German MEP Martin Sonneborn (NI) has asked the European Commission to disclose which external organisations were consulted in drafting the proposal for an optional 28th regime corporate legal framework, known as 'EU INC.' (COM(2026) 321), and whether conflicts of interest were examined. The written question, submitted on 23 June 2026, targets the Commission's transparency regarding the influence of venture capitalists and tech founders who have led a private campaign since 2024 and lobbied extensively for the text.
a list of external organisations consulted, findings of any conflict-of-interest checks on experts with ties to the legal or financial sectors, and the basis for including US investment instruments Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE) and Keep It Simple Securities (KISS) in recitals 45 and 51. The MEP's initiative aims to shed light on potential undue influence by private actors in EU company law reform, affecting stakeholders such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that may face new fundraising options, legal professionals advising on cross-border structures, and venture capital firms that could benefit from harmonised rules. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it prioritises transparency or defends the current drafting process. The proposal, published by the Commission on an unspecified date, seeks to create an optional uniform corporate legal framework for startups and scale-ups across the EU.