MEP Carla Tavares (S&D) has asked the European Commission to clarify how a new pilot platform for startups will avoid duplicating the work of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), raising concerns about efficient use of EU funds. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 27 May 2026, Tavares points to a Commission call for tenders in July 2024 worth half a million euros to develop a platform whose goals appear to significantly overlap with ESNA's mandate.
Tavares notes that ESNA was established by a political declaration signed by 26 EU Member States plus Iceland and Ukraine, tasked with monitoring and implementing startup-friendly policies and aligning national entrepreneurship ecosystems. The MEP asks three specific questions: what consideration was given to ESNA in the Commission's decision-making process; how the Commission will ensure complementarity between the new platform and ESNA, which is entirely EU-funded; and how the Commission intends to make use of ESNA's existing tools, including its data platform, to support evidence-based policy-making rather than duplicating efforts.
The question signals concern over potential fragmentation and waste of public resources in EU startup policy. Tavares, a member of the Socialists and Democrats group, is pressing for clarity on how the Commission coordinates its initiatives with the political declaration signed by member states. The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will indicate whether it sees ESNA as a sufficient vehicle or plans to pursue parallel structures. The outcome could affect startup ecosystem stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, national innovation agencies, and EU taxpayers funding overlapping initiatives.