Investments in another EU country
What is an investment in another EU country?
Investing in another EU country means putting money or resources into a business, asset, or project located in a different EU country from your own.
This can take many forms, for example:
- Setting up a company or buying a stake in an existing business
- Buying or leasing property, such as offices, warehouses, or housing
- Buying shares, bonds, or other financial investments
- Investing through an investment fund
- Providing loans or other forms of commercial credit
- Buying or using intellectual property rights, such as patents or trademarks
These investments can be short-term or long-term, and they can be made directly or through intermediaries such as banks or investment funds.
How do EU rules protect your investment?
Your investment is protected by general EU rules that apply across the single market. These rules limit how far EU countries can go in making it harder to invest across borders and allow you to defend your rights before national courts.
In addition, many sectors are covered by specific EU rules — for example in financial services, energy, transport, intellectual property, or company law — which provide extra protection depending on the type of investment.
In practice, this means you should be treated in the same way as local businesses when you invest in another EU country. National authorities should also avoid unnecessary rules or procedures that make it harder to invest across borders.
As an investor, you are protected throughout the investment life cycle. You can safely:
- set up or buy a business in another EU country
- buy property or other assets without unfair barriers
- run your investment under the same conditions as local businesses
- move money in and out of the country, for example for payments, dividends, or selling your investment
Warning
EU countries can still regulate their markets for public reasons, such as security, health, environmental protection, or consumer rights. However, any restrictions must be justified and should not go further than necessary.InvestEU: support for investing across the EU
InvestEU helps businesses access finance and practical support for investment projects in the EU, including investments in other EU countries. It can make it easier to get loans, guarantees, or equity, especially for growth, innovation, sustainability, or cross-border projects.
InvestEU also offers advice to help businesses prepare solid investment plans and provides an online platform to connect projects with investors and partners across the EU.
How to enforce your rights
If you run into problems when investing in another EU country, you have several ways to deal with them. In many cases, it’s best to start with the simplest option.
Try to solve the issue without going to court
- Talk to the other party or the public authority involved and try to resolve the issue informally.
- Use alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation or arbitration. These services can help settle disputes more quickly and cheaply than court cases. Availability and rules vary by country and sector.
Go to national courts
- If informal solutions do not work, you can take your case to the national courts in the country where you invested.
- National judges apply EU law and can protect your rights as an investor.
Use EU-level help
- SOLVIT: A free service that helps businesses solve cross-border problems caused by public authorities in another EU country, without going to court.
- European Commission complaints: If you believe a national authority is breaking EU law, you can submit a formal complaint to the European Commission. The Commission may investigate and take action against the country concerned.