The European Commission today presented its proposal for EU Inc., a new unified set of corporate rules designed to serve as the cornerstone of the European Union's "28th regime." Backed by over 22,000 founders, investors, and members of Europe's startup community, the initiative introduces an optional, digital-by-default corporate framework aimed at making it dramatically easier to start, operate, and grow a business across the bloc.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen framed the proposal as a direct response to the regulatory fragmentation that has long held back European entrepreneurs. The goal is clear: incentivise companies to stay in Europe, and encourage those who once looked elsewhere to return.
What EU Inc. Offers At its core, EU Inc. creates a single European company framework — one set of rules that works across the entire Single Market of 450 million consumers. Rather than replacing national company structures, it sits alongside them as a 28th option. Key features include:
Faster Registration: Entrepreneurs will be able to found an EU Inc. company within 48 hours, for less than €100, with no minimum share capital requirement — all fully online through a single EU-level portal.
One Submission, Full Access: EU Inc. companies will only need to submit their information once via an EU-level interface connecting national business registers. The Commission will subsequently establish a new central EU register — a much-requested feature whose inclusion had been uncertain. Companies will also obtain their tax identification and VAT numbers without having to resubmit paperwork.
Fully Digital Operations: Corporate processes will be digital by default throughout a company's entire lifecycle, from incorporation to ongoing administration.
Faster Restarts for Founders: The framework includes provisions to help founders who have experienced business failure restart more quickly and at lower cost.
The Broader 28th Regime EU Inc. is the company law core of a wider policy package. Alongside the legislative proposal, the Commission adopted a Communication outlining additional initiatives to complete the 28th regime across several policy areas:
The European Business Wallet , designed to maximise digitalisation of interactions between companies and public authorities. Exploration of cross-border telework provisions for innovative startups and scale-ups, to be developed as part of the forthcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package. Measures to improve access to capital for startups and scale-ups, building on the Savings and Investment Union and a potential revision of pension fund investment rules. A recommendation that member states establish specialised judicial chambers or courts to handle EU Inc. company law disputes, ensuring consistent and efficient application of the rules. Labour Protections Addressing concerns about social standards, President von der Leyen emphasised that the EU Inc. proposal will fully respect existing labour law, including employees' rights to participate in company boards, with strong safeguards built into the framework.
Path Forward The proposal now moves to the European Parliament and the Council for deliberation. The Commission has called for a political agreement to be reached by the end of 2026, with companies able to use EU Inc. immediately upon the regulation entering into force, as the digital registration interface is intended to be available from the outset.
The European Parliament has already signalled strong political backing, having adopted a report on the initiative in January 2026 with 492 votes in favour and 144 against. However, questions remain about how widely member states will adopt the framework in practice, and whether it will deliver on its promise to turn Europe into one of the easiest places in the world to start and scale a company.
