EU Inc is a proposed new company form that would work the same way in all 27 EU countries. As the European Commission proposed it, a founder could register one online within 48 hours, for under €100, with no minimum share capital. It is still a proposal: nothing can be registered yet, and the final rules may differ.
What is EU Inc?
Today, a founder who works across Europe deals with 27 sets of company rules. EU Inc would sit next to them as a "28th regime": one optional company form, one set of rules, one online process. The Commission presented the proposal on 18 March 2026. A founder-led campaign, backed by more than 26,000 people, had pushed for it.
Why does it matter?
Incorporating in one country does not translate cleanly into operating in another. A company growing from France to Germany, or from the Netherlands to Italy, often has to:
set up a new legal entity
go through local incorporation steps
adapt how the company is governed
file the same documents again
Startups feel this most. Their talent, capital and customers cross borders from day one, but their company form does not.
What would change for a founder?
As the Commission proposed it, a founder could:
register the company online, within 48 hours, for under €100
start with no minimum share capital, while shareholders keep limited liability
give the company's information once, through an EU-level interface, instead of once per country
run the company digitally throughout its life, including dealings with public authorities
choose which EU country to register in, with at least one board member living in the EU
EU Inc would not replace national company forms. A founder could still choose a national one.
Where does it stand today?
As of 27 October 2026, EU Inc is still being negotiated. The Commission wants the European Parliament and the Council to agree by the end of 2026. In the Parliament, the legal affairs committee (JURI) published a draft report on 29 June, but on 19 October it did not reach a vote on it. The Council is working on its second compromise text, and an earlier Council draft dropped the central European company registry. Open points include worker protections and fraud prevention.
Treat the details above as the plan, not the law.
What does it not solve?
A faster incorporation is a real step forward. But setting up the company is only the first day. Right after, a bank, a payment provider, a customer or a partner will ask who is behind it, and whether you can prove it. Each asks for its own version of:
who owns and controls the company
who is authorised to act for it
the company's documents
compliance checks
A harmonised company form does not make that simpler by itself. Today, businesses rebuild trust from scratch with every new relationship, in every country.
Why this matters to Trustform
We are building Trustform Business Wallet for this part. The idea is simple: verify your company once, then share that proof whenever someone asks. The Commission has also proposed a European Business Wallet, in November 2025, which points in the same direction. It is a separate EU measure, not the same thing as the Trustform Business Wallet.
A single market is not defined only by how companies are formed. It is defined by how they are recognised, verified and trusted across borders. EU Inc is a step on the first part. What comes next is the second.
FAQ
What is EU Inc? A proposed optional European company form, a "28th regime" that would sit next to the 27 national ones. It would let a company be set up and run online under the same rules in every EU country.
How much would it cost and how long would it take? As the Commission proposed it, under €100 and within 48 hours, fully online.
Is a minimum share capital required? No. The Commission's proposal has no minimum share capital requirement, and shareholders keep limited liability.
Can I register an EU Inc today? No. It is still a proposal being negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission wants agreement by the end of 2026, and the final text may differ.
Is EU Inc only for start-ups? No. According to the European Parliament, any EU firm could opt in. Some parts, such as fast digital insolvency, are aimed at innovative start-ups.
Does EU Inc replace national company forms? No. It would be an optional alternative. A founder could still choose a national form.
What is the European Business Wallet? A separate EU proposal, presented by the Commission in November 2025: a secure digital credential system meant to standardise how companies identify themselves and exchange documents across the EU. It is not the same thing as the Trustform Business Wallet.
What will companies still need to prove after incorporating? Banks, payment providers and partners will still ask who owns and controls a company, who can act for it, and whether its documents and checks are in order. Verifying once and reusing that proof is what Trustform is working on.
