In the UK it costs £12 and takes 5 minutes. It costs between £300-600 per year for an accountant to file your accounts, and £12 for your confirmation statement.

And did when we were part of the EU.

Cheaper and quicker than America.

You don't incorporate in the EU, you incorporate in one of the 27 different countries.

All have wildly different requirements.

UK was vastly different from the mainland EU. You're right that the EU is not singular, but once we start talking of Germany, the Netherlands, France, etc. - we quickly hit regulations that bear no resemblance to a free market and some of which are incompatible with IT business whatsoever.

(These costs rocketed last year. Incorporation is now £50, and an electronic confirmation statement is £34.)

You also have all sorts of ancillary fees like the Information Commissioner’s annual charge.

I suspect France/EU would be willing to set him up in a government funded research lab - possibly they already have something going that they could put him in charge of. No issues with incorporation.

Sure, with roughly 50% taxes and a really dynamic free labour market.

Don't judge me, I'm living in the EU and I love the place, but regulations and business climate are definitely not great.