Europe’s startups need talent to thrive. Help us make it happen.

€5bn
Equity boost for European startup employees since the campaign launched
7
European countries now match or beat the US for stock options rules
500
Startup CEOs and founders, plus every leading investor, back Not Optional
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COUNTRY
TOTAL SCORE
Latvia
30
Estonia
30
Lithuania
30
Canada
28
Israel
28
UK
27
Portugal
26
France
26
USA
25
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● commentary
“Common rules needed to foster Europe’s startups”
If Europe wants to compete effectively with the US, it must focus on the real prize: creating the right conditions to foster European champions. After years of policy stagnation, momentum for change is building.
FINANCIAL TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
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The journey so far

2018

● Not Optional letter signed by over 500 CEOs, founders, investors and employees of Europe’s startups calling for reform to stock options rules sent to policymakers across Europe.

2020

● France reforms BSPCE rules, allowing international companies and employees to gain access to its popular stock options scheme.

2021

● 27 European countries sign the Startup Nations Standard (SNS), committing to improve national stock option rules.

● Latvia and Lithuania update their stock option policies, placing both at the top of our rankings alongside fellow Baltic State Estonia.

2022

● Spain introduces its new Startup Law, reforming stock option rules.

● France further reforms BSPCE rules to widen the scope of companies that can benefit.

● European Commission announces a working group to look at stock options policies across the EU.

2023

● UK ranks as the top G7 country for employee stock options, following reforms to its CSOP.

● EU Commission Stock Options Working Group holds first sessions and produces recommendations for EU and Member State stock option reforms.

● Ireland expanded the scope of its tax-advantaged scheme KEEP.

● Netherlands reforms rules so employees are now taxed at the point stock becomes tradable, rather than when they receive options.

2024

● Germany and Austria transform their employee share ownership rules, with Germany shooting up in the rankings from last place to being on par with the US.

● Not Optional begins campaigning for mutual recognition of European ESOP regimes facilitating cross-border scaling across the single market.

● Not Optional joins EU Inc in calling for a new single, pan-European startup entity.

Elon Musk and Rishi Sunak discuss European stock options
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Stripe and TransferWise founders speak about the importance of stock options
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Not Optional speaks with France's former digital minister and Mistral AI co-founder
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