Is a Market Research Company based in Barbados allowed to invest or establish a legal entity in the EC?

February 09 2012 | Market Research And Opinion Polling Services

Under the EPA there are no restrictions on Barbadians in the Market Research and Opinion Polling sector investing in or opening a business in the European Union.

 There are general conditions placed on Barbadian service providers by certain countries in the EU.  Those conditions are:

There are limitations on the acquisition of land and real estate by Barbadian market research firms in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.

In Estonia, Finland, Italy, Romania and Sweden there are limitations requiring local citizenship or residency of senior management or Board of Directors.

Poland places conditions on the type of businesses Barbadian real estate services firms may invest in or own.

Bulgaria, France, Finland and Italy all have limitations on the types of investments Barbadians are able to make in the real estate services segment, e.g. a maximum percentage for foreign shareholding or voting rights.