The 28th regime: what’s in it for SMEs? 

Co-organised by Accountancy Europe and MEP Axel Voss (EPP/Germany).

About

The European Commission’s “28th regime” (or EU Inc.), published on 18 March, proposes a single, optional EU-wide framework aimed at reducing fragmentation in the Single Market. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to scale cross-border, regulatory diversity remains a key barrier, particularly in areas such as company law, reporting, taxation, insolvency law and compliance. As the EU pursues competitiveness and simplification, it is crucial to assess whether and how the proposed 28th regime can deliver tangible benefits for Europe’s SME ecosystem.

That said, is what has been proposed sufficient for Europe’s SMEs? What additional elements might be needed to make the regime even more appealing for small companies? Does the focus on innovative startups risk leaving many SMEs behind? We will discuss these questions, and many more, at this event, which will bring together policymakers and stakeholders.

Speakers

• Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament (EPP/Germany)
• Paul Gisby, Senior Director, Accountancy Europe
• Sophia Zakari, Director, Entreprise Policy & Legal Affairs, SMEunited
• Kevin Barrett, Cabinet Expert, Commissioner Michael McGrath’s Cabinet, European Commission
• J. Scott Marcus, Associate Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
• Prof. Dr. Eberhard Schollmeyer, LL.M. (Emory), Ministerial Counsellor; Head of Division III A 1 at the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (European Company Law, Group Law, Corporate Restructuring Law, Partnership Law)
• Moderator: Greta Koch, Accredited Assistant, European Parliament