The Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) has officially launched Volume I of the ESNA Compendium (2024) at Latitude59, the flagship startup and technology event of Estonia and the Baltics. Unveiled today in Tallinn, this first volume—focused on cutting red tape—marks a pivotal step in supporting the forthcoming EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy through concrete policy action and regulatory reform.
As the premier innovation forum that bridges local innovation with global impact, Latitude59 provides the ideal platform for ESNA to introduce its strategic vision. The Red Tape Volume is part of a five-part series aimed at building a more harmonised, simplified, and accessible regulatory environment for startups across Europe. Specifically, it proposes two key policy actions: the advancement of the 28th Regime to streamline company creation across EU Member States, and the strategic reform of public procurement to open new pathways for startups to scale through collaboration with public authorities.
Drawing lessons from the underutilised Societas Europaea framework, the Red Tape Volume outlines actionable steps—including the creation of a centralised EU business registry, interoperable across Member States and integrated with eIDAS 2.0 and BRIS. Additional tools such as EU-wide ESOP templates, model Articles of Association, and digital board governance protocols would drastically reduce the complexity of cross-border operations. A proposed ‘Startup Track’ for public procurement, accompanied by a next-generation, multilingual tenders’ platform, aims to level the playing field for early-stage companies and drive smarter innovation partnerships across the EU.
Incorporating a monitoring system, inspired by the ESNA’s EU Startup Nation Standards report, the document offers policymakers a comprehensive toolset to track implementation, assess national progress, and align with shared European objectives. Carolina Rossi, Head of Network & Strategic Initiatives at ESNA, remarked at the launch in Tallinn: “This Volume is a crucial step towards unlocking Europe’s startup ecosystem. By cutting red tape and simplifying regulatory processes, we’re fostering an environment where innovation can thrive. The support to the 28th Regime and public procurement reforms are vital for ensuring that startups, no matter their size or location in Europe, can scale and compete on a
global stage. We are fully committed to working with EU institutions and Member States to make Europe the most startup-friendly region in the world.”
Liisi Org, CEO of Latitude59, noted that hosting this important policy milestone at Latitude59 underscores the event’s role not only as a hub for startups and investors but as a strategic meeting ground where actionable innovation policies are discussed.
Volume I sets the tone for the remaining four strategic volumes—on Investment, Entrepreneurial Culture, Talent, and IP Rights & Tech Transfer — all aimed at positioning Europe as the most startup-friendly region globally. With this launch, ESNA reaffirms its commitment to supporting a unified, agile, and forward-looking startup ecosystem in collaboration with European institutions and Member States.
About ESNA
Following a declaration signed by 26 EU Member States, Iceland and Ukraine, Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) was established to propel the European startup ecosystem to global leadership by enhancing its entrepreneurial, innovative and competitive capabilities. ESNA is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal. It is guiding the implementation of the “EU Startup Nations Standards of Excellence”, an initiative designed to promote and harmonise eight standards for startup-friendly policies and initiatives.
