Trade unions protest proposed EU Inc corporate regime in Brussels

Trade unions held demonstrations in Brussels on 24 September to protest the European Commission’s proposed ‘EU Inc’ corporate regime. Organized by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) alongside Belgian unions, the protests occurred near EU institutions as competitiveness ministers met to discuss the framework.

The proposed EU Inc regime is an optional corporate structure designed to reduce fragmentation across the EU’s 27 national legal systems. It aims to allow companies to be established digitally within 48 hours for a maximum cost of €100, with no minimum share-capital requirement. The Commission argues this will boost competitiveness and lower barriers to operating within the single market.

However, unions warn the framework could facilitate ‘social dumping’ by allowing companies to select a country of incorporation with more favorable national rules. Critics argue the proposal lacks binding requirements to adhere to collective labor rights, such as collective bargaining, worker consultation, and board-level employee representation. They expressed concern that a ‘fully digital company lifecycle’ could disconnect corporate governance from the physical locations where employees work.