Start-ups and investors in Catalonia have welcomed the European Commission's EU Inc. plan, which aims to make it easier for companies to expand across Europe. The proposal was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The digital system would let companies register online for less than €100 and in under 48 hours. Von der Leyen said too many firms look abroad to grow because they face new rules in each EU country. The plan is meant to create a common legal layer over national regulations.
Enrique Penichet, an investor partner at BIGBAN Investors Spain and Draper B1, said the initiative could help attract talent and capital, especially through stock options and investment processes. He described it as a possible European Delaware, a reference to the US state known for tax incentives, a low tax burden and administrative flexibility.
Cristian Merino, co-founder of Múltiplo Capital, said the proposed framework would be a significant advance and very helpful for expansion. He said his company spent a year securing authorisation from Spain's National Securities Market Commission, the CNMV, to operate outside Spain. He also said stock options matter when competing for specialised AI talent.
David Zafra, co-founder of HeyDiga, said current rules make stock options or participation plans an administrative nightmare because each country has its own regulations. He said selling in several EU markets often means opening entities, adapting contracts and finding local advisers before a first distribution deal is signed. Anna Cejudo, co-founder of FounderZ, and Alberto Algarra, co-founder of Kloutit, also said the plan could help founders focus on building products and scaling more efficiently.
There are still concerns about how the plan would work in practice. Iñigo Laucirica, an investor partner at Samaipata, said the outcome will depend on implementation, since legal, fiscal and administrative differences can remain even under common rules. Penichet said EU Inc. would not replace national law, and that companies would still be based in one country and subject to its tax, corporate and labour rules. Zafra said the biggest risk is that each country adapts the rule differently, which could leave the current situation largely unchanged.
