Centros Ltd (C-212/97)

Centros Ltd (C-212/97) is a legal decision by the European Court of Justice concerning the freedom of establishment in the European Union. It involved a British company, Centros, registered in Denmark, which sought to operate in the UK. Danish authorities tried to prevent this by requiring a physical presence in Denmark. The court ruled that EU law allows individuals to set up companies in any member state without facing excessive barriers. This case affirmed that businesses should freely operate across borders within the EU, emphasizing the principle of free movement in the internal market.