Abstract. This article analyses the evolution of European corporate law and its influence on cross-border business transactions within the EU. It examines key developments in company formation, corporate governance, mobility, mergers, and insolvency, alongside the growing role of financial regulation in shaping corporate practice. Special attention is given to the Cross-Border Mergers Directive, the Mobility Directive, and the European Insolvency Regulation, as well as the impact of Brexit, digitalisation, and ESG regulation. The article argues that while EU corporate law has facilitated cross-border integration, harmonisation remains uneven and contested. Its future will depend on balancing economic efficiency with social and environmental objectives, ensuring both competitiveness and legitimacy in a changing global order.