EU Parliament calls for 48-hour digital company registration

Fully digital EU-wide company registration within 48 hours; Commission proposal announced for late March 2026

The European Parliament calls for a dramatic simplification of company formation in Europe: in future it is to be possible to register a company fully digitally across Europe within 48 hours. The own-initiative report on the '28th regime' – an optional European corporate legal form alongside the 27 national systems (Societas Europaea Unificata) – was adopted in plenary on 20 January 2026. Goals: fostering innovative companies, strengthening Europe's competitiveness. The harmonisation of European company law is intended to contribute centrally to deeper integration of the internal market. Rapporteur René Repasi (SPD, Legal Affairs Committee): the fragmentation of company law hinders SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups. Rules automatically recognised across Europe for founders and investors are planned. Important condition: workers' rights must remain protected, no undermining of corporate co-determination. The EU Commission is to present a legislative proposal at the end of March 2026.