Europe’s fragmentation becomes real when you try to scale across borders
Martin Ott, CEO of Taxfix, on EU Inc. and the need to make it easier for European companies to grow across national markets.
Read time: 1 Minute
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“You feel Europe's fragmentation the moment you try to give an employee in Madrid the same equity as one in Berlin. Scaling faster and cheaper across borders needs one legal form that behaves identically in every member state, and the EU Inc. proposal finally puts a real instrument on the table: one regulation instead of 27 national implementations, formation in 48 hours for a maximum of 100 euros, no minimum capital, VC-standard share classes, and employee participation that is taxed when shares are actually sold. That is a substantial step forward! The European Parliament is due to set its position this autumn, and what matters most is defending that level of ambition instead of negotiating it away.” Martin Ott, CEO Taxfix .
Why Europe needs to make cross-border growth easier
Martin Ott’s perspective brings the debate about European fragmentation down to a practical business challenge: building and scaling a company across national borders.
The broader question extends beyond company formation. Europe has the talent, technology and entrepreneurial ambition to compete globally, but its ability to turn these strengths into scalable businesses depends in part on how effectively companies can operate across borders. Reducing fragmentation is therefore not just a regulatory question. It is also a question of European competitiveness and the conditions needed for innovation to grow.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- Why Europe needs stronger financial ecosystems (article)
- Europe’s financial innovation challenge is structural fragmentation (article)
- In conversation with Patrick Stäuble (interview)
Where Europe’s financial future takes shape
The questions raised by Europe’s fragmentation cannot be addressed by one company or sector alone. They call for dialogue between financial institutions, fintechs, investors, policymakers and technology leaders.
On April 7 + 8, these perspectives come together at FIBE.
Discover #FIBE27 and get your ticket!