EU leaders promise to approve 'EU Inc.' 28^th company law regime by end of 2026

EU leaders have agreed to approve a 28^th company-law regime to help innovative companies take advantage of the single market by the end of 2026.

At the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 19/03/2026, the heads of state or government of the 27 EU members approved a conclusion stating that the "optional harmonised regime for companies should be agreed by the co-legislators by the end of 2026, on the basis of the Commission proposal of 18/03/2026".

The Commission's proposal aims to make it easier to launch innovative companies by avoiding the need to complete administrative procedures in each EU member state where the company wants to operate. The proposed "EU Inc." company would replace these formalities with a single set of rules.

The commitment to agree on the proposal by the end of the current year, which would be very fast by usual standards of EU lawmaking, is part of a drive by the EU to improve competitiveness.

EU leaders agree in the conclusions "further deepening and integrating the Single Market, in all its four freedoms... is an urgent shared responsibility of…