France Digitale
SEPT. 2025

France Digitale’s Answer to the Public Consultation on the 28th Regime

For over a year, France Digitale has been advocating for the creation of a 28th regime, a European Company Regime enabling businesses to scale seamlessly across borders. Today, startups face costly delays, fragmented regulations, and administrative burdens that hinder growth compared to U.S. or Asian competitors. The proposed regime would introduce a uniform EU-wide legal status, with streamlined, fully digital processes in multiple languages. It aims to cut compliance costs, boost investor confidence, and foster cross-border growth and M&A. While not a cure-all, this reform is seen as a crucial step to empower European champions and reduce bureaucracy.

For over a year, France Digitale has been working intensively on the 28th regime. In our Manifesto for the 2024 European Elections, we first set out the idea of a European Company Regime, a legal environment that would allow European businesses to scale seamlessly across borders and grow into true European champions. In October 2024, together with 26 trade associations and EU Inc, we presented the first blueprint for what a 28th regime could look like.
Scaling a business in Europe today is still unnecessarily complex. Entering a new market means costly delays, administrative hurdles, and regulatory fragmentation. While Europe’s diversity is an asset, its patchwork of legal frameworks creates friction that prevents startups and scale-ups from competing on equal footing with their U.S. or Asian counterparts.That is why we believe the 28th regime must be designed first and foremost as a company law reform:
  • The creation of a European Company Regime, a uniform, EU-wide legal status for companies.
  • Streamlined, digitalized incorporation and operation processes, fully online, in English (and/or additional EU languages), and achievable in hours, not weeks.
  • A legal framework that reduces compliance costs, increases transparency for investors, and strengthens confidence in cross-border operations.
  • A strong “European brand” that boosts credibility, supports cross-border M&A, and fosters the rise of European champions.
This regime should be optional, available at incorporation in every Member State alongside national company law, and applicable later when businesses expand across borders. Beyond startups, it must serve all companies, not only startups.The 28th regime is not a silver bullet. But it is a critical step toward making Europe a place where entrepreneurs can focus on growth, not bureaucracy. Our detailed proposals and concrete solutions can be found in our full response to the public consultation, available here.