The European Commission took a major step toward simplifying business in Europe this week, unveiling EU Inc. – a single, unified corporate framework intended to replace the maze of national rules that companies currently face when trying to operate across the bloc. Under the proposal, companies could be founded within 48 hours, for less than €100, with no minimum share capital requirements, by submitting their information just once via an EU-level interface.
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. For startups and scale-ups looking to expand across borders, that complexity has long been a deterrent – pushing some to set up outside the EU entirely.
EU Inc. aims to change that. Under the proposal, companies could be founded within 48 hours, for less than €100, with no minimum share capital requirements, by submitting their information just once via an EU-level interface. All operations — from financing to share transfers — would be handled digitally, and entrepreneurs who need to wind down a venture would benefit from simplified liquidation procedures to help them restart faster.
Crucially, the framework is optional and comes with built-in protections. National employment and social laws are not affected by the proposal, and the applicable safeguards of the EU country of registration will apply in full.
The announcement is part of the Commission’s wider 28th regime initiative, which seeks to give businesses a genuine EU-level alternative to navigating 27 separate national systems. The Commission is calling on the European Parliament and the Council to reach an agreement on the proposal by the end of 2026.
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