Gold Plating of EU Tech Rules Completely Defies the Single Market — Constantijn Van Oranje (Techleap)

In this interview Constantijn van Oranje, Co-Founder of Techleap, explains how regulatory fragmentation, gold plating, and poor public service create unnecessary friction for entrepreneurs across the European Union.

While startup activity is booming, inconsistent implementation of EU tech rules across Member States undermines the promise of a true single market.

Drawing on Techleap’s work with hundreds of scale-ups and policymakers, Constantijn argues for simpler, harmonised rules – with governments fostering a more service-oriented approach. If Europe wants startups to stay, grow, and compete globally, regulation must enable lift-off, not prevent it.

This conversation is part of CCIA Europe’s #UnlockEUInnovation campaign, featuring European startup leaders explaining why regulatory simplification cannot wait – and what’s at stake if it doesn’t happen.