EU Proposes 48-Hour Company Registration Under New '28th Regime' Framework
The European Commission has unveiled plans for a new legal framework to simplify business creation across the EU. Known as the '28th Regime', it aims to let entrepreneurs register a company anywhere in the bloc within 48 hours—fully online and under uniform rules. The proposal now heads to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for debate, though no member state has yet officially backed it.
Under the current system, founders must navigate 27 different national legal frameworks and over 60 types of business entities. The new structure would remove minimum capital requirements and introduce a central EU registry alongside existing national registers. This optional framework is designed to cut red tape and speed up company formation.
Hesse's Minister for European Affairs, Manfred Pentz, has welcomed the proposal. He argues that Europe must accelerate support for startup-driven innovation to stay competitive globally. Pentz highlights the need for streamlined procedures, insisting that unnecessary bureaucracy should not hinder those looking to launch a business. The Commission presented the plan on 18 March 2026. While discussions have begun in the European Parliament and the Council, no government has yet publicly endorsed the 48-hour registration target. Pentz also stressed that the next steps must balance the interests of all EU member states.
The proposal now enters negotiations between EU institutions. If adopted, it would create a faster, digital-first route for business registration across the bloc. The outcome will depend on further discussions and potential amendments in the coming months.
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