As a citizen of the European Union, you have the right to:
- set up your own company (including as a self-employed person) in any European Union country or in Iceland, Norway, or Liechtenstein (the European Economic Area);
- register a branch of your company in another EU Member State;
- provide services through your company without registering a new company or branch in the EU.
If you wish to set up a new company or expand your business to another EU country, you need to know the requirements applicable in that country. For detailed information on the procedures for setting up a company or registering a branch in another Member State, see the single contact point.
In addition to establishing a new company or registering a branch in another Member State, cross-border mergers, divisions, and restructuring are also possible.
Private and public limited companies can move (merge, split up, and restructure) across borders. Other types of companies, companies in liquidation, if the distribution of their assets has been initiated, or companies that are subject to reorganisation, bankruptcy, or criminal proceedings cannot participate in cross-border movements.
In the cases and in accordance with the procedure provided for in Chapter 31 of the Community-scale Involvement of Employees Act, the employees of the company must be involved in the cross-border merger, division, or restructuring.
For practical information on doing business in another EU country, please visit the Your Europe portal. The website provides information on VAT rules and rates and social security in each EU country, as well as on posting of employees, e-commerce, requirements for products, funding opportunities, and more.
The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) can help you find foreign partners. The contact points of the EEN also offer advice on entering foreign markets and on the legislation of the EU.
Further information about setting up a European company can be found on the Your Europe portal.
For more information on the establishment of a foreign branch of a company in Estonia, please see the article Registering the branch of a foreign company.
Related articles
References
- Practical guide to doing business in Europe (Your Europe portal)
- Points of Single Contact
- Taxation in EU countries
- Selling in the EU