Tim Cook Meets Virtually With Austrian Chancellor to Discuss Global Health Crisis and EU Digital Capabilities

On Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook met virtually with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to discuss the global health crisis, digital infrastructure, and digital capabilities in Austria and the EU, according to a tweet by the Chancellor's official account.


The two also discussed the rapid digitalization of our lives and other current trends in technology.

Cook and Kurz met previously in January 2019 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. That meeting, according to Kurz, was a "unique opportunity to learn about the philosophy behind one of the world's most iconic brands and a good conversation on how we can successfully shape Europe's digital future."

Alongside his meeting with the Austrian Chancellor, Cook also virtually met with German politician Markus Soder to discuss Apple's recent announcement that it will invest more than 1 billion euros in a new European Silicon Design Center in Munich.

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...

Top Rated Comments

64 months ago
It's good to see that even third world countries such as Austria (yes I am also half Austrian) are receiving support when it comes to digitalisation. And yes, we are last in this area. It only took until 2019 for Apple Pay to come to Austria. So it only took one year longer than the implementation in Kazakhstan.

So thx to Apple for helping us, that are digitally last in line.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bluetoot- Avatar
64 months ago
That photo looks… off.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

It's good to see that even third world countries such as Austria (yes I am also half Austrian) are receiving support when it comes to digitalisation. And yes, we are last in this area. It only took until 2019 for Apple Pay to come to Austria. So it only took one year longer than the implementation in Kazakhstan.

So thx to Apple for helping us, that are digitally last in line.
Oh don't feel bad.
My country Indonesia is the largest country in SE Asia, 4th largest population in the world, but no Apple store (neither offline/online), no Apple pay. So Austria is already a few steps up. ?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

Twitter comments seem to agree it's fake. Wonder why someone in his position would do this, though.
They probably just put a screenshot over the way too glossy screen of the MacBook.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago
Don't follow world politics but this guy is only 34!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

That photo looks… off.
Gonna go offtopic here: totally, the depth of field on the guy being so blurred makes the left edge of the screen look like it is in front of the guy.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)