Key Takeaways
- Commissioner Dombrovskis highlighted family businesses as a key pillar of the EU economy.
- The EU will launch a consultation on easing succession, financing and administrative rules for cross‑border family firms.
- Final policy proposals are expected at the EU legislative plenary in June 2027.
In a speech to the European Forum for Family Business on 29 September 2026, Commissioner for the Internal Market Valdis Dombrovskis told delegates that family‑run firms form the backbone of Europe’s economy, accounting for a large share of employment and turnover. He praised recent EU initiatives that improve access to finance, simplify cross‑border registration and support digital transformation, and announced a new consultation on measures to ease succession planning and reduce administrative burdens for family enterprises operating in multiple Member States. The remarks, published by the European Commission, underscored the Commission’s commitment to make the Single Market work better for these companies. The address fits into the broader EU agenda on SMEs, which the European Commission has placed at the centre of its growth strategy for the next decade. By linking family businesses to the EU’s Capital Markets Union and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Commission aims to remove market fragmentation and encourage cross‑border investment. Dombrovskis also referred to the upcoming European Council summit, where Member States are expected to endorse a refreshed SME Strategy that will explicitly incorporate the specific needs of family‑owned firms, reinforcing the Union’s goal of a more inclusive and competitive single market. If the proposals are adopted, family firms could benefit from streamlined access to EU‑wide financing tools, lighter reporting requirements and targeted advisory services on succession and digitalisation. The consultation runs until 31 January 2027, after which the Commission plans to present a legislative package at the EU legislative plenary in June 2027. Stakeholders are urged to submit feedback to shape the final measures, which could reshape the operating environment for thousands of family businesses across Europe.
Source: European Commission. Read the original report ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the new EU consultation mean for family businesses today?
It offers an opportunity for owners to influence upcoming legislation on finance, succession and regulatory simplification; submitting feedback before 31 January 2027 can help tailor the measures to real‑world needs.
When will any new rules take effect?
The Commission plans to present a legislative package in June 2027, with implementation likely scheduled for 2028 after the EU’s standard co‑decision procedure.