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EU Inc Delayed Again: Parliament Postpones the Vote on Europe's 48-Hour, €100 Company

TL;DR: what happened to EU Inc?

EU Inc, the proposed EU-wide company form that founders could register online in 48 hours for under €100 with no minimum capital, has hit another delay. On 5 October 2026, the lead MEPs in the European Parliament failed to agree on a compromise, and the committee vote planned for 8 October was postponed to around 19 October. The sticking point is employee seats on company boards. Several founder-friendly features have already been cut or are in doubt. Even if a deal comes by the end of 2026, the earliest you could register an EU Inc is likely 2028. Here's what's in, what's out, and what to do in the meantime.
Imagine registering one company that works the same way in all 27 EU countries: online, in two days, for less than €100, without a notary and without putting up share capital. That's the promise of EU Inc, the "28th regime" the European Commission proposed in March 2026.
This month, that promise slipped again. If you're a founder planning where and how to incorporate, here's what the delay means.

What happened this week

The Parliament's legal affairs committee (JURI) leads the file, with German Social Democrat René Repasi as rapporteur. On 5 October, the lead MEPs from the political groups failed to agree on his compromise amendments, so the committee vote planned for 8 October was postponed to around 19 October, Agence Europe reported.
The fight is about co-determination, the rules that give employees seats on company boards. In Germany, for example, unions get board seats in companies above certain sizes. Social Democrats, and the German and French governments, want to protect those rules inside EU Inc; the centre-right and liberals say EU Inc must not become, in the words of French liberal MEP Pascal Canfin, "a Trojan horse for imposing co-determination throughout Europe".
Repasi called the issue "highly political". Canfin said: "We'd rather take a week or two more to have a stable majority," according to Science|Business. German centre-right MEP Axel Voss said negotiators had "moved closer to a common position on nearly all outstanding issues".

What EU Inc was supposed to offer

According to the Commission's proposal of 18 March 2026 (COM(2026) 321), an EU Inc would offer:
  • Registration in 48 hours for less than €100 when you use the EU templates through a central online interface (five working days without the templates).
  • No minimum share capital and no need for a bank account to register.
  • Submit information once, through an EU-level interface connecting national business registers, and get your tax ID and VAT number without new paperwork.
  • Digital by default for the whole life of the company, including fully digital liquidation.
  • EU-wide employee stock options, taxed only when the shares are sold, and multiple share classes.
  • Simplified insolvency for innovative startups: fewer than 100 employees, turnover or balance sheet under €10 million and less than 10 years old, according to the Commission's Q&A.
The Commission wants a deal by the end of 2026. Once adopted, the regulation would apply 12 months after it enters into force, which makes 2028 the earliest realistic start. National rules are moving faster: on 15 October 2026 Germany’s Bundestag voted to let notaries handle GmbH share transfers and AG founding by video call from 2027, as we report in our news story on Germany’s new online notary law. EU leaders backed that target on 16 October 2026, but the committee vote has slipped again, to 5 November: read what the EU Inc year-end deadline means for founders.

What's in, what's out, what's still open

Both the Parliament and the member states (the Council, chaired by Ireland until December) have been rewriting the proposal. Here is where the main features stand, based on reports up to 12 October 2026:
FeatureWhere it stands
Who can use itA Parliament majority wants to open EU Inc to all companies, including listed ones, not just startups
Simplified insolvency for startupsCut by the Council's compromises and by a Parliament majority; a review clause would let the Commission bring it back
Employee stock options taxed at saleBroad support in Parliament; nearly 20 member states want the tax article deleted, because tax needs unanimity
Stock-option schemeA Parliament majority would limit it to companies under 30 years old; share schemes cannot replace wages
List of banned activitiesDeleted by the Parliament majority
Central EU company registerCut from a current draft, according to the EU-Inc founder campaign
Employee board seats (co-determination)Unresolved: the reason for the delay
The founder-led EU-Inc campaign, which pushed for the 28th regime, has warned that the central registry has been cut and that stock options are still under debate. In other words, the EU Inc that arrives may be less simple than the one that was promised.

What this means for you

If you were waiting for EU Inc to start your company, don't. Even in the best case, you can't register one before 2028, and the final version may be more complicated than the 48-hour promise. Choose a national company form now, and think of EU Inc as something you might switch to later.
Company formMinimum share capitalHow you set it up
EU Inc (proposed)€0Online in 48 hours with EU templates, under €100 (not available before 2028)
Dutch BV€0.01Through a civil-law notary, in person or online
Estonian OÜ€0.01Online, also for e-residents
German UG€1, fully paid in cashThrough a notary; a quarter of each year's profit goes to a reserve
German GmbH€25,000, half paid before registrationThrough a notary
  • Netherlands, BV: minimum capital of one cent, set up through a civil-law notary. See our legal basics for the Netherlands.
  • Estonia, OÜ: the €2,500 minimum was abolished in 2023, and e-residents can register online.
  • Germany, UG or GmbH: a UG can start with €1, paid in cash, but must set aside a quarter of each year's profit. A GmbH needs €25,000, half of it paid in before registration.
  • Selling across borders already works. You don't need a company in every country to sell in the EU single market; see international expansion in Europe.
  • Mind the tax side. Where you register affects tax and social contributions, and this autumn's budgets are changing them; see budget 2027 for freelancers and solo founders.
For more EU rule changes that affect women founders, see policy changes for women in the EU.

What to watch next

  1. Around 19 October: the new JURI committee vote. If co-determination is settled, the vote should pass.
  2. November: a possible plenary vote in the Parliament, if the Council has its own position by then.
  3. The Council: member states haven't agreed their general approach yet. The Irish presidency has tabled two compromises.
  4. Stock options: whether the tax article survives. Without it, EU-wide stock options lose much of their value.
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FAQ: EU Inc and the 28th regime

What is EU Inc?

EU Inc is a proposed EU-wide company form, also called the 28th regime, that would sit beside the 27 national company laws. The Commission proposed it on 18 March 2026 (COM(2026) 321).

Can I register an EU Inc now?

No. The regulation still has to be agreed by the Parliament and member states, and it would apply 12 months after it enters into force. 2028 is the earliest realistic start.

Why was the EU Inc vote postponed?

On 5 October 2026, the lead MEPs failed to agree on compromise amendments, mainly over co-determination (employee seats on company boards). The committee vote was moved from 8 October to around 19 October.

How much will it cost to set up an EU Inc?

The proposal says less than €100, within 48 hours, with no minimum share capital, if you use the EU templates. These features could still change in negotiations.

Will EU Inc include employee stock options?

The proposal includes EU-wide stock options taxed only when shares are sold. The Parliament broadly supports this, but nearly 20 member states want the tax article deleted.

Which company form should I choose while I wait?

A national one. A Dutch BV or an Estonian OÜ needs almost no minimum capital, and a German UG can start with €1. Choose based on where you live and pay tax.
2026-10-13 17:43 Startup News and Trends