{"id":1911,"date":"2026-03-18T16:17:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:17:45","slug":"28th-european-regime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/28e-regime-europeen\/","title":{"rendered":"28th European regime: legal revolution or operational illusion for entrepreneurs?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European Union recently announced the creation of a&nbsp;<strong>\u201c28th legal regime\u201d<\/strong>, aimed at simplifying the creation and management of companies on a European scale. Presented as a lever for competitiveness against the United States, this new framework aims to reduce legal fragmentation between the 27 member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, behind this ambitious announcement lies a fundamental question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">C<strong>s the system a genuine operational revolution for entrepreneurs, or a framework that is still immature in the face of national administrative realities?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article offers an in-depth strategic and legal analysis of the 28th regime, based exclusively on the European Union's institutional guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#le-28-e-regime-un-cadre-juridique-europeen-unifie\">\nThe 28th regime: a unified European legal framework<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#objectifs-officiels\">Official objectives<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#une-clarification-essentielle-pas-un-regime-fiscal\">An essential clarification: not a tax system<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#position-officielle-de-l-ue\">Official EU position<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#le-vrai-sujet-la-dissociation-entre-droit-et-pratique\">The real issue: the dissociation between law and practice<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cas-pratique-les-risques-dinterpretation-nationale\">Case study: the risks of national interpretation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#le-point-critique-les-conflits-juridiques\">The critical point: legal disputes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#comparaison-avec-le-modele-americain\">Comparison with the American model<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#lobjectif-reel-de-l-ue-un-compromis-politique\">The EU's real objective: a political compromise<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#les-limites-operationnelles-pour-les-entrepreneurs\">Operational limits for contractors<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#impact-reel-pour-les-entrepreneurs-et-scale-ups\">Real impact for entrepreneurs and scale-ups<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"le-28-e-regime-un-cadre-juridique-europeen-unifie\"><br><strong>The 28th regime: a unified European legal framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project supported by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/thinktank\/en\/document\/EPRS_BRI%282025%29779233\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European Commission<\/a>\u00a0aims to introduce a\u00a0<strong>optional legal form<\/strong>, separate from the 27 existing national schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"objectifs-officiels\"><strong>Official objectives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the European communications, this scheme aims to :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>simplify business start-ups (reduced costs, accelerated procedures)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>enable\u00a0<strong>smooth cross-border operation<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduce legal and administrative costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>make the EU more attractive to the United States<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ambition is clear: to create a\u00a0<strong>single market for businesses<\/strong>, The single market for goods and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"une-clarification-essentielle-pas-un-regime-fiscal\"><strong>An essential clarification: not a tax system<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contrary to some media interpretations, the 28th :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does not harmonize taxation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does not affect corporate income tax<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No direct tax arbitrage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"position-officielle-de-l-ue\"><strong>Official EU position<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Commission insists on one fundamental point:\u00a0<strong>taxation remains a Member State competence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>corporate income tax still depends on actual tax residence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>transfer pricing, permanent establishment and economic substance rules remain applicable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"le-vrai-sujet-la-dissociation-entre-droit-et-pratique\"><strong>The real issue: the dissociation between law and practice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On paper, the 28th plan brings simplification. In reality, one major question remains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Are national administrations ready?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"probleme-structurel\"><strong>Structural problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European Union is not a federal state:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>each country retains :\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>its tax authorities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>its commercial register<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>its legal practices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Result: a single framework... applied by 27 different systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cas-pratique-les-risques-dinterpretation-nationale\"><strong>Case study: the risks of national interpretation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let's take a concrete example with the <a href=\"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/LDA-Portugal-scaled.avif\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"735\">Portugal<\/a>, This example can be applied to France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"risques-identifies\"><strong>Identified risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>conservative interpretation of new structures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>administrative slowness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uncertainties about :\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tax obligations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>accounting treatment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>longer lead times<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>additional documentary requests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>risk of requalification<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"le-point-critique-les-conflits-juridiques\"><strong>The critical point: legal disputes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the major blind spots in the 28th regime concerns the management of disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"questions-ouvertes\"><strong>Open questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which court has jurisdiction?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which law applies in the event of a dispute?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to reconcile European and national law?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"risques-pour-les-entreprises\"><strong>Risks for companies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>legal uncertainty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>slow procedures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lack of case law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike in the U.S., it does not yet exist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a specialized European corporate court<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>consolidated doctrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decision-making history<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comparaison-avec-le-modele-americain\"><strong>Comparison with the American model<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The American model is based on :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a clear articulation between federal and state law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>abundant case law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strong legal predictability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"exemple-cle\"><strong>Key example<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delaware has become a global standard thanks to :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>specialized justice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>quick decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a high level of legal certainty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> The European Union is attempting to replicate this model, but does not yet have the equivalent institutional infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lobjectif-reel-de-l-ue-un-compromis-politique\"><strong>The EU's real objective: a political compromise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 28th regime is not intended to replace the States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It aims to :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>simplify the legal structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>without questioning :\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>taxation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>employment law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>economic sovereignty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"traduction-strategique\"><strong>Strategic translation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2714\ufe0f simplifying the framework<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u274c no transfer of power<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"les-limites-operationnelles-pour-les-entrepreneurs\"><strong>Operational limits for contractors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"court-terme-0-5-ans\"><strong>Short-term (0-5 years)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>administrative uncertainty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>low adoption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cautious accounting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"moyen-terme-5-10-ans\"><strong>Medium-term (5-10 years)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>first jurisprudence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>gradual stabilization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>partial adoption<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"long-terme\"><strong>Long term<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>possible standardization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>but dependent on political will<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"impact-reel-pour-les-entrepreneurs-et-scale-ups\"><strong>Real impact for entrepreneurs and scale-ups<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pour-les-petits-entrepreneurs\"><strong>For small contractors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Major risk :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>poor understanding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>belief in tax optimization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>exposure to adjustments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pour-les-scale-ups\"><strong>For scale-ups<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> Different issues :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>legal certainty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>investor appeal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fluidity of lifts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"realite-actuelle\"><strong>Current reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>investors prefer :\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>proven structures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>foreseeable jurisdictions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the 28th regime suffers from :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>lack of hindsight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lack of confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lack of standardization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 28th European regime is an ambitious initiative, necessary and consistent with the desire to strengthen the single market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However :\u00a0<strong>the main obstacle is not legal, but institutional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"synthese\"><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\u2714\ufe0f-points-forts\"><strong>\u2714\ufe0f Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>potential simplification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>european strategic vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lower creation costs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\u274c-points-faibles\"><strong>\u274c Weak points<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>lack of case law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lack of administrative preparedness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uncertainty in the event of a dispute<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 28th plan should not be analyzed as a tax tool, nor as an immediate solution for structuring a high-growth company. It is a long-term structuring project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But today: a company doesn't live in a text of law, it lives in an administration, a court and a tax system, and on these three pillars, the European Union is still in the construction phase.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The European Union recently announced the creation of a \u201c28th legal regime\u201d, aimed at simplifying the creation and management of companies on a European scale. Presented as a lever for competitiveness against the United States, this new framework aims to reduce legal fragmentation between the 27 member states.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1915,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiscalite-structuration-internationale"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/28-regime.avif","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1911"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1916,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions\/1916"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizecounsel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}