During an EU Council working party meeting on Thursday, 10 September, more than 15 Member States reportedly expressed their opposition to harmonising the scheme for stock options in Europe (EU-ESO).
According to sources, between 16 and 19 Member States reportedly indicated that they have rejected this provision—which is, however, presented as a way of attracting young talent to EU Inc. companies and to ‘innovative’ start-ups in particular.
Opposite this massive group, countries such as France and Germany support this harmonisation measure, whose removal from the proposed ‘28th regime’ regulation would weaken the added value of the initiative.
“Only enhanced digitalisation would remain in the text,” indicates one source. Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands are reportedly in favour of this harmonisation as well.
MEP Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French) expressed his alarm on LinkedIn. “This is a provision I have always defended, as it is the first priority that founders mention when we discuss the proposal. Member States are not opposing it for technical reasons, but because it has fiscal implications and they would like it to be treated apart, as a fiscal matter, with unanimity. They think it should not be in the text. Yet it is the most essential feature of EU Inc.,” states the shadow rapporteur for the EU Inc. project.
The EU Council working party’s next meeting is scheduled for 17 September. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)