looking for certainty and for policy that understands what is at stake when a business passes from one generation to the next. If governments get this wrong, the cost will not just be borne by business owners, but rather it will be felt across entire regions, sectors, and generations to come.
the inclusion of business transfers in the upcoming Single Market Strategy for 2025 . The Commission has now committed to issuing a revised Recommendation by the end of this year.
When a government treats that moment as a tax event, it risks
forcing families to break up or sell off functioning businesses just to pay a bill triggered by a paper change in ownership. We have heard from family firms across Europe who have paused investment, shelved succession plans, or considered selling out altogether due to this policy uncertainty.
While this is progress, it is also a warning.
The UK has made its move. It may not be the last. Other governments are watching, tempted to follow suit, but they should ask themselves: what are we really taxing – and what kind of economy are we trying to build? Now is the moment for Europe to draw a line. Not to preserve special treatment, but to protect long-term business continuity and the fabric of local economies. Family businesses are not looking for loopholes. They are
At EFB, we have taken this message directly to Brussels.
We have been calling for the European Commission to revisit and renew the 1994 Recommendation to reflect the realities of modern entrepreneurship, family business governance, and capital-intensive sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. Alongside six business associations, we successfully secured
Cricket Advert - half page and full page.pdf 2 20/03/2025 16:05
BEST BY THE
SHOP THE RANGE
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online