uncertainty” that a no-deal Brexit would create.

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that “we have started early with our preparations but, of course, it has become more intensive because of a possible no-deal Brexit”.

There is a famous Dutch saying which goes as follows: "de een zijn dood, is de ander z'n brood". which in English would translate to :"their loss, your gain" - Yes indeed, if Brexit happens, the Netherlands could "laugh all the way to the bank". 

Read more at: More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

Communications - Geo-Blocking: EU opens antitrust case against 6 major US movie studios - by Raf Casert

The European Union on Thursday launched an antitrust case against six major U.S. movie studios and British satellite broadcaster Sky UK, in a move that could profoundly shake up the highly lucrative pay-television market in Europe.

The EU's executive Commission has sent a so-called statement of objections to the companies regarding what it says are "contractual restrictions" preventing EU consumers outside Britain and Ireland from accessing the services of Sky UK.

"European consumers want to watch the pay-TV channels of their choice regardless of where they live or travel in the EU," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said. "Our investigation shows that they cannot do this today."

The companies involved are all household names and produce some of the most popular — and profitable — movies around.

In addition to Sky, which has cornered a large chunk of the British pay-TV market through its acquisition of sports and movie rights, the Commission sent its objections to NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, Disney and Warner Bros.

In a statement, the Commission said it found clauses requiring Sky to block access to films through its online or satellite pay-TV services to consumers outside Britain and Ireland — so-called "geo-blocking."

Note EU-Digest: Good action by EU Commission. Private sector should keep hands-off prohibiting free-choice of consumers in every area, including cultural expressions and presentations. 

Read more: EU opens antitrust case against 6 major US movie studios - The Denver Post