Quick intro into the topic; The European Commission supports European startups by creating policies and funding programs that encourage innovation, growth, and competitiveness across the EU. It manages major initiatives such as Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Council (EIC), which provide grants and equity investments for high-potential startups. The Commission also works to reduce regulatory barriers and harmonize rules across member states, making it easier for startups to scale across borders. Through the Startup Europe initiative, it connects founders, investors, and accelerators to strengthen the startup ecosystem. It promotes access to finance via instruments like InvestEU and the European Investment Fund (EIF). Overall, the European Commission acts as both a policymaker and enabler, fostering an environment where European startups can innovate and compete globally.
Throughout our stay at the Charlemagne Building, we engaged in discussions with senior officials from across the European Commission. The conversations offered us a rare behind-the-scenes look into how EU policy is shaped, and how it can better support innovation, growth, and competitiveness across Europe.
One of our first meetings was with Adam Jirousek from the DG for Trade and Economic Security, where we explored the future of export financing and how smaller companies can benefit from European tools. We also met Piotr Rydzkowski, Head of Unit for Economic Security, to discuss Europe’s response to global economic shifts and the need for stronger coordination among member states.
With Dan Dionisie from the DG for Justice and Consumers, we delved into the 28th corporate law regime and the potential for simplifying rules for cross-border business within the EU. A particularly engaging discussion took place with Luděk Niedermayer, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, who shared valuable insights into how competitiveness and fiscal stability go hand in hand. He also highlighted that the current economic debate, in a way, “from CZE to EU” is fragmented, with “too many voices” competing for attention. This, he noted, makes it increasingly difficult to build coherent strategies that strengthen competitiveness and resilience.
He emphasized that economic and political issues cannot be separated — focusing on political communication alone, without sound economic reasoning, leads nowhere. Europe’s long-term stability depends on the ability of its leaders to think beyond short-term political cycles and social media narratives.
In a pointed reflection on national politics, Niedermayer remarked that it’s challenging to create meaningful policies at the European level when national leaders are preoccupied with domestic popularity — even with what they post on Twitter. Social media presence of certain political representatives can’t overshadow the substantive policymaking.
Overall, his message was clear: Europe’s economic success depends on political courage; the willingness to prioritize strategic thinking over short-term gains, and cooperation over competition among member states.
Next up in the program was Sustainability and climate policy, with Jan Dusík, Deputy Director-General at DG Climate Action, who outlined the EU’s climate ambitions and their implications for business and innovation.
We also met Marek Nohejl from the Cabinet of Commissioner Piotr Serafin, who discussed the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and Magdalena Brussel-Jacaszek and Jan Potužák from DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, who introduced us the Competitiveness Fund and its relevance for small and medium enterprises.
From DG Financial Stability, Mindaugas Valiulis and Tomáš Václavíček spoke about the Capital Markets Union — a key initiative to improve access to investment for European startups and scaleups. Another highlight was our exchange with Gabriela Tschirková from the Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, who emphasized the EU’s ongoing efforts to simplify legislation and reduce administrative burdens for businesses. Innovation and industrial strategy were central to the conversation with Alexandr Hobza from the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, while Miguel Gil Tertre and Petra Němečková from the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera discussed the energy transition and the need to make it both clean and competitive.
We also had a valuable dialogue with Štěpán Černý and Martin Bednář from the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU, focusing on how Czech priorities align with the broader European agenda.
Finally, I found the discussion on defence innovation with Nynke Tigchelaar, Kristine Rudzite-Stejskala, and Vilém Kolín from DG Defence Industry and Space particularly eye-opening; especially in light of Europe’s current security challenges. And as someone passionate about entrepreneurship, I especially appreciated the session with Andreea Ticheru from the DG for Research and Innovation, who spoke about EU initiatives for startups and scaleups, and how the Commission is working to help European founders grow globally.
As mentioned before, we had quite a fruitful list of participants, too, and I asked a few of them for a short summary and review of this delegation. Martin Jiranek from the Czech Startup Association stated: “The main benefit of the trip for me was meeting in person and having conversations with people who are addressing the key business and startup topics, as well as the future setup of incentives, programs, and regulations within European institutions. The new plans are moving in a good, innovative, and competitive direction, but from the discussions it was clear that the Czech Republic, which is not systemically or personnel-wise well prepared for these changes, will not be able to fully leverage their potential. Therefore, the Czech Republic will need to quickly build strong teams and adjust its internal setup; otherwise, we will unnecessarily fail to take advantage of financial and innovation opportunities.”
The leading voices during those discussions were also from Czech startup founders, Matěj Bello from Brno-based YEDEM commented: “Attending the official Czech business delegation to the European Commission was an inspiring experience. As a representative of the startup sector, I raised questions on how the EU plans to keep startups in the region, prevent IP relocation to the US, and strengthen competitiveness in AI, defense, and climate tech. We met with EC representatives across defense, climate, economy, and legislation, gaining valuable insights into their strategic direction. Equally important was the delegation itself, bringing together an impressive mix of leaders from state agencies, unions, VCs, enterprises, and startups.”
And Monika Stepanova, also from Brno-based hardware startup Lightly Technologies, stated: “I greatly appreciate that the European Commission organized this event, which allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of how new regulations are developed and what actions are needed from our side to support positive change. The four intensive days were highly valuable and helped us identify the right stakeholders to engage with, for example, in addressing the growing opioid crisis in Europe.”
The EU, and the Commission in particular, is eager to listen, but often ends up listening only to whoever happens to speak up, or the loudest voice in the room. If we want Europe to truly support Czech startups and innovation, we need to present a more united and coherent message about what we want from the EU and the Commission.
At the same time, I realized that personal contacts are invaluable. While EU documents and public information are available, the real insights often come from direct conversations with officials and experts. Building relationships and following up personally makes navigating the EU system much easier.
As Martin Jiránek pointed out, it would be extremely beneficial to have more dedicated experts within CzechInvest (or similar organizations) focusing specifically on startups, the ESOP framework, or the 28th corporate law regime. A small, specialized team can make a huge difference in helping Czech startups access European resources and navigate complex regulations.
Finally, the key takeaway is simple: clarity, concreteness, and unity matter the most. If we want to influence EU policy and support our innovation ecosystem effectively, we should prepare concise proposals, involve the right experts, and speak with a single, coordinated voice.
This delegation showed us that success at the EU level is about being strategic and personal; it’s about knowing who to talk to, when, and how, while staying consistent on what you want to achieve.
