Joint Letter on the 28th Regime: One strong Europe, one framework to scale, one 28th Regime

On 17 October, Allied For Startups, together with EU-INC, the European Startup Network, and several of our member organisations representing the startup community, sent a joint letter to President Ursula von der Leyen, expressing concern regarding the leaked draft of the 2026 European Commission Work Programme.

The draft suggests that the 28th Regime would be proposed as a Directive – a move that would merely replace one fragmented approach with another.

A Directive would result in 27 different rules, 27 delays, and 27 ways for startups to face obstacles, whereas a Regulation would provide a single, unified framework across the EU, offering one company form, one market, and no fragmentation. Startups across Europe were promised a single, coherent set of rules across the Union, and adopting a Regulation is the only way to fulfil that commitment.

As the College of Commissioners prepares to adopt the Work Programme next week, we urge them to seize this opportunity and ensure the 28th Regime is implemented as a Regulation rather than a Directive.

Signatories: Allied For Startups, European Startup Network, EU Inc., Adigital, AustrianStartups, BESCO, CRO Startups, Czech Founders, Czech Startup Association, Danish Entrepreneurs, Dutch Startup Association, Estonian Founders Society, Finnish Startup Community, Estech, InnovUp, Italian Tech Alliance, OMGKRK, Roma Startup, SAPIE, scale-ups.eu | startups.be, Silicon Allee, Startin.LV, Startup Coalition, Startup Disrupt, Startup Valencia, Startup Verband – German Startup Association, Swedish Incubators & Science Parks.