An EU-Wide Company for €100 in 48 Hours? EU Inc. Talks Continue Today — What It Could Mean for Latvian Entrepreneurs

THE ONLINE CLAIM: it is already possible to establish one EU-wide company within 48 hours for no more than €100. Status: not adopted. EU Inc. is a European Commission regulation proposal from 2026 that is still being discussed by the Council and the European Parliament.

On 29 September 2026, the Council Working Party on Company Law is scheduled to hold another meeting concerning EU Inc. The proposal is being examined on the basis of the Presidency's second compromise text. A working-party meeting does not constitute adoption of the regulation, and the publicly available meeting information does not confirm a final agreement.

What is EU Inc., or the 28th regime?

EU Inc. is a proposed optional company legal form with more harmonised corporate-law rules across the EU. It is called the 28th regime because it would exist alongside the 27 Member States' national company forms rather than automatically replacing Latvian limited-liability companies or other existing forms.

Under the Commission proposal, an EU Inc. could be formed by one or more natural or legal persons. It would have legal personality under the law of the Member State where its registered office is located and would be entered in that country's business register. Matters not covered by the EU regulation or the articles of association would remain governed by the relevant national law.

Could a company really be registered within 48 hours for €100?

Yes — but only if the Commission's fast-track procedure survives in the final regulation and its conditions are met. The Commission draft reserves the 48-hour deadline and €100 cost ceiling for registration through the EU central interface using the harmonised application form and standard EU Inc. articles of association.

The €100 would include preventive administrative, judicial or notarial control. Where founders use customised articles, the Commission draft provides for a deadline of up to five working days. The widely reported “48 hours and €100” is therefore not a universal guarantee for every non-standard case.

How would digital registration work?

The Commission proposes an EU central interface based on BRIS, the system interconnecting national business registers. A founder would submit the application and articles online, while the documents would be transmitted to the register of the chosen Member State. The final registration decision would remain the responsibility of the competent national authority.

The draft applies the once-only principle. Following registration, company information would be digitally transmitted to the authorities responsible for tax and VAT numbers, social security and the beneficial-ownership register. The EU Inc. would not have to submit separate applications unless information that is strictly necessary could not be retrieved elsewhere.

What could EU Inc. offer a Latvian entrepreneur?

A more recognisable form for investors: more consistent corporate rules and documents across registration countries.
Fully digital procedures: formation, capital increases, share issues and share transfers are intended to be available online.
More flexible financing: the draft covers share classes, convertible instruments and early-stage instruments such as SAFEs.
Employee options: a common EU employee share-option arrangement, EU-ESO, is proposed.
No mandatory minimum capital: the Commission's initial draft does not require a minimum capital amount but provides alternative creditor safeguards.

Latvia already allows digital company formation, so speed alone may not be the principal advantage for a Latvian founder. The greater practical value could lie in more consistent rules for investment, capital, share transfers and cross-border activity for companies planning to attract foreign investors or operate in several EU countries from the outset.

What would EU Inc. not solve automatically?

EU Inc. would not be a single licence for every type of business throughout Europe. Registration would not remove sectoral authorisations, consumer-protection requirements, labour law, sanctions and AML checks or the obligation to comply with national tax rules.

Accounting would also remain subject to the law of the Member State in which the registered office is situated. The claim that “one company means the requirements of all 27 countries no longer apply” would therefore be incorrect.

When could EU Inc. become available?

There is currently no certain date on which entrepreneurs could start registering EU Inc. companies. The Council and European Parliament must first form their positions, agree on a final text and publish the regulation in the Official Journal. The Commission's initial draft would apply 12 months after entry into force, but this period may also change during negotiations.

Conclusion: the 48-hour procedure and €100 cost ceiling are genuine elements of the Commission proposal, not an internet invention. However, on 29 September 2026 they are not yet an available service. Latvian entrepreneurs cannot currently file an EU Inc. registration application.