On May 28, the European Commission launched the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, a plan to make the EU an ideal place to launch and grow technology-driven innovative companies. Shaped by the Letta and Draghi reports on competitiveness, it responds to a hard truth: Too many of Europe's most promising founders scale up elsewhere. The Strategy sets out 26 concrete actions across five key areas: an innovation-friendly regulatory environment, better access to finance, faster market expansion, easier attraction of top talent and access to infrastructure and networks. One year on, five actions have been delivered and 21 are ongoing. Several deliverables already matter for founders in our region. In March 2026 the Commission adopted EU Inc., a single, harmonised set of company-law rules (the "28th regime"), alongside common EU definitions of innovative enterprises, startups and scaleups, which unlock targeted regulatory and financial support. The €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund, aimed at deep-tech scaleups in AI, quantum, cleantech, biotech and space, is expected to reach first close by autumn 2026. Meanwhile, a new Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard now tracks each Member State's ecosystem across 36 indicators, a useful mirror for Romania's own trajectory. Here’s where you come in. A separate but connected file is open right now: the Commission's public consultation on the draft new Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines. These State-aid rules govern when public support to companies in difficulty is compatible with the internal market. Following a 2025 call for evidence, the Commission is modernising them to reflect today's changed economic context. The consultation is open from July 24 to September 4, 2026, and all citizens, organisations, companies and public authorities are welcome to contribute. Contributions go to DG Competition by email; the draft Guidelines and annexes are on the consultation page (see links at the end). For regional actors, business-support organisations and public authorities, this is a direct chance to shape rules that affect how firms in trouble can be helped. Two signals, one direction: Europe is serious about its innovators and it's asking you to help write the rules. EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/jobs-and-economy/eu-startup-and-scaleup-strategy_en Public consultation on the draft new Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines: https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/public-consultations/2026-rescue-restructuring-guidelines_en