- Digital registration via BRIS (target: 48h standard, 5 days custom)
- €100 minimum fee proposed
- Single legal form valid across all EU member states
- Art. 114 TFEU as legal basis (qualified majority in Council)
⏳ Not yet confirmed / subject to negotiation:
- Final timeline and availability date (not before 2029)
- Exact capital requirements
- Cross-border tax treatment
- National implementing acts
The one-line definition
EU Inc is a proposed new type of company — sometimes called the "28th regime" — that would exist under a single EU-level legal framework instead of any one national law. If you incorporate an EU Inc, you get one company, one set of rules, and legal recognition in all 27 EU member states by default.
The European Commission formally published its legislative proposal on 18 March 2026 (COM/2026 and press release IP/26/614). The proposal is now with the European Parliament and Council for review. Official text at eur-lex.europa.eu.
Why does Europe need this?
Right now, the EU has 27 different national company law systems. If you incorporate a GmbH in Germany, you need a separate entity structure to operate in France, Spain, or Italy. For a startup with customers across borders, this creates enormous friction: multiple registrations, multiple compliance regimes, multiple sets of annual accounts, and multiple sets of lawyers.
This fragmentation has real economic cost. The Commission's own impact assessment estimates that cross-border legal friction costs European SMEs and startups billions annually in unnecessary compliance overhead — money that goes to lawyers and accountants instead of product, talent, and growth.
| Current situation | With EU Inc |
|---|---|
| Up to 27 separate registrations needed | One registration, valid EU-wide |
| National compliance per country | Single harmonised rulebook |
| Average incorporation: 5–15 days | Target: 48 hours or less |
| Multiple sets of annual accounts | One set of accounts |
| High legal costs for cross-border ops | Significantly reduced |
What the proposal actually says (March 2026)
The March 2026 Commission proposal contains several key provisions:
- 48-hour registration target — the framework sets an objective of completing incorporation within 48 hours of submitting a complete application
- €1 minimum share capital — dramatically lower than Germany's GmbH (€25,000) or France's SAS model, designed to make incorporation accessible to solo founders and micro-businesses
- Fully digital incorporation — no notary required, no physical presence required, process completable entirely online
- Once-only principle — documents submitted once are recognised across all member states via the BRIS (Business Registers Interconnection System)
- Harmonised governance rules — standard articles of association template available, simplified board structures supported
- Direct share transfers — simplified cap table management, including support for stock exchange listings
The €1 minimum capital is the most radical element of the proposal. Every major European company structure currently requires meaningful paid-in capital: GmbH €25,000, SRL €10,000 minimum, UK Ltd technically £1 but with creditor pressure for more. EU Inc at €1 is a philosophical statement: the Commission is betting that credibility comes from the business, not from the initial capital deposit. Whether investors and banks will treat an EU Inc the same as an established GmbH is an open question that won't be answered until the structure has been in market for several years. — Tommaso Ferretti
Who is EU Inc designed for?
The proposal is explicitly aimed at three groups:
1. Startups and scaleups
Companies that need to raise capital from investors across multiple EU countries, hire talent in different member states, and eventually run M&A processes that require clean, predictable legal structures. EU Inc is designed to make these operations simpler from day one.
2. Non-EU founders
Currently, a founder from the US, UK, India, or anywhere outside the EU faces a complicated decision: which national jurisdiction to incorporate in? Each has pros and cons, and getting it wrong is expensive to fix. EU Inc would offer a single answer: incorporate once, access all 27 markets.
3. Freelancers and solo operators
The €1 minimum capital and 48-hour incorporation target make EU Inc potentially the easiest path for independent professionals who want limited liability across the EU without the overhead of a full GmbH or SRL.
What stage is the proposal at?
As of March 2026, the proposal is in the early legislative phase:
- ✅ Commission proposal published: 18 March 2026
- ⏳ European Parliament review: underway, expected 12–18 months
- ⏳ Council of the EU review: parallel process
- ⏳ Trilogues (Parliament + Council + Commission): expected 2027
- ⏳ Final adoption: optimistic estimate late 2027, realistic 2028
- ⏳ Member state transposition (18–24 months after adoption)
- ⏳ Registration opens: earliest estimate 2029–2030
Sources close to the Parliament's legal affairs committee suggest the rapporteur may be appointed by late 2026, which could accelerate the timeline — though final adoption and registration availability are not expected before 2029. Separately, there is speculation that Germany may push for a higher minimum capital threshold during Council negotiations. Neither position is confirmed.
EU Inc vs existing European company types
| Structure | Country | Min. Capital | Incorporation time | Cross-border |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Inc | EU-wide | €1 (proposed) | 48 hours (target) | Built-in, all 27 states |
| GmbH | Germany | €25,000 | 1–4 weeks | Reputation-based |
| SRL | Italy | €10,000 | 2–6 weeks | Requires subsidiaries |
| SAS | France | €1 | 1–3 weeks | Requires subsidiaries |
| BV | Netherlands | €0.01 | 1–3 days | Favoured by VCs, not EU-wide |
| SE (Societas Europaea) | EU-wide | €120,000 | Months | Yes, but complex |
| LLC | USA | None | Same day | Not in EU by default |
Frequently asked questions
Can I register an EU Inc today?
No. The proposal was published in March 2026 and is currently going through the EU legislative process. Registration is not expected to open before 2029 at the earliest. You can join our waiting list to be notified when it becomes available.
Where will an EU Inc be domiciled?
According to the current proposal, an EU Inc must have its registered office in a member state and its real administrative centre must also be in the EU. You choose your member state, but the company is recognised in all 27.
Will an EU Inc pay taxes in one country only?
Tax is national, not EU-level. An EU Inc will still pay corporate tax in the member state(s) where it has economic presence. The framework only addresses company law, not tax harmonisation. This is an important distinction.
What happens to my existing GmbH, SRL, or Ltd when EU Inc launches?
The proposal does not include mandatory conversion. Existing companies would continue under their national structures. Voluntary conversion mechanisms are mentioned in the proposal but details are not yet finalised.
Is EU Inc the same as the 28th regime?
Yes. "28th regime" is the technical term — referring to an EU-level framework that adds a 28th option to the existing 27 national regimes. "EU Inc" is the popular name used in policy and media discussions.
Do non-EU nationals qualify?
The proposal explicitly includes non-EU founders. You do not need to be an EU citizen or resident to incorporate an EU Inc. The company itself must have its registered office and real administrative centre within the EU.
Be the first to know when EU Inc opens
Join the waiting list — we'll notify you as soon as registration becomes available and keep you updated on the legislative timeline.
Join the Waiting ListSources
- European Commission Press Release IP/26/614 — 18 March 2026
- EUR-Lex: COM/2026 — EU Inc legislative proposal
- European Commission Competitiveness Compass, 2026
- BRIS — Business Registers Interconnection System documentation