Europe will suffocate under the weight of its own bureaucracy. The sad thing is that it is not new to me, I've heard so many stories like this one. This is the kind of friction that makes founders incorporate elsewhere.
Also, a founder spending months coordinating lawyers banks and tax advisors is not talking to customers or building the product. The opportunity cost here is huge.
Anyway, you are pretty close. One more push, don’t give up. :)
Germany is not EU though. Very different bureaucracy in different EU countries. Up to a point, EU doesn't add a single bit of bureaucracy to the stack. Only once you reach a certain limit you will have to enroll in an international VAT system, which is not too bad.
EDIT: Just re-read your message. I thought it said EU. But the point stands, Germany is not Europe either.
In many other european countries, the story doesn't change much - with some exceptions. The irony is that the EU is now discussing EU Inc. a law to let startups incorporate online within 48 hours, for at most €100, under a single optional corporate framework across Europe.
That is exactly the right direction. But for now it is just a proposal
Ah yes, Germany == Europe.
Do you think that stuffs are different in Italy, Spain or France? Just to cite some others
Yes, it is different in Netherlands, Sweden, Poland.