EU Inc. – nový evropský rámec pro obchodní společnosti

The European Commission has published a proposal for the EU Inc. initiative, aimed at creating a unified, digitized, and harmonized legal framework to facilitate easier establishment, management, and cross-border expansion of business companies within the EU. The initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of the European single market and attract innovative enterprises.

The essence of EU Inc. lies in the introduction of uniform rules in the form of regulations that will automatically apply in all member states. EU Inc. will not replace national legal forms – it will be a voluntary alternative. An EU Inc. company can be established fully digitally within 48 hours, without a minimum share capital requirement, and with costs up to EUR 100. All data will be provided only once through interconnected European registers.

Another key element of the proposal is the full digitalization of company operations. EU Inc. will enable digital financing, easy digital transfer of shares or stocks, and also quick electronic dissolution of the company. For innovative start-ups, the Commission proposes simplified insolvency procedures designed to mitigate the impacts of failure and facilitate a fresh start in business. The proposal also includes a more flexible structure of shares or stocks and easier access to capital markets.

The Commission emphasizes that EU Inc. should be attractive to both investors and employees. It will allow the introduction of EU-wide employee stock option plans, with taxation of income from such plans occurring only upon the sale of acquired shares, not at the time of acquisition. This aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European companies against global technology hubs. At the same time, the proposal preserves national rules in areas such as employment and social security. In these areas, EU Inc. will be treated the same as domestic companies.

EU Inc. is part of a broader EU strategy focused on enhancing competitiveness and supporting innovation, partly based on recommendations from the Draghi report. The Commission expects this initiative to reduce legal fragmentation, facilitate cross-border growth of European businesses, and improve the ability to retain innovation within the EU.

The proposal is now awaiting discussion in the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. If political agreement is reached, EU Inc. could represent a significant step toward deeper business integration in the single market.

Authors:
Dalibor Šimeček
Jakub Marko
Matěj Šimpach