EU Inc. – making business easier in the European Union

The Commission presented EU Inc.,a new single set of corporate rules that will be the same and apply across the EU. This will make it easier for businesses to start, operate and grow across the EU. Its optional, fully digital procedures would enable innovative companies to scale up and incentivise them to stay in Europe and encourage those who once looked elsewhere to return. EU Inc. is part of the new broader 28th regime that offers businesses the chance to seize the benefits of the single market.

Currently, entrepreneurs and innovative companies face a fragmented corporate legal landscape. With 27 national legal systems and more than 60 company legal forms in place, it can take a company weeks or even months to set up, slowing growth and raising costs.

EU Inc.'s single harmonised set of corporate rules would mean that companies no longer need to navigate multiple national regimes, unlocking the true potential of the single market, and driving growth and increased competitiveness.

Main features of EU inc. include

• faster registration and simpler procedures: founding an EU Inc. company within 48 hours, for less than €100 and with no minimum share capital requirements and by only submitting their company information once, via an EU-level interface
• fully digital operations throughout a company's lifecycle
• helping founders restart faster and cheaper: simplified liquidation procedures,enabling founders to test out innovative ideas and start again if needed
• better conditions to attract investment by removing in-person formalities, providing digital procedures for financing operations, and simplifying the transfer of shares with possibilities to access the stock exchange
• full access to the single market: by freely choosing the EU country in which they incorporate
• strong safeguards against abuse: national employment and social laws are not affected by the proposal. The applicable safeguards of the EU country of registration will apply in full to the EU Inc. company.

In addition, the Commission has adopted a Communication outlining the ongoing and future initiatives to complete the 28th regime in other policy areas. Among other measures, it proposes maximum digitalisation of interactions between companies and public authorities and calls on EU countries to consider setting up specialised judicial chambers or courts with the authority to handle disputes on EU Inc. company law.

Given its key importance for the EU's competitiveness, the Commission is calling on the European Parliament and the Council to reach an agreement on the EU Inc. proposal by the end of 2026.

For more information

Questions & answers

EU Inc.: A new harmonised corporate legal regime

Communication: towards a EU Inc. for EU companies

Proposal for an EU Inc. corporate legal framework

A new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness

Press release: Commission presents proposal for EU Inc. - unlocking the full potential of the Single Market for Europe's entrepreneurs