The European Commission has proposed EU Inc. — a single company form valid across all 27 EU member states. Track the proposal, understand the features, and follow the legislative process.
Last updated:
Commission proposal
COM(2026) 321 final published 18 March 2026 as a Regulation.
Parliament draft report
JURI draft report tabled; amendments closed 17 July and come back to committee on 7 September.
Council work
Working Party on Company Law examining the text; Presidency compromise circulated in July.
Next milestone
Next: JURI consideration of amendments — 7 September 2026
€0
Minimum Capital
No paid-in share capital at incorporation
Commission proposalContested
48h
Registration
Fully digital, via EU central interface
Commission proposal
27
Member States
One registration, recognised across all
2028+
First Registrations
Realistic estimate for availability
Our estimate
EU Inc. is a proposed pan-European company form that would allow founders to incorporate a single legal entity recognised in all 27 EU member states. Published on 18 March 2026 as a Regulation under COM(2026) 321 final, it applies directly — no national transposition needed.
Sometimes called Europe's "28th regime", EU Inc. sits alongside existing national forms like the German GmbH, French SAS, or Dutch BV. Founders choose it voluntarily; existing companies can convert into an EU Inc. or start one from scratch.
Key features from the Commission proposal (COM(2026) 321 final) — a single company form for the entire European single market.
One registration, full legal recognition across all EU member states. No subsidiaries needed.
Fully online incorporation via BRIS central interface. Maximum fee: €100.
No paid-in share capital required at incorporation — lower barrier than most national forms.
Fully digital, no notary required. Member states cannot impose notarial requirements.
Explicitly permitted in the regulation text. Investor-friendly governance from day one.
Harmonised employee equity scheme with deferred taxation across all member states.
Not a directive — applies directly and uniformly. No national transposition or gold-plating.
Realistic estimate based on typical EU legislative timelines for this complexity.
EU Inc. is designed for companies that think beyond national borders from day one.
Incorporate once, operate across all 27 EU member states. No subsidiaries, no foreign legal counsel, no notary appointments. EU Inc. removes the setup cost that currently penalises European startups compared to their US counterparts.
EU Inc. supports SAFEs, dual-class shares, and fully digital share transfers out of the box. Investor-friendly corporate governance that European founders currently achieve only by incorporating in Delaware or the Netherlands.
With the EU-ESO scheme, employee stock options receive harmonised tax treatment across borders. Hire in Berlin, Paris, or Lisbon — same equity plan, same rules. No country-by-country legal opinions.
A single, predictable legal framework for portfolio companies operating across Europe. Standardised articles of association, transparent share registers, and a company form designed for the cap table structures venture capital requires.
Commission proposal
COM(2026) 321 final published 18 March 2026 as a Regulation.
CompleteParliament draft report
JURI draft report tabled; amendments closed 17 July and come back to committee on 7 September.
In progressCouncil work
Working Party on Company Law examining the text; Presidency compromise circulated in July.
In progressNext milestone
JURI consideration of amendments — 7 September 2026
UpcomingCommission proposal
COM(2026) 321 final published 18 March 2026 as a Regulation.
CompleteParliament draft report
JURI draft report tabled; amendments closed 17 July and come back to committee on 7 September.
In progressCouncil work
Working Party on Company Law examining the text; Presidency compromise circulated in July.
In progressNext milestone
JURI consideration of amendments — 7 September 2026
UpcomingThe Commission's long-awaited 28th regime proposal landed on 18 March 2026. It is, by the standards of Brussels company law, genuinely ambitious. It is also not Delaware. Here is what founders actually need to know.
March 25, 2026
Why EU Inc could reshape deal structures, fund strategies, and the European funding gap
February 16, 2026
In the week of February 10, 2026, three events in three days built the strongest political foundation yet for the 28th regime. The Commission proposal is confirmed for March.
February 13, 2026
Tracking the path from announcement to incorporation
January 26, 2026
Understanding the phenomenon EU Inc is designed to address
January 26, 2026
A founder's guide to comparing the new EU Inc structure with established national options
January 26, 2026